Jun. 20, 2018
Booming national economy, Republican fiscal restraint lead to improved financial picture for PA
HARRISBURG – Today, Rep. Jonathan Fritz (R-Susquehanna/Wayne) voted in favor of a 2018-19 state budget that does not raise taxes, puts money in savings and dedicates more funding to education and public safety.
“I am happy to announce that due to a stronger national economy and budgetary restraint over the past several years in the Commonwealth, Pennsylvania is experiencing a renewed economic forecast,” said Fritz. “Thanks to state initiatives to reduce regulatory burdens on businesses and our efforts to stave off tax increases, Pennsylvania is thriving. I have been saying for a long time that we don’t need more taxes, we just need to stand out of the way and let free markets and individual freedom thrive. And, that’s what’s happening!”
Total spending for the 2018-19 budget is $32.7 billion.
To watch Fritz’s comments on passage of the budget, go here.
When it comes to education, the House-passed budget will create a new $60 million block grant program for schools to institute stronger safety measures; increase funding for basic, special and pre-K education by $140 million; increase higher education, which includes state-related universities, State System of Higher Education schools and community colleges, by roughly 3 percent; and dedicate an additional $30 million for career and technical education.
Also included in the budget is an increase of $4 million for EMS agencies; funding to train an additional 285 state police troopers; money to serve an additional 965 people living with intellectual disabilities; and funds to provide services to 800 families affected by the opioid epidemic.
“I love my region of the state and the people and businesses that call this area home,” said Fritz. “This is the first budget in quite awhile that really contains some significant wins for rural Pennsylvania. With more money for additional state police troopers, who provide police coverage for much of our rural areas, along with money for ambulance companies that are having a hard time with funding and some needed increases for agriculture, we are making sure communities outside Philly, Pittsburgh and suburban areas are getting the attention they deserve.”
House Bill 2121, the budget vehicle, received overwhelming approval in the House and is expected to receive a favorable vote in the Senate and be signed by the governor.
For more information on the budget, go to
PAHouseGOP.com and click on “2018-19 State Budget.”
Representative Jonathan Fritz
111th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
RepFritzPA.com /
Facebook.com/RepFritz