The Pennsylvania budget is on course to slip beyond a June 30th deadline as the divided legislature and Gov. Shapiro wrangle over competing proposals.
With a very slim majority in the House, Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro proposed a massive $52 billion budget – a significant 7.5% spending increase from last year.
The Republican-controlled Senate is fighting off the reckless spending proposal, which promises to put the state in a tough fiscal position moving forward, and potentially create pressure to increase taxes in the future.
Despite the difficult position, it is vitally important Republicans do not approve any new tax increases this year. Voters ensured Republicans maintained control of the Senate knowing their brand was an anti-tax increase brand.
A dozen Republicans in the legislature have taken the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, the written commitment to their voters that they will oppose all tax hikes – including Senate President Pro Tem Kim Ward.
The Democrat-controlled House is not helping on spending, but did approve a budget that did not include tax increases.
Gov. Shapiro wants a whopping $293 million in state aid for city mass transit agencies, like SEPTA in Philadelphia. Mass transit agencies are often a quagmire of wasteful spending and cushy rules that benefit big labor unions.
This demand in particular is causing a stir on how to deal with the cost. Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman “said transit money must be coupled with road and bridge funding,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Democrats are putting Republicans in as difficult a position as possible as they unreasonably demand spending on their pet interests, spending the state cannot afford.
Republicans clearly are fighting to hold the line on spending, the worst thing they could do in crunch time is give in to a tax increase. That would give the Democrats their wish on spending AND have Republicans violate their principles.
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Author: Doug Kellogg
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