Vereb Participates in Governor’s Press Conference Addressing Restorations to Higher Education Funding
HARRISBURG – Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) today joined Gov. Tom Corbett, state lawmakers and state university officials at a press conference held in Harrisburg announcing expected 2012-13 budget restorations to Pennsylvania’s state-owned and state-related universities and record funding to its basic public education.
“Throughout the budget process, we remained committed to funding our schools and universities, while also ensuring we live within our means. Thanks to better-than-expected revenues in the last few months, this proposal would restore higher education funding to its full 2011-12 levels,” said Vereb. “With more than 40 percent of Pennsylvania’s total budget spent on education, there’s no denying that education is our top spending priority.”
In return for $937.9 million in state funding, postsecondary education leaders today promised minimal, if any, tuition increases to protect taxpayers and students from continually rising costs. The presidents and chancellors of Pitt, Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities, as well as Thaddeus Stevens College, expressed gratitude for the state’s investments in higher education.
“Postsecondary education is the foundation for our economy,” said the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Chancellor John Cavanaugh.
“We’re grateful to the leaders who recognized that and worked tirelessly to make sure the funding needed to grow the economy will be available. Thank you, governor and members of the General Assembly, for doing all that you can to help us meet those educational and economic needs,” he said.
The 2012-13 state budget passed through the House Thursday and headed back to the Senate for concurrence. The budget will take effect July 1.
State Representative Mike Vereb
150th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Lauren Whetzel
lwhetzel@pahousegop.com
717.260.6451