Feb. 04, 2021
HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) joined his House colleagues in watching Gov. Tom Wolf outline his budget proposal for the 2021-22 fiscal year during a videotaped virtual address on Wednesday.
Heffley issued the following statement in reaction to the governor’s $40 billion spending plan:
“I was disappointed the governor chose to not deliver his remarks in person. I think as a leader, he should have set that example for the Commonwealth, as long as we followed all of the safety guidelines.
“As for the content of the budget address, he is calling for a $7 billion tax increase on the middle class. In the past, whenever we have talked about boosting the Personal Income Tax (PIT), it is always in lieu of raising property taxes. But the governor just wants to raise the PIT and property taxes as well. He also wants a tax on natural gas extraction and to legalize recreational marijuana in the middle of an opioid epidemic. I think his proposal is a nonstarter.
“People are not looking for handouts. They just want to be able to safely go back to work, and the governor can help them do that. Instead, he talked about tax increases, when the focus should be on vaccine distribution and safely reopening Pennsylvania’s economy.
“That said, I am willing to work with the governor to get this budget done before the June 30 deadline without placing a heavier tax burden on working-class families in Carbon County and across the state.”
Heffley noted that the governor’s address is just the beginning of the annual state budget process. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee, which will conduct a series of hearings starting Tuesday, Feb. 16, to examine the details of the governor’s plan and how state agencies are spending their funding. A schedule of the hearings is available at
pahousegop.com.
To view or download a broadcast-quality video of Heffley’s budget comments, click the video box below.
Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
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