Feb. 04, 2025
HARRISBURG – Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled his budget priorities for the 2025-26 fiscal year. State Rep. Brian Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana) issued the following statement in response:
“If the governor gets his way, he will have completely drained an $8 billion state surplus in three years. We are less than five years removed from a bona fide economic crisis in this country, and this is the governor’s idea of the way forward? It’s nothing short of irresponsible.
“To make matters worse, he also plans to dip into the Rainy Day Fund to help balance the books. That money is there for emergencies, not to pay for more senseless spending.
“The only ways to make this plan sustainable involve tax increases or ramping up our economy. However, the governor’s disastrous energy policy proposals don’t lend themselves to boosting the economy.
“Rather than more government spending, we should focus on keeping government out of the way of our energy industry and our businesses in general. That’s the best way to grow an economy, not burning through nearly $51.5 billion in taxpayer money.”
Representative Brian Smith
66th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives