Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you find this week’s News and Events email helpful as we look at what’s coming up in and around the district.  As always, my team and I are here to help you with any state-related matter and are happy to provide as much information as we can. 

Whether you need a service, want to share your concerns, offer ideas or drop off a donation for one of our drives, we’d love to see you at my district office during our walk-in hours of 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday.  Alternatively, feel free to reach out at (215) 517-6800 or via email at RepSanchez@pahouse.net. 

Wishing you and yours a good week ahead.

Sincerely,

State Representative Ben Sanchez

• Pennsylvania Budget
• PFC Helmut Boehm Memorial Highway Dedication
• Thank you for such a successful Food Drive
• Veterans Day flag-raising and Annual Breakfast
• Abington Police Department's Newest Officer
• PHS Meadowbrook Tour
• Wonder Grand Opening
• Township Information
• Upcoming Events

Pennsylvania finally has a balanced, bipartisan budget plan without any tax increases or reductions in the Rainy Day Fund. This budget pays our bills, helps every child in every school, preserves vital services and prevents layoffs. On Wednesday, both the House and Senate passed it and sent it to Governor Shapiro who signed it into law.

This budget spends a little over $50 billion – a highly negotiated compromise between the governor’s original proposal, our House proposal, and the Senate wanting to just use last year’s budget. It delivers the important services people need in the face of a completely unpredictable federal government. It reflects responsible governance – balancing fiscal discipline with compassion. With $11 billion in reserves and NO tax increases, we’re meeting our needs without mortgaging our future. 

We’re making sure counties, townships, and boroughs won’t be forced to lay off the hardworking people who keep us moving. We’re making sure our youth have the tools they need to learn. We’re making sure people in crisis have somewhere to turn. We’re making sure Pennsylvania stays the only state in the northeast to keep growing its economy – no matter what happens in Washington, D.C. 

SOME KEY FIGURES TO HIGHLIGHT IN PA'S NEW BUDGET:

EDUCATION:

Providing an overall increase in education funding totaling more than $900 million, including:

• Increasing basic education funding by more than $100 million and special education by $40 million – helping to slow and prevent local tax increases and saving you money.
• Delivering nearly $600 million to address adequacy and help students, schools & taxpayers left behind for too long. 

• Saving schools $178 million by returning payments sent to charter schools so they reflect actual costs to teach students. That’s a 15% savings statewide to taxpayers!
  • Requiring all cyber charter schools make their students turn on their laptop cameras or do in-person wellness checks so teachers and administrators know students are safe. 

• Building safer schools and improving access to mental health services for kids with another year of $100 million investment.
  • Strengthening early education by investing in high quality, affordable pre-K programs, cutting your costs and improving outcomes for your children.
  • Making it easier and more affordable for teachers to get into the classroom in every kind of district.

WORKING PENNSYLVANIANS:

• Putting more money back in the pockets of working families with a Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit – anyone who qualifies for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit would automatically qualify for a state-level tax credit of 10% of the federal credit back when filing state taxes. That’s anywhere from $200 to more than $1,000 back in the pockets of working people with children.
• Delivering $25 million for quality childcare workers to invest in those who take care of our youth.

HELPING PEOPLE IN NEED:

• Investing three quarters of a billion dollars for MA Managed Care.
• Increasing funding for Direct Care Workers who provide compassionate care to Pennsylvanians who need it most.
• Investing $150 million more to help Pennsylvanians with intellectual disabilities.
• Investing $40 million more to feed hungry Pennsylvanians and support family farms in the face of a federal government putting politics ahead of kids, seniors, and working people being paid too little.

KEEPING PENNSYLVANIA SAFE:

• Investing more money in protecting your clean air, clean water, and green spaces.
  • Increasing funding to DCNR and DEP and adding even more for specific environmental projects.
  • Investing in Solar for Schools to create jobs, lower taxpayer expenses, and build a stronger grid.
  • Renewing our fight for cleaner electric generation and a more reliable grid.
  • Using every tool in the box to generate power – embracing innovation while still using reliable sources until the future is ready.
• Getting more State Police Troopers on duty to protect our communities
• Supporting our rape crisis centers and domestic violence programs, which ensure survivors get the critical care and resources they need.

JOB SECURITY:

• Investing more than $100 million in job creation, innovation, and supporting the entrepreneurs investing in our workers and our communities.
• Improving permit approval speeds when excessive state delays hold local business growth back.

Pennsylvania State Capitol
311 Irvis Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-7619

District Office

1175 Old York Rd.
Abington, PA 19001
(215) 517-6800