Apr. 05, 2017
HARRISBURG – Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Mifflin/Centre) offered the following statement after joining the majority of his colleagues in the House of Representatives on Tuesday in passing a $31.52 billion state budget proposal that funds the core functions of government, doesn’t raise taxes, and continues to invest additional dollars in areas such as education and human services:
“This is a lean budget that reins in spending and forces state government and those that receive state funding to be more responsible with the money they are given. Every dollar in the General Fund is a dollar the Pennsylvania taxpayers worked hard for and we should make sure every penny is being used responsibly.
“Under our plan, education would receive additional dollars to educate our students and offer more opportunities for early education programming; $5 million more would be made available to help treat individuals dealing with opioid addiction; and nearly 4,500 additional individuals with autism, intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities would receive services.
“I know there is some opposition to the governor’s plan to merge the departments of Health, Human Services, Aging, and Drug and Alcohol Programs; however, although our budget includes this idea, we are still investigating the pros and cons of a consolidation and additional legislative action would have to be taken in order for any merger to take place.
“It is important to note that our proposal still needs to go through the Senate and then onto the governor’s desk, so more negotiations and changes are bound to take place. Advancing the process in April is a benefit, so I am hopeful we will have a finished product by the June 30 deadline.”
For more information on
House Bill 218, visit
pahousegop.com/statebudget1718.aspx.
Representative Rich Irvin
81st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
RepIrvin.com /
Facebook.com/RepIrvin