June 26, 2009, 1:05 pm
Members of the Wounded Warrior Project held a press conference in the East Wing Rotunda to discuss the PA Hero Walk. Al Pulice, walk organizer, said they have raised nearly $10,000 in donations since the walk began five days ago in Philadelphia. Participants will walk 342 miles along Route 30 to raise awareness and funds for soldiers that have been wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pulice said the enthusiasm and support for the walk has been “nothing short of spectacular” and stated “Pennsylvania is famous for its patriotism.” Retired Staff Sergeant Chris Bain spent three years in Walter Reed Medical Center recovering from injuries he received during a mortar attack in Iraq. “Maybe I can’t wear a uniform and fight for our great nation anymore but I can still speak my voice and that’s my fight,” Bain said. Major Sergeant Dave Gorgoglione and his wife and children are spending their vacation participating in the walk said they have received encouragement from Vietnam veterans along the way, many of whom did not get the care they should have when they returned from war. “We all have to remember the sacrifice these brave men and women are making
Continue reading Pennsylvanians Walk for Wounded Warriors
June 26, 2009, 11:27 am
At a press conference this morning, Governor Rendell announced his latest round of budget cuts, reducing state expenditures by a further $500 million. Among the most painful to him, the governor said, is the 100% cut to Classrooms of the Future, a pet project of his. A full spreadsheet of the cuts is available now on the Capitol Toolbox, while the full story will be posted later in the day.
June 26, 2009, 9:43 am
The PA School Funding Campaign this morning had a teleconference to discuss how the state budget and federal stimulus money will affect school district budgets. Speakers from the PA Assn of School Business Officials and PA School Boards Assn, as well as representatives from three school districts, explained federal stimulus money in the form of Title I and IDEA funding will not help schools plug budget holes this year. Additionally, all three school districts recently passed their budget based on the governor’s proposed budget and in the mean time are proceeding cautiously until they know how much money they will actually get. All of the speakers agreed that while this year is bad, next year will be much worse.
Look for the story in the Capitol Toolbox this afternoon.
