Dec. 14, 2017
HARRISBURG – The House this week approved a historic package of bills to improve the annual state budget-crafting process by bringing integrity, transparency and spending limits to the forefront. The package includes legislation sponsored by Rep. Rosemary M. Brown (R-Monroe/Pike).
Brown’s
House Bill 1945 seeks to improve the Legislature’s ability to evaluate funding the governor’s supplemental budgetary requests by requiring a statement explaining the need for the appropriation, as well as cost-savings and/or other reforms that address the cause and need for the supplemental funding.
“It is extremely important that the legislative body understands each supplemental appropriation requested by the governor so that we can review and validate the expense and work on policies and actions to possibly avoid them, or minimize them in the future, while respecting and protecting taxpayer dollars,” Brown said. “The more information that is available to the public and legislators, the more we can work as a team to establish responsible and effective policies and budgets.”
Brown explained on the House floor that each year, as part of the state budget process, the governor requests supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year. These requests typically reflect payments that legally have to be paid, but the need for these requests can vary, including growth in the need for an entitlement program or an unexpected increased in personnel costs.
House Bill 1945 is part of a package of six bills, including –
House Bills 1940,
1941,
1942,
1943 and
1944 – which requires transparency through an official estimate of how much money the state will have, more information about the balances in taxpayer-supported special funds used to provide grants and subsidies, and the creation of monetary reserves during revenue shortfalls. The package has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.
For more information about House Bill 1945, or any state-related issue, contact Brown’s district office in
East Stroudsburg located at 143 Seven Bridge Road, by calling 570-420-8301. Information can also be found on online at
RepBrown.com or
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown.
Representative Rosemary M. Brown
189th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
KCorbin@pahousegop.com
RepBrown.com /
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown