The CLEAR Coalition today launched a television campaign urging lawmakers to support Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal and “start moving Pennsylvania forward.”
“It is time for lawmakers in both chambers and both parties to come together and support budget priorities that a majority of Pennsylvanians support. The voters spoke loudly and clearly: the status quo just won’t cut it,” said David Fillman, Executive Director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 13 and Chair of the CLEAR Coalition. “We need to move forward.”
The spot highlights the critical elements of Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal, including:
- A statewide tax on the Marcellus shale drillers.
- Restoration of the devastating budget cuts to our commonwealth’s public schools.
- Property tax relief, especially for seniors.
“As our ad says, Pennsylvania will never live up to its potential if we continue to settle for business as usual in Harrisburg. Lawmakers need to look at what has happened to our schools and our economy in the last four years and recognize that we cannot afford to wait any longer to change course,” said Tom Herman, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 668.
“Student performance is stagnating. School districts in every corner of the state are cutting programs and laying off teachers,” said Wendell Young, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 1776. “Local property taxes continue to climb because the state has not paid its fair share for our schools while the Marcellus shale drillers have gotten a free ride. And we rank near the bottom of all states in terms of new job creation.”
The TV campaign will begin in the Harrisburg market and will be followed by additional paid media and other efforts by the CLEAR Coalition to focus attention on the need for fundamental change in the way that Harrisburg works.
The CLEAR Coalition’s member organizations represent 1.1 million Pennsylvania families. The coalition advocates for fair budget solutions that adequately fund core programs and services.