Following approval of the state budget, Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Altoona), who voted against the spending plan, issued a statement reading, in part, “Children who attend Altoona Area School District will miss out on educational opportunities after an untold amount of money was slashed in the budget approved by House Democrats. The budget cuts 55% from the Level Up fund, which earmarks additional education dollars for districts that were traditionally underfunded. Defunding students who have already been missing out on adequate dollars only sets them back even further and does nothing to give them the best education they deserve.”