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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Senate Appropriations Committee Tests Need For More Education SpendingRendell Administration claims that education spending must increase substantially this year, despite a tight state budget picture, will be the subject of a special Senate budget hearing, according to Appropriations Committee Chairman Gib Armstrong. "At a time when we are trying to control state spending and avoid a state tax increase, these education proposals – new initiatives and increased spending for existing programs – are shaping up as a make-or-break consideration," Armstrong said. "We are getting questions about the purposes and the amounts of proposed new spending. More people are realizing that starting programs small and tacking on spending every year is a standard recipe for expanding state government. Education spending is up 6% overall in the Governor's plan. It is a big request, and that is without any move to add back the important money he cut," he pointed out. "Taxpayers are expecting us to differentiate in this budget what is absolutely needed from what is purely optional. Before we commit more money, we should have an understanding of how the newer programs are working and if there is enough positive result to justify additional spending. We might find these are nice programs that are not affordable or acceptable to taxpayers in the current economic climate," Armstrong stated. "With advocates and detractors scheduled to testify, we will hear conflicting timelines on the necessity of extra education spending, ranging from right now to never ever," he noted. The public hearing will be held on May 1st, in Senate Hearing Room One in the North Office Building, beginning at 10:30 a.m.
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