On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf gave a much-anticipated budget address aimed at eliminating the state’s $2.3-billion deficit. Notable in his first formal speech on the matter was his recognition of the correlation between workplace protection for LGBTs and a thriving economy.
“The companies and countries that are thriving in today’s global economy are those that are committed to diversity, inclusion and fairness,” Wolf said. “All Pennsylvania families deserve those same opportunities, no matter their race, sexual orientation, where they started life or who they are.”
Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin praised the move.
“The governor was wise to recognize the fact that being fair and treating people equally is a powerful economic tool,” Martin told PGN. “I think his remarks make that clear.”
“If people feel safe and secure and respected in the workplace, they tend to work harder, stay at the company longer and make for a better workforce in general,” he added.
The $33.8-billion spending plan includes tax increases of about 16 percent and restores cuts to education funding put in place by former Gov. Tom Corbett.
Line items relevant to the HIV/AIDS and LGBT communities largely remained the same as last year.
In the Health category, funds for STD screening and testing, AIDS programs and special pharmaceutical services and local health departments all remain the same as last year. The budget proposed that those programs receive $1.73 million, $17.4 million and $25.4 million, respectively.
Total spending on health-related services will increase by 2.1 percent, for a total of $204.2 million.
The Human Relations Commission, which falls under the Executive Offices category, will receive a 3.6-percent increase in the 2015-16 budget, compared to last year, for a total of $9.59 million.
The proposed budget is not final. Much horse-trading between Wolf and the Republican-controlled legislature is expected to take place over the next couple months as they work to finalize the document.