State Senator Larry Farnese Urges Quick Movement in Senate of House Bill Addressing Philadelphia’s Fiscal Crisis

August 11, 2009 – At a news conference held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Monday, Senator Larry Farnese and fellow members of the Philadelphia Senate Democratic delegation urged the Republican-controlled Senate to expedite passage of House Bill 1828. The House passed the legislation
August 5.

The City of Philadelphia needs approval from the state legislature to increase its sales tax by a penny – to 8%. The city has also asked lawmakers to greenlight its request to adjust the way Philadelphia contributes to its pension fund. H.B. 1828 would give Philadelphia the freedom it needs to take these actions to close a $700 million budget gap over the next five years.

Without state approval by August 15, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has warned he’ll be forced to lay off as many as 3,000 city workers – including police officers and fire fighters as well as dismantle some City departments and cut core city services.

Senate Democrats suggested their colleagues on the opposite side of the aisle cooperate and stop holding Philadelphia hostage, noting, H.B. 1828 is independent of the state budget and simply gives Philadelphia the permission it needs to help keep itself fiscally afloat.

Sen. Farnese implored freshman Republican lawmakers to do the right thing.

“Ask your leadership to put the games behind them so we can move this bill forward,” urged Sen. Farnese.

###

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Senator Larry Farnese: Sen. Farnese, a Democrat, represents the First Senatorial District of Pennsylvania. He has been a member of the Senate since January 2009 and serves on the following Senate Committees: Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness (Minority Chair), Appropriations, Banking & Insurance, Communications & Technology, Education, and Labor & Industry. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Housing Advisory Committee, a state interagency council tasked with finding solutions to ending homelessness throughout the Commonwealth.

About Sen. Farnese’s District: The First Senatorial District includes these Philadelphia neighborhoods: Bella Vista, Brewery Town, Chinatown, Eastwick, Fairmount, Fishtown, Girard Estate, Graduate Hospital, Grays Ferry, Hawthorne, Jefferson Square, Logan Circle, Lower Kensington, Northern Liberties, Old City, Packer Park, Pennsport, Point Breeze, Port Richmond, Queen Village, Rittenhouse Square, Society Hill, Washington West, and Whitman.