HARRISBURG, Pa. — A state budget fight that caused at least one credit union in Pennsylvania to put policies into place to help furloughed government workers came to an end after one day of temporarily laying off employees.
The $2.75 billion Pennsylvania State Employees' Credit Union began planning for the possible round of lay offs in April, according to a prepared statement. Margaret Delmonico, spokesman for the credit union, explained that the CU had begun taking note of a possible shut down earlier in the year and that in 1991 there had been a similar government shut down which the CU remembered.
"With as many different products and services involved, starting to plan in April for a possible shut down in the following summer is not too long a time," Demonico explained.
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In response PSECU, whose members are predominantly government employees, has offered to help members during the time of financial difficulty. Measures include waiving penalties for early withdrawal of certificates, returning fees levies for returned checks due to insufficient funds and advancing due dates on loans. If members need a loan to get through this time, the CU said it had those products in place to help as well
"With an impasse, we understand there is no 'pause' button for [members'] lives," said PSECU President Greg Smith. "Groceries do not buy themselves."
Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat, has not been able to get a budget passed the legislature on time during his entire term, but this year with the Republicans controlling the Senate and the Democrats controlling the House by only one vote the yearly budget fight has resulted in workers being furloughed.
But, in the end, forecasts of an early end to the break proved accurate as the two sides of government reached the budget deal late on Monday night, according to news reports. The deal was widely hailed as one which gave each side something of what it had wanted.
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