Rally goers urge Pennsylvania lawmakers to use budget surplus to help residents, schools
Pennsylvania's budget deadline is a little more than two weeks away, and demands to spend billions in surplus dollars are growing.
Participants in a rally outside the State Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday said a multi-billion dollar surplus means the state can invest a lot more money into schools and put money directly into the pockets of Pennsylvanians.
"Our budget is a moral document. Where you put your money shows where your priorities are," said Nick Pressley, with the We the People campaign.
Pressley backs Gov. Tom Wolf's plan of sending checks of as much as $2,000 to households making up to $80,000 a year.
Rep. Stan Saylor (R-94), who leads the House Appropriations Committee, said Wolf's direct payment plan is not going to happen.
"It was dead on arrival. Let's be honest," he said.
He said billions of dollars need to be set aside for an anticipated recession, but he could see an increase in funding for schools in this year's budget.
"We're just not in agreement with the governor on his billion and a half," he said.
Rep. Matt Bradford (D-70) is the minority chairman for the budget committee. He said more investment by the state could lower the need for school districts to raise taxes.
"The fact that we're going to hoard taxpayers' money and not give relief to property taxpayers and invest in students just to me is counter-intuitive," he said.