WASHINGTON, DC— Following a victory on a procedural vote to prevent state budget cuts and layoffs of teachers and other workers, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded the vote and called for swift final passage of the measure. The vote was a vital step to overcome the obstruction of a measure to provide $16.1 billion in increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) funding to prevent state budget cuts and $10 billion in education funding to prevent teacher layoffs.
“This is a positive and long overdue first step to prevent harmful budget cuts and layoffs,” said Senator Casey. “Senate Republicans should allow a fast vote to pass this needed aid out of the Senate. This legislation is fully paid-for and won’t increase the deficit. Failure to act could lead to thousands of layoffs, a reduction in services in Pennsylvania and hurt the economic recovery.”
Senator Casey has been a strong proponent of extending FMAP aid to the states. He had voted for and preferred the larger FMAP package before it was trimmed in order to gain the votes necessary to pass any sort of relief for the states. Providing this aid to states like Pennsylvania has received majority support in the Senate, however it has not received the 60 votes required to prevent efforts by Senate Republicans to block the relief.
Last week, Senator Casey wrote Senate leaders to again urge them to move to pass increased FMAP funding for states to avoid state budget cuts and layoffs.
Senator Casey was a supporter and cosponsor of legislation introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) that would have provided $23 billion to protect jobs for teachers and prevent cuts that could harm children’s education. The $10 billion included in the measure voted on today was the same figure that passed the House in a previous bill.
The Senate must still vote on final passage of the aid to the states and teacher funding. The House would then have to pass the bill.
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WASHINGTON, DC— Following a victory on a procedural vote to prevent state budget cuts and layoffs of teachers and other workers, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded the vote and called for swift final passage of the measure. The vote was a vital step to overcome the obstruction of a measure to provide $16.1 billion in increased federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) funding to prevent state budget cuts and $10 billion in education funding to prevent teacher layoffs.
“This is a positive and long overdue first step to prevent harmful budget cuts and layoffs,” said Senator Casey. “Senate Republicans should allow a fast vote to pass this needed aid out of the Senate. This legislation is fully paid-for and won’t increase the deficit. Failure to act could lead to thousands of layoffs, a reduction in services in Pennsylvania and hurt the economic recovery.”
Senator Casey has been a strong proponent of extending FMAP aid to the states. He had voted for and preferred the larger FMAP package before it was trimmed in order to gain the votes necessary to pass any sort of relief for the states. Providing this aid to states like Pennsylvania has received majority support in the Senate, however it has not received the 60 votes required to prevent efforts by Senate Republicans to block the relief.
Last week, Senator Casey wrote Senate leaders to again urge them to move to pass increased FMAP funding for states to avoid state budget cuts and layoffs.
Senator Casey was a supporter and cosponsor of legislation introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) that would have provided $23 billion to protect jobs for teachers and prevent cuts that could harm children’s education. The $10 billion included in the measure voted on today was the same figure that passed the House in a previous bill.
The Senate must still vote on final passage of the aid to the states and teacher funding. The House would then have to pass the bill.
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