Feb. 04, 2025
HARRISBURG –Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) offers the following reaction to today’s budget address from Gov. Josh Shapiro, in which he is proposing a $51.47 billion spending plan, an increase of 7.5% from the current fiscal year.
“Today, Gov. Shapiro tried to convince us that we need to increase our spending by $3.57 billion over the current year, even though he projects our revenue will increase by just $1.3 billion. State expenditures cannot, and should not, outpace our income. His solution to make up the difference is to drain the remaining $2.89 billion of General Fund surplus – money that House Republicans have built up over the years to protect our citizens in times of economic downturn. This is not the answer.
“Residents must live within their means, and it is time Pennsylvania state government does also. Continuing to increase spending is just putting Pennsylvania further in debt. Now is the time to grow our economy, not to raise our taxes.
“The governor continues to call for economically damaging energy taxes that will directly tax coal and gas power units, and will be passed to consumers in the form of higher energy bills. This must stop.
“Know that I will stand against this unaffordable, irresponsible and misleading spending plan to protect taxpayers. The people of Pennsylvania deserve a balanced budget that funds the programs we need, and none of those we don’t.”
The governor’s address is just the beginning of the annual state budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings to examine the details of the governor’s plan and how state agencies are spending their funding. The hearings begin Feb. 18.
Representative Brenda Pugh
120th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives