Feb. 04, 2020
HARRISBURG – During a joint session of the General Assembly, Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his $36 billion budget, a $2.05 billion increase over the enacted current budget. In response, Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), Dawn Keefer (R-Dillsburg) and Mike Jones (R-York Township), as well as House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion) issued the following statement:
“The governor’s budget address we heard today was filled with flowery language but lacked an actual plan to resolve systemic financial problems Pennsylvania is facing.
“For the past few months, the General Fund has had a negative balance, forcing the Commonwealth to borrow from itself to cover expenditures. The governor has continued to mismanage his agencies and his budget proposal shows that he is planning to overspend by $900 million. We had hoped the governor would not only acknowledge this problem but would also work with us to fix it.
“Instead, we heard plans to increase spending in nearly every area of government, including a plan to borrow nearly $5 billion in a single year, leaving our children to pay off the debt. Naturally, when expenses go up, taxes would have to increase as well. Overtaxing Pennsylvanians is not the right way forward. Rather, and as we’ve seen over the past year or so, tax revenue actually increases when government lets the economy grow naturally. In fact, General Fund revenue is currently $158.5 million above what is expected because of this policy.
“As we enter the budget season, we look forward to further examining the governor’s proposal and the state of Pennsylvania’s finances so a responsible budget that respects taxpayers can be created.”
York County Republican House Delegation
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Greg Gross
717.260.6374
ggross@pahousegop.com