Feb. 06, 2018
HARRISBURG – Rep. Rosemary M. Brown (R-Monroe/Pike) issued the following statement after a joint session of the General Assembly convened to hear the governor’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2018-19:
“My top priority for this budget cycle is to continue to control state spending to protect taxpayers and focus on priorities such as education and transparency. To help do just that, I sponsored
House Bill 1945 to improve the way we evaluate the governor’s supplemental budgetary funding requests. The bill would require a statement explaining the need for the appropriation, as well as cost-savings and other reforms that address the cause and need for the funding. The more information available to the public, and to us as legislators, the more we can work as a team to establish responsible and effective policies and budgets. We must always work together and be responsible when allocating taxpayer money.
“I was disappointed that the governor did not mention property tax reform in his address today. Eliminating school property taxes is the No. 1 issue in the 189th District and I support a state-level solution. I am pleased that the governor proposed an additional $100 million for basic education since all new money will be distributed through the new education funding formula I helped pass and that benefits our area and school districts.
“Throughout this budget process, I also look forward to continuing policies that foster a job-friendly environment that attracts businesses to our state and creates more jobs so we can keep our future generations close to home. We want to help people work their way out of poverty and off public assistance through positive welfare reform measures. I want to continue to encourage financial literacy programs for our youth so that our future generations understand how to best manage their money and how our economy works best.
“Finally, I must mention the state’s opioid and heroin and public health crisis when it comes this year’s budget. One of the fundamental budget goals is to protect families and communities. We have lost thousands of Pennsylvanians as a result of this emergency, and we must provide the necessary resources for treatment providers and law enforcement as they are on the front lines of this epidemic. This is an area that I have worked on with the governor and legislators from both parties, and will continue to do so in the future.”
Additional video comments are available at
YouTube.com/RepBrown.
For more information about Brown’s legislative and budgetary priorities, or any state-related issue, contact her district office in East Stroudsburg located at 143 Seven Bridge Road, by calling 570-420-8301. Information can also be found on online at
RepBrown.com or
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown.
Representative Rosemary M. Brown
189th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Krisinda Corbin
717.705.2032
KCorbin@pahousegop.com
RepBrown.com /
Facebook.com/RepRosemaryBrown