Sep. 14, 2017
HARRISBURG – Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton) released the following statement in response to House passage of a revenue package to completely fund the 2017-18 state budget:
“Instead of supporting the proposal the Senate passed and Gov. Tom Wolf endorsed, which includes hundreds of millions in additional taxes and borrowing more than $1 billion, the House came up with a plan that does not call for either tax increases or borrowing,” said Marsico. “I have been listening to what people in my district, and across the state, have been saying since we began the 2017-18 state budget process. They asked me to fight against higher taxes, and today’s passage of a no-tax-increase plan is an important victory in that ongoing battle.”
The revenues to fund the governor’s $1.5 billion deficit from 2016-17 as well as the anticipated $600 million in revenue necessary for the current budget would come from the following sources:
- $20 million from legislative reserve accounts.
- $1 billion lump sum by selling a portion of the Tobacco Settlement funding stream.
- $630 million in Special Fund Transfers.
- $400 million in multi-year agency lapsed funds.
- $225 million from gaming reform proceeds.
- $50 million in additional Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board transfers.
- $200 million from a Pennsylvania Professional Liability Joint Underwriting Association transfer.
- $100 million loan from the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund.
- $15 million transfer from Commonwealth Financing Authority – New Venture Account.
“This plan shows we do not need to further burden the taxpayers through higher taxes or borrowing to balance this budget. I encourage members of the Senate and Gov. Tom Wolf to join us in finalizing this budget so we can continue to address other important issues facing the Commonwealth.”
Representative Ronald Marsico
105th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RonMarsico.com
Media Contact: Autumn R. Southard, 717.652.3721
asouthar@pahousegop.com