Brouillette to Counter Rendell’s “Tax You More” Bus Tour

Harrisburg, PA — Gov. Rendell’s week-long, state-wide bus tour to scare and mislead Pennsylvanians into thinking they pay too little in taxes and don’t spend enough on public education will be met head on by Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew Brouillette.

As Rendell burns tax dollars in the gas tank of a giant campaign bus to lobby for higher taxes for public education, Brouillette—a former teacher, football/baseball coach, and school board member—will be at each stop along the way to present the truth about education funding under the proposed Senate budget.

“The governor’s education half-truths, misleading rhetoric, and inaccurate characterizations will be met with the reality about Pennsylvania’s public school funding and performance,” said Brouillette.  “Contrary to what will be stated in the governor’s campaign to raise taxes on working Pennsylvanians, public education spending would still be the highest it has ever been under the Senate’s proposed spending plans—despite a severe recession and a $3 billion deficit.”

“The people of Pennsylvania deserve the truth about taxes and spending in their public schools,” Brouillette noted, “so we’ll be following the governor’s ‘Tax You More Bus Tour’ to provide the facts to local communities and media in the wake of the governor’s fallacies.”

Brouillette will hold informal news conferences immediately following each of Rendell’s bus stops across Pennsylvania.  Monday’s tour stops include:

EVENT #1: U.S. Sen. Casey, Secretary Zahorchak to discuss education funding

TIME: Noon

LOCATION: East Pennsboro Area High School, 425 Shady Lane, Enola, Cumberland County

EVENT #2: Secretary Zahorchak to discuss education funding

TIME: 3 p.m.

LOCATION: Hollidaysburg Area Junior High School, 1000 Hewit St., Hollidaysburg, Blair County

EVENT #3: Secretary Zahorchak to discuss education funding

TIME: 6 p.m.

LOCATION: Baldwin High School, 4653 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh

 

MEDIA NOTE:  Check CommonwealthFoundation.org for the Commonwealth Foundation’s education funding media packet and event updates throughout the week.  To reach Matt on the road, contact Director of Communications Joe Sterns at 717.671.1901.  You can also “follow” Matt at Twitter.com/MattBrouillette. 

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The Commonwealth Foundation (www.CommonwealthFoundation.org) is an independent, non-profit public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, PA.