The region’s state lawmakers are optimistic about the 2019-20 state budget after Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his proposal Tuesday, but all cautioned that higher spending is not the best way to serve Pennsylvania residents.
In the budget, Wolf proposed a severance tax on natural gas extraction, which would be borrowed against to increase spending by more than $1 billion.
All three Republican lawmakers — Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, state Rep. Marty Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and state Rep. Matt Gabler, R-DuBois — shared the same general thought: Pennsylvania can’t afford to increase spending.
“Given that the economy in Pennsylvania has never been stronger, the reality of our fiscal situation is that we must reduce the proposed spending for 2019-2020,” Scarnati said. “I remain committed to a budget that respects taxpayers while helping continue to foster job growth and economic development across our Commonwealth. It is imperative that we continue to look for reforms and ways to make government more efficient, instead of looking for ways to spend more tax dollars.”
Causer had similar concerns.
“While I am pleased to see the governor come forth with a proposal that does not increase sales or income taxes on our hard-working citizens, I am concerned that he is proposing to increase spending by nearly $1 billion to more than $34.1 billion,” Causer said. “We are still looking at the details of his proposal, but the bottom line is bigger government and higher spending are not good for our taxpayers or the economy.”
Gabler’s comments raised the same issues regarding taking on more debt.
“I have serious concerns with the aspects of the governor’s plan that rely on increased debt that will be shouldered by our children and grandchildren to support increases in near-term spending,” Gabler said. “While the governor highlighted his request for no new taxes, we know his proposed spending increase is reliant on borrowing against a new energy tax that would negatively impact our local economy and the revenue streams that benefit local communities.”
All three legislators said Wolf’s budget proposal is a good place to start this year’s process of negotiations.
“Overall, I see this proposal as a good building block from which we can debate and negotiate a fiscally responsible state budget that funds core services without tax increases and massive spending increases,” Scarnati said.
But at the same time, he specifically took issue with Wolf’s push for a Marcellus Shale extraction tax, a fee for municipalities that rely on the state police for local police coverage and a plan to cut funding for school safety grants by $15 million, or 25 percent.
“The School Safety and Security Committee has received over $300 million in requested funds from schools for safety provisions which are vital to keeping our schools and students secure,” said the Senate President Pro Tempore, who pushed for funding of the program as part of last year’s budget. “Keeping our schools and students safe from threats and violence is crucial and so is funding for that effort.”
Scarnati also raised questions about proposed cuts to programs benefiting veterans, agriculture and rural health initiatives, saying he will look closely at restoring funding for these programs and services.
Causer reminded that Wolf’s proposal is simply the start of the budget process. Gabler added, “The governor’s budget plan includes many worthwhile proposals and new ideas. Determining their fiscal viability is why we hold the upcoming series of Appropriations Committee hearings.”
