CHAMBERSBURG -- Workers rallied Tuesday in Chambersburg against potential budget cuts to human services.
The SEIU Local 668, which represents workers at various state agencies, is calling for a "fair budget" that includes taxing gas companies in the Marcellus Shale region, according to Steven Jarrell, a caseworker and chair of the union's Chapter 8.
A handful of workers on their lunch break held signs toward passing motorists outside the Department of Public Welfare's Norland Avenue office.
"We want the Legislature to pass a fair budget that fully funds social services for our residents," Jarrell said. "We want a budget that funds services for the most vulnerable."
Workers carried signs: "No cuts in human services," "Save the middle class ... Tax gas companies," and "You drill in PA, you pay tax in PA."
With the state facing a projected $4 billion budget shortfall in fiscal year 2011-2012, cuts are looming across the board.
Jarrell said they are asking legislators to close the "Delaware loophole" for corporate taxes and to tax companies extracting natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region.
Gov. Tom Corbett ran on a promise to not tax the gas companies. He said doing so would stunt job growth in Pennsylvania.
"We've met with legislators to get the idea across that there are multiple options," Jarrell said. "We want to see everyone pay their fair share, including gas companies. We want to do our part and find ways to come up with money that don't involve cutting jobs or services."
Cuts to human services would hurt the most vulnerable populations, Jarrell said. At the same time, demand for services has increased because of the economic downturn.
"We're a huge safety net during these tough economic times. We're seeing some people that we've never seen before," said Judy Golden, a caseworker. "It's time for big businesses to pay their share."
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