Here are excerpts of what most state lawmakers who represent Berks County had to say about the $29.1 billion budget that was passed late Monday. The vote in the House was 108-95. The vote in the Senate was 26-24. The votes were mostly along party lines in both Republican-controlled chambers.
Sen. Judy Schwank, Ruscombmanor Democrat: “We have worked hard in Harrisburg to help Republicans and Gov. Tom Corbett understand that Pennsylvania is deeper in its financial quagmire because of the policies of the past four years. If all parties would have been at the table, perhaps a consensus could have been found to find real solutions. Instead, partisan politics took center stage to the detriment of our commonwealth and our residents.” Read more at The Reading Eagle →