Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) issued the following statement following the passage of House Bill 2289, the economic development RACP legislation.  Under this borrowing legislation, the state’s debt limit was increased and an additional $600 million was borrowed.  Gov. Ed Rendell has complete discretion over how half of that money is spent on economic development projects.  It was recently announced that the governor has designated $10 million of those funds to go toward the “Arlen Specter Library Project Center Allocation” at Philadelphia University.

“It is unconscionable that the governor is threatening to cut thousands of jobs and funding has been slashed for environmental programs and community libraries, while at the same time he has privately pledged to use millions of dollars in state funds build a library in honor of Senator Arlen Specter. 

“The people of Pennsylvania spoke very loudly and clearly in May when they did not choose Senator Specter as a candidate for U.S. Senate for the 2010 general election.  It is incredibly unfair that the governor is now using taxpayers hard-earned dollars to help pay for a library to honor a personal friend.

“While some capital projects are important to the future of Pennsylvania’s economy, funding this particular project is just more of the ‘good old boys club’ for which Harrisburg is known.  How many other worthwhile projects lost out on state money because the governor would rather designate money to a project glorifying his friend?  It’s completely disingenuous that libraries across the Commonwealth are suffering from a loss in funding, but Senator Specter gets $10 million for his library.”

Rep. Mike Vereb

150th District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

(610) 409-2615

(717) 705-7164

Contact:  Tricia Graham

tgraham@pahousegop.com

(717) 260-6296

Member Site:  RepVereb.com

Caucus Site:  PAHouseGOP.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 3, 2010