PA House Passes Fiscally Responsible Budget

Last night, the Pennsylvania House passed a $27.3 billion General Fund budget bill (HB 1485). The fiscally responsible proposal includes no new taxes, prioritizes resources and maintains the spending level proposed in Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget (you can find differences between the proposals here). Holding spending to $27.3 billion represents a $700 million cut from the current year spending.  More facts on the state budget here.

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration, and is expected to return to the House for a final vote before June 30.  Elected officials should adhere to this fiscally prudent path, resisting the temptation to overspend.

But some lawmakers seem more concerned about avoiding cuts than long-term fiscal stability. They argue every penny the state has for the General Fund should be spent. This position ignores the state’s growing debt and pension obligations, and places more financial burdens on future generations.

Ask your legislators to stand strong for a budget that puts all taxpayers first.