Pa. Gov. Rendell shows support for children’s advocates

HARRISBURG (AP) — Gov. Ed Rendell is demonstrating his support for children’s advocates even as dollars dry up for preschool and day care because of state government’s seven-week-old budget impasse.

Rendell appeared today at the Capitol with dozens of advocates for day care, preschool and early childhood education and called on the Legislature to finalize a responsible budget.

He said he will not sign a budget that does not maintain his funding proposals for schools, children, health care and the elderly.

He says improving children’s education is too important to the state’s future to agree to deep cuts, even for a year.

Without the state subsidies, day-care providers are laying off workers, preschools are scrapping plans to open and nonprofit service providers are considering closing.