Interfaith Budget Coalition of PA

Declaration 

(Sent to Governor Rendell and the members of the PA General Assembly on Friday, August 28, 2009) 

As a non-partisan coalition of Pennsylvania faith groups, we are alarmed by the Common-wealth’s deepening fiscal crisis, and frustrated by our leaders’ inability to end it.  

Pennsylvania’s elected leaders’ failure to resolve this crisis is hurting millions of individuals and families.  

The political posturing must end – now. We call on leaders of the House, Senate, and Gov. Rendell to set partisanship aside to compromise on a reasoned and morally defensible budget. Negotiations must resume immediately and continue, non-stop, until this crisis is ended. 

There is no moral justification for this continuing crisis, which has reduced or eliminated vital services to the poor, to children, and senior citizens in every Pennsylvania county. God has to be displeased to see Pennsylvania’s vulnerable citizens used as pawns in this process. This crisis even jeopardizes public safety services across Pennsylvania. 

Surely, our leaders can do the right thing for all Pennsylvanians. To continue this impasse benefits no one. It risks hurting even more people and plunging the Commonwealth into an even deeper crisis that will jeopardize more lives. We believe Pennsylvanians see through the rhetoric both sides are utilizing to promote their agendas.

We are not naïve. Many difficult choices must be made. With limited financial resources available, it will not be easy to reach an appropriate balance between spending and taxing. We understand the financial strain that is affecting families across Pennsylvania and the nation. We also believe Pennsylvania taxpayers are committed to helping the most vulnerable among us: the needy, the hungry, and the sick. These are basic tenets of the faith traditions we represent. We also believe Pennsylvanians are committed to providing a quality education for our children. How we prepare our children to deal with the competitive rigors of the 21^st Century will determine our long-term future.

The result of this process must be spending and revenue plans that ensure Pennsylvania’s needy continue to receive needed, vital, life-sustaining services. That is a core responsibility of government, and a principle of justice that has been a hallmark in Pennsylvania for more than three centuries. 

As God expects much from us, individually and collectively, we are right to expect much from our leaders. We call for all Pennsylvanians of good will to pray for a quick and just resolution to this crisis. We urge Pennsylvanians to contact their legislators and Gov. Rendell to demand they immediately return to work, non-stop, until they resolve this crisis.

May God bless this Commonwealth and its people!