Jun. 28, 2016
HARRISBURG – Today, Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in supporting a $31.55 billion state budget. The balanced spending plan would support the core functions of government, increase funding for education to historic levels and allocate new monies to address the state’s drug epidemic, without relying on Gov. Tom Wolf’s massive tax increases.
Ortitay issued this statement on the on-time budget compromise:
“When this year’s budget process began, Gov. Wolf once again called on the Legislature for unrealistic tax increases and spending—$2.7 billion in higher taxes, to be exact, which would have represented a 10 percent increase in the cost of state government. The governor’s plan would have increased the Personal Income Tax on working Pennsylvanians, expanded the Sales and Use Tax and increased numerous taxes on small businesses.
“Throughout the last year, I have heard two things consistently: People cannot afford the governor’s tax increases, nor can they afford another painful budget impasse. Last year, the impacts felt back home were unacceptable. Schools were on the brink of closing, and our most vulnerable citizens were at risk for not receiving the services they needed.
“In reality, the only way to avoid a repeat of last year’s impasse was to work together, and across the aisle, to get a responsible plan approved, on time, in the best interest of Pennsylvanians. That is the type of plan that we approved today.
“The bipartisan budget allocates $245 million in new education funding, bringing the total state dollars for education to the highest amount in state history. The budget also includes $15 million to address the state’s drug epidemic, $11 million in additional funding for veterans’ homes, and earmarks an additional $345 million to help reduce the state’s pension debt, without any broad-based tax increases.
“While I would have preferred to see a greater focus on exploring cost containment measures and eliminating government waste, duplicative services and inefficiencies, the budget passed today was a compromise, and like any compromise, you don’t get everything you want.
“However, that being said, I am pleased that we were able to get such strong bipartisan support, before June 30, for a plan that controls the growth of state government and shields taxpayers from the burdensome, unrealistic taxes proposed by Gov. Wolf.”
The budget approved today by the House is now headed to the Senate for concurrence, where it must be approved before it can be signed into law by the governor.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Morgan Wagner
717.260.6281
mwagner@pahousegop.com
RepOrtitay.com /
Facebook.com/RepOrtitay