Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf visited Cetronia Elementary School in South Whitehall Township to discuss his proposed 2015-2016 budget.

His budget focuses on three key issues: jobs that pay, schools that teach and government that works.

As a graduate of the University of South Florida and Muhlenberg College's Wescoe School, I was glad to learn Wolf's budget proposes restoring all prior education funding cuts.

Those funds enabled me to accomplish my dream of attending college and obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology and a second Bachelor of Arts degree in communication.

Restoring funding to education will give recent graduates and students in middle and elementary schools the same opportunity to receive an education to pursue their dream careers.

With the high cost of education today at both public and private colleges and universities, many parents cannot afford to pay for their children's education and need financial assistance.

According to the following colleges' websites, tuition at Muhlenberg College for fall 2014 to spring 2015 cost $43,860.

Attending Lehigh University for a year costs $60,575; Kutztown University tuition for spring 2015 ranged from $9,002.50 (state resident) to around $14,227 (non-state resident).

Lehigh Carbon Community College for fall 2015 will cost approximately $1,900 a semester for a student from a sponsoring school district.

If Wolf is able to restore education funding, then every child growing up in Pennsylvania will be able to acquire the necessary skills to obtain employment to be self-sufficient or support their families.

The governor's budget also proposes reducing homeowner taxes, raising the minimum wage from $7.35 to $10.10, expanding home and community-based services for older citizens and Medicaid to close the coverage gap for working adults without insurance.

Wolf's proposed 2015-16 budget is right for students, colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, middle class families, minimum wage workers, senior citizens and the uninsured.

The proposed budget will only work if state legislators approve his spending proposal.

In a letter dated March 3, Wolf said, "Pennsylvania will not improve until we rebuild our middle class.

"I believe it is time to do big things in Pennsylvania. Doing nothing is not an option.

"I encourage all Pennsylvanians to come forward with ideas of your own."

Make your voice be heard, contact your state legislator, ask him or her to approve Wolf's proposed budget for funding education, raising the minimum wage, expanding services for older citizens and Medicaid.

Contact state Reps. Gary Day, R-187th, at 610-760-7082; Julie Harhart, R-183rd, at 610-502-2701; Ryan E. Mackenzie, R-134th, at 610-965-9933; Daniel T. McNeill, D-133rd, at 610-266-1273; Michael H. Schlossberg, D-132nd, at 610-821-5577 or Justin I. Simmons, R-131st, at 610-965-5830.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press