Harrisburg – February 4, 2020 – State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) released the following statement today supporting Governor Tom Wolf’s Budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year:

“I support the Governor’s budget to create a stronger Commonwealth. It’s the best budget that I’ve seen.

This budget continues to focus on K-12 and higher education investments that allow students in my district to excel. Funding for lead and asbestos remediation was also included to address toxic school closures and ensure safety for our children and their teachers.

With frequent shootings in my district, I was moved by the examples of loss from gun violence. The Governor proposes prevention actions by investing in community organizations, requiring universal background checks and red flag laws that will take guns out of the hands of dangerous people. This is a matter of saving lives and social justice.

Governor Wolf highlighted recommendations from our five-stop Poverty Listening Tour with transportation, more childcare and workforce development solutions, and a minimum wage increase. This will help remove more Pennsylvanians from the poverty box that has trapped them and move us toward economic justice. I am hopeful we can pass legislation that will produce these results.

His dedication to get Pennsylvania on board to limit carbon emissions through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is critical to address real climate change. It is an important step toward environmental justice.

The proposed budget by the Governor is aligned with the values of my office’s 2020 Year of Justice. The Governor’s priorities ensure Pennsylvania will be able to further invest in everyday people and build for the future.”

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