Feb. 06, 2018
HARRISBURG – Following the governor’s budget address on Tuesday, when he presented his proposal for the 2018-19 state budget, Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin) issued the following statement, outlining his priorities for this budget cycle:
“This year, our budget focus must concentrate on how we are going to grow the Commonwealth. The goal for Pennsylvania’s future is economic growth. Pennsylvania benefits when the state’s economy grows, and everyone shares in the success.
“The success we are in need of does not occur when you work within a budget process that puts the cart before the horse – or in our case – puts the spending in front of what we collect. The state budget process needs to begin like the budgeting that occurs in households across the state. Taxpayers have a good idea of how much money will be coming into their homes, and they try not to spend more than that; it’s that simple. We should be leading by example in this regard.
“To grow our future workforce, we need to continue to connect our education system with the skills and knowledge our job creators are looking for. We have a skills gap in our state and we are considering several bills right now to make this vital connection to grow our economy from the workforce perspective. Student and economic success in our state is achieved through applicable learning and effectively applying much-needed skills.
“Unfortunately, the welfare cushion in Pennsylvania too often encourages people to choose welfare over work. I am sponsoring a bill that deals with improving our food stamp program. The bill says that people who are able-bodied, without dependents, between the ages of 18 and 49, who are capable of working should be working as opposed to choosing to be on a welfare program over a good job. We need these individuals in working roles to help ensure our economy grows. We have a system right now that does not always offer an incentive for people to do more, but rather rewards them for doing the minimum. We want Pennsylvania workers to earn more at a job than they do on a welfare roll.
“If we can effectively connect education and job creation, focus our welfare programs on those citizens who are truly in need, and change burdensome over-regulation to ones that are simple and meaningful, Pennsylvania and its citizens will win.”
For more information about Tobash’s legislative and budgetary priorities, or any other state-related issue, contact his district office in Schuylkill Haven located at 988 East Main St., by calling 570-385-8235. Information can also be found online at
RepTobash.com or
Facebook.com/RepTobash.
Representative Mike Tobash
125th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
kcorbin@pahousegop.com
RepTobash.com /
Facebook.com/RepTobash