HARRISBURG – Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill/Carbon/Luzerne) voiced concerns today about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed $3.2 billion budget increase.
Shapiro’s plan represents a 7.1% increase in overall state spending and would exhaust the state’s savings account, the Rainy Day Fund. Argall noted that the governor’s spending projections are very different from data provided by the Independent Fiscal Office, casting doubt about the sustainability of this level of spending.
Argall said, “I want to do more to help our students and invest in Pennsylvania’s economy – the key question is what can our taxpayers afford?
“This budget proposal is very similar to Governor Wolf’s unsuccessful budget plans. We heard a long wish list of what our governor would like to spend, without a detailed explanation of how to pay for it.
“We need to be realistic. We cannot follow California and New York down the path of reckless spending. Their choice, now that they have spent down their reserves, is to slash important programs or dramatically increase taxes. We don’t want to make the same mistake here in Pennsylvania.
“The Senate and the House now need to determine which numbers are real, and which numbers are phony.”
CONTACT: Jim Brugger, 717-787-2637