Bi-Partisan Caucus holds first ever Zoom forum to discuss governor’s budget

Rep. Stephen Kinsey    February 14, 2022

HARRISBURG, Feb. 14 – The PA House Bi-Partisan Caucus held a forum Friday where the co-chairs, state Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., and Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, were joined by 45 other PA House members and three presidents of PA State System of Higher Education universities to discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2022-23 budget proposal.

The governor’s plan would invest $75 million for the operations of PASSHE.

The three presidents included Dr. Christopher Fiorentino, West Chester University; Kenneth Long, East Stroudsburg University; and Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, Penn West University. Penn West is the PASSHE chancellor’s integration plan that would make California University of PA, Clarion University and Edinboro University one institution.

Kinsey said he was excited about the bipartisan support at the forum. “It was great to see 45 members and three university presidents come together for the common good that impacts not only the future of education in our state system, but the economy and workforce,” Kinsey said. “In today’s divisive political climate, it was great to have members from both sides come together to listen to these presidents as they detailed the impact that these dollars will have on their individual universities.”

“Our biggest priority is ensuring a successful future for Pennsylvania, and this forum was an excellent opportunity to focus on that priority,” Rothman said. “Education is an essential piece of the Commonwealth’s success as well as the economy and our workforce, so it was great to see House members from both sides of the aisle engaging with university presidents.”