House Democratic leaders say their membership is prepared to come back to vote on a measure authorizing a $2 per pack cigarette tax to fund Philadelphia schools.

“I know members, including the Democratic leader, ready to cancel vacations to come back here and do what was necessary to help Philadelphia students,” said Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), a member of the House Democratic leadership team.

“I think it was the least responsible position to take when you have the largest school district in the state that could potentially fire thousands and deprive students of an education,” he said of the decision by House Republicans to cancel scheduled August session days to consider the tax authorization measure.

Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) says the legislature has abdicated its job by not coming back to Harrisburg.

“I am here to say shame on us if we leave schools and children to last. They should’ve been first,” she told The PLS Reporter.

Dozens of advocates from Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) were in the Capitol Monday calling for legislators to return to voting session in Harrisburg to consider the legislation.

“Philadelphians want to tax themselves and instead of allowing that, legislators are on vacation,” said Donna Cooper, PCCY’s executive director.

She said that 1,500 layoff notices will have to go out to teachers and schools might not open on time if the bill is not passed by August 15. Cooper said that this would exacerbate conditions created by the previous layoffs of 5,000 teachers.

“Legislators’ summer vacations are putting the education of 200,000 children at risk,” Cooper added.

“It’s ludicrous,” said Steve Miskin, spokesperson for the House Speaker and Majority Leader in response to the idea that summer vacations are taking precedence over the vote.

“The additions that were in the bill are what’s causing the problem, it’s not just a Philadelphia education issue,” he said as to why the session days were cancelled and the vote delayed. “Legislating is always a give and take and that’s what we are in the middle of.”

Miskin said House Republican leaders are talking to the governor in the attempts to advance needed funds to the school district to ensure the schools open and layoffs are avoided.

“We’ve had precedent in which the administration has advanced money to the School District of Philadelphia,” said Jay Pagni, spokesperson for Gov. Tom Corbett. “But that doesn’t solve the issue.”

He said authorizing the cigarette tax merely plugs a hole in the school district’s budget and any advance of funds from later in the year would put the school district in a position where it’s chasing the money.

“Like the governor, all share a desire to ensure the schools open for students on the first day,” he added.

Pagni noted the cigarette tax authorization measure, along with pension reform and other fall agenda items, was on the agenda in a closed-door meeting between Gov. Corbett and Republican leaders.

Repeated calls to the School District of Philadelphia seeking comment on this story went unanswered.

The PLS Reporter – August 4, 2014 – Read article online