For Immediate Release
July 20, 2009
Contact: Kristin Crawford
717-787-4420
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Senate Restores More Than $5.3 Million in Cuts to Vital Agriculture Programs 

HARRISBURG – More than $5.3 million in cuts to vital agriculture programs were restored as part of the fiscally responsible spending plan approved by the Senate today, according to Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36). 

The amended version of House Bill 1416 restored funding to eight line items in the Department of Agriculture, including agriculture research, crop insurance, farm safety, agricultural conservation easement administration, Pennsylvania fairs, the Center for Agricultural Excellence and the Animal Health and Diagnostic Commission. 

"I am thankful that my colleagues recognized the importance of agriculture to our state’s economy, and I am very pleased that we have been able to restore some of these cuts in a budget framework that would not require a broad-based tax increase," Brubaker said. "These proven programs will help to promote the future viability and profitability of agriculture in the Commonwealth, and I am thankful we have been able to restore some of the reductions proposed earlier this year." 

House Bill 1416, as amended in the Senate, would balance the state budget without a personal income tax increase. The Senate amendment restores higher education and PHEAA funding to the General Fund and reduces overall spending by almost $2 billion from the version approved by the House on Friday.  

The House version of House Bill 1416 called for overall spending of $29.1 billion and did not account for $1.3 billion in revenue necessary to cover a proposed special fund for State System of Higher Education universities, state-related universities, community colleges and PHEAA. 

The Senate budget plan reduces overall spending to $27.14 billion for Fiscal Year 2009-10. The plan includes the cuts proposed in Senate Bill 850, accepts the $500 million in cuts proposed by the Governor and incorporates about $72 million in cuts agreed to by the four legislative caucuses during a series of meetings with the Governor to conduct a line-by-line review of the budget.  

House Bill 1416 was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.