Feb. 04, 2020
HARRISBURG – In the wake of the governor’s annual state budget address, state Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) expressed their disappointment in Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2020-21 budget proposal, a plan they describe as having “too much debt, too many taxes, and vast overspending.”
“While we all thought Groundhog Day came and went last weekend, the governor’s speech shows us it is truly ‘Groundhog Day’ once again,” Gabler said. “Today, we heard a rehash of the same old tired, rejected proposals from years gone by. The bottom line is this budget contains an overwhelming amount of borrowing, taxes and spending that will not serve the Pennsylvanians of today and will especially fail future generations by saddling them with a load of crushing debt.”
“Citizens of our area understand they can spend only what they have – not what they dream of having,” added Sankey. “This plan dreams of spending $5 billion we simply do not have. The governor needs to put his ear to the ground and listen to what ALL Pennsylvanians are saying, not just those in the cities.”
Gabler, who authored the first piece of legislation (Act 77 of 2013) to reduce the state’s debt limit for projects in the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, finds Wolf’s desire to reverse course and increase the program's debt level troubling.
“Wolf is proposing to add a billion dollars to a program that allows politicians to borrow from future taxpayers to finance the political projects of today,” said Gabler. “Spending irresponsibly in this manner ignores future generations and allows the governor to pick pet projects. With no intent to direct money to the Rainy Day Fund, the governor’s proposal is more likely to benefit political cronies rather than the long-term best interests of the citizens of Pennsylvania.”
Questions about this or any legislative issue should be directed to Gabler’s and Sankey’s Clearfield office at 814-765-0609, Gabler’s DuBois office at (814) 375-4688, his St. Marys office at (814) 781-6301 or Sankey’s Cambria County office at (814) 247-6210.
Representative Matt Gabler
75th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RepGabler.com /
Facebook.com/RepGabler
Representative Tommy Sankey
73rdDistrict, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RepSankey.com /
Facebook.com/RepSankey
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
slittle@pahousegop.com