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White to Propose Steady Fire/EMS Funding
HARRISBURG -- Responding
quickly to a state Supreme Court decision striking a funding provision for
volunteer emergency responders from the state gaming law, Senator Don White,
R-41st District, is drafting legislation to dedicate $25 million annually for
fire fighters and emergency medical service operations.
“In light of the recent
Supreme Court decision, I will be introducing legislation to annually transfer
$25 million from the State Gaming Fund to support the Volunteer Fire Company and
Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Act,” said Senator White, Chairman of the
Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
The $25 million annual
allocation was part of the gaming law enacted last year, but was cut by the
state Supreme Court in its ruling last week.
“This allocation for our
volunteer fire departments and ambulance corps was one of the provisions of the
gaming law that received strong support during legislative deliberations over
the bill,” Senator White said. “I am extremely disappointed that it did not
stand up to the Supreme Court’s standards. My legislation will address that by
setting the funding up on its own merits.”
The General Assembly has
provided $25 million for emergency responders in recent budgets; but with the
Supreme Court’s ruling, there is no indication -- nor guarantee -- that the
allocation will be a recurring line item, Senator White said.
“The Court’s ruling means
that gaming is coming to Pennsylvania. Therefore, it is incumbent that we act
now to ensure that a portion of the revenue generated by those enterprises is
invested in our communities,” Senator White said. “As we have seen in the past,
this $25 million provides a substantial boost for our volunteer services and
gives them the resources to improve their facilities and upgrade their
equipment.”
 
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