For Immediate Release
August 19, 2009
Contact: Nathan Flood
717-787-4420
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Senator Brubaker Votes to Keep Government Programs, Services Open

HARRISBURG -- Seeking to keep vital government programs and services operating while budget negotiations continue, Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36) voted today to override a number of Governor Rendell’s recent line-item vetoes of Senate Bill 850.    

Despite unanimous Republican support, the veto overrides failed when the majority of Democrats voted against the measures – which require a two-thirds majority.  Had the overrides succeeded in both the Senate and House, funding would have begun flowing to programs that the governor cut. 

"These programs are vital to the health and welfare of our citizens, and I am deeply disappointed that the governor chose to exploit some of our most vulnerable citizens for political gain," Brubaker said. "We had a golden opportunity to put people above politics today and help those in need, and I find it despicable that the governor and Senate Democrats chose to ignore the needs of Pennsylvanians for political gain." 

Brubaker said that the governor is trying to create a crisis atmosphere by holding a number of programs and services hostage, including drug and alcohol treatment programs, homeless assistance, veterans outreach services and domestic violence and rape crisis programs. Brubaker voted to reinstate funding for a number of core government services that have been left in limbo because of the budget impasse. 

Among the line items which the governor vetoed despite the fact that Senate Bill 850 funded them at exactly the amount he recommended: 

• Homeless Assistance, $25.6 million
• Veterans' Educational Assistance, $7.0 million
• Veterans' Outreach Services, $1.7 million
• Veterans’ Assistance, $428,000
• Disabled Veterans’ Transportation, $350,000
• Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Services, $19.6 million 

Override votes also took place on several additional line items under which the lack of state funding is having an immediate and dramatic negative impact on Pennsylvania residents, including: 

• PHEAA Grants to Students, $386.2 million
• Community Mental Retardation Programs, $158.4 million
• Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program, $9.9 million 

Brubaker also advocated for overrides of the governor’s vetoes to the State Food Purchase Program and Farmer’s Market Coupons. Brubaker added that there is adequate funding for the programs that Republicans tried to restore, but the governor chose not to fund these services.