Senator Kim Ward Comments on Senate Republican Budget Proposal

HARRISBURG, PA - As the Pennsylvania State Senate is considering final passage of a Senate budget version for the fiscal year 2009-10, Senator Kim Ward (R-39), issued the following statement:

"The Senate Republican leadership has taken a fiscally aggressive approach to balancing the state budget. If the final version of the Senate budget passes on Wednesday, and the expectation is that it will, it will then move on to the House of Representatives. In other words, this is the first step in the budget process. There will be negotiations and changes as we progress toward passing a final state budget," said Ward.

"While I ‘m not completely satisfied with the funding levels of certain programs that will be cut, the bottom line is we can either make cuts or raise taxes. This is a tough year all around and there are 'wants' and there are 'needs' across the spectrum of what our state government has been funding. I am confident that we will be funding what is necessary to ensure the health, safety and welfare of our constituents," she continued.

"Senate Republicans are committed to passing a budget that cuts spending in a responsible manner across the board. This version of the FY09-10 budget does that by holding the line on taxes and leaving the State’s emergency reserve fund untouched. I am open to new and creative ways to find funding for certain programs, but not at the expense of taxpayers who are already feeling the burden of a struggling economy," Ward said.