Christiana Skeptical of State Budget Spending
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) today issued the following statement in response to his vote against the House-passed $31.55 billion state budget plan:
“The governor has been successful in convincing some that we need massive increases in taxes to satisfy his hunger for spending more taxpayer money. Last year, we refused to pass a framework spending plan, because no one knew how we would pay for it. This year, we’ve abandoned that responsible approach for a $1.5 billion increase in spending. Planning to spend billions of dollars without an agreed-to revenue plan is not how Pennsylvania families budget their money, and Harrisburg shouldn’t either. We have come too far to return to the days of unchecked, out-of-control government spending and growth.
“The reality is current revenue projections, combined with liquor modernization and the recently passed gaming bill, will not provide enough revenue to pay for this spending plan. The people who will pay for this 5 percent spending hike are the taxpayers. They aren’t getting 5 percent raises to help them cover the cost of more reckless government spending. And our economy and our job growth haven’t grown enough to cover it. Unlike the governor, I refuse to squeeze more money from the wallets of my constituents.”
Representative Jim Christiana
15th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abbey Haslam
ahaslam@pahousegop.com
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