Sep. 13, 2017
HARRISBURG – The state House today approved a plan to fund the 2017-18 state budget that is not dependent on tax increases or borrowing. House Bill 453 now needs Senate approval before it can be sent to Gov. Tom Wolf for his signature into law.
A key to finalizing the legislation was the work of a group of rank-and-file House members that includes state Reps. Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam), Seth Grove (R-Dover), Dawn Keefer (R-Dillsburg), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), Dan Moul (R-Gettysburg), Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township) and Will Tallman (R-Abbottstown). The members issued the following joint statement after passage of
House Bill 453:
“Our leadership team presented us with a challenge after the House was asked to have you - the taxpayer - accept a higher electric bill, a higher telephone bill and a higher natural gas bill, as well as burden your future family members through reckless borrowing so the 2017-18 budget would balance. We assumed you’d want us to say no to that proposal and went about looking for a better way.
“We found money you’ve already sent to Harrisburg that wasn’t being used responsibly. It was either sitting dormant in an inactive account or being used for monetary ‘padding’ as part of an inordinately high reserve fund balance. Those funds needed to be put to work.
“What we uncovered was an integral piece to finalizing a plan to responsibly fund the 2017-18 budget. Two added bonuses were discovering enough ‘sitting around’ money to also erase the 2016-17 deficit and reduce our pension systems’ unfunded liability. The result places Pennsylvania on better financial footing.
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House Bill 453 would also depend on reducing the House legislative reserve account by $20 million. We need to lead by example and do more with less.
“This funding plan asks for more
from your money, not more of your money. It is an alternative to taxing, bonding and borrowing our way to a false sense of security. We hope our Senate colleagues and Gov. Tom Wolf view it as a responsible way to close out the 2017-18 budget process.”
York County House Republican Delegation
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Scott Little
717.260.6137
slittle@pahousegop.com