CLEAR Coalition Urges Lawmakers to Reject Gov. Corbett's Flawed Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gov. Corbett's 2013-2014 budget proposal is built upon false promises and false choices that will further erode Pennsylvania's middle class, the CLEAR Coalition said in a statement issued today.

The budget proposals hinges in large measure on the governor's flawed proposal to dismantle the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) and his illegal plan to slash pension benefits for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians.

"This is a cynical approach to addressing some very real needs our Commonwealth confronts," said Dave Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13. "This governor would have you believe that we need to lay off 5,000 PLCB workers and threaten the retirement security of teachers and nurses if we want to make sure our schools are well-funded. Lawmakers know better. Pennsylvanians know better."

"This budget needs to be rejected and Gov. Corbett needs to go back to the drawing board," added Fillman.

Gov. Corbett's budget proposal calls for outsourcing the PA lottery; dismantling the PLCB; slashing retirement benefits that hard-working Pennsylvanians have already paid for; and flat funding for our colleges and universities.

"Voters and legislators can't permit the administration to use children and schools as pawns to advance his political agenda of selling off profitable public assets or denying public employees the pensions they contributed to throughout their careers," said Ted Kirsch, President of the Pennsylvania AFT.

The CLEAR Coalition identified roughly $2.3 billion in savings and revenue enhancements that could be used to balance the budget and fund core programs and services that include closing corporate tax loopholes, cutting waste and abuse, and demanding greater efficiency in how government delivers services. The bulk of these recommendations have been ignored by the Corbett administration.

"The governor refuses to consider viable alternatives to tax cuts for corporations and devastating cuts to public education, our colleges and universities, healthcare services for our elderly and needy," said Kathy Jellison, President of SEIU, Local 668. "

For more information, please visit www.clearforpa.org.

SOURCE CLEAR Coalition