Rendell Urges Support for Child Care Services in Final State Budget

HARRISBURG – After 48 days without a final state budget, Governor Ed Rendell today called on legislators to support funding that provides child care services for more than 135,000 Pennsylvania children.

Governor Rendell said funding levels proposed under Senate Bill 850 would have caused nearly 8,000 children to lose their child care subsidy and join the 16,000 children already on the waiting list. As a result, Pennsylvania would then have to forfeit $60 million in federal stimulus money. The Governor expressed concern for the working parents of children losing services, wondering what their options without care may be.

“Without access to quality and affordable child care, these families will be left in a terrible bind,” said Governor Rendell. “Will they settle for less reliable care that puts their children’s future at risk; or lose their jobs, collecting unemployment and potentially cycling onto the welfare rolls? It pains me to think of the difficult decisions families must face without this funding.”

Standing with child care leaders from across Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell reminded legislators that an investment in child care is an investment in the economy. He again made clear he would not support any plan that would cut essential services that significantly impact long-term economic growth.

“The child care sector has the highest multiplier effect for public investment of any sector in Pennsylvania,” said Governor Rendell. “For every public dollar we invest in child care facilities, more than two dollars is circulated into the economy through jobs and goods and services.”

emailed from Commonwealth Media Services

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