By Stanley Saylor (R-York), chairman,

Pennsylvania House Republican Policy Committee

The 2009-10 fiscal year began on July 1, 2009.  Unfortunately, Pennsylvania did not have a budget for the fiscal year until October 2009.  That delay meant thousands of Pennsylvanians who rely on programs which are funded through the state budget were unable to get the services they need.

As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to pass a state budget by June 30 each year.  While we can disagree and debate over the specifics of the budget, it is our duty to resolve those differences and come to a compromise by the deadline.  Our failure to meet that responsibility had a serious impact on the lives of the people we represent.  We cannot allow it to happen again.

Earlier this month, when Gov. Ed Rendell presented his budget plan for the 2010-11 fiscal year, he acknowledged the need for all of us to set partisanship aside in order to meet the budget deadline.  I appreciate his comments and I am pleased he is committed to accomplishing that goal.  I sincerely hope lawmakers will remember the governor’s call to “govern for the common good” as the budget process moves forward.

I was also pleased the governor recognized the difficult financial challenges our Commonwealth is likely to face in the future, such as a looming pension funding crisis and the expiration of federal stimulus funds.  House Republicans have been raising concerns about these issues for years.  While it will take time to analyze the details of his plan for addressing our challenges, it is gratifying that the governor takes them into consideration in his budget proposal.

I do have some concerns about the governor’s proposed $29 billion budget.  In particular, I have reservations about the plan’s $1.2 billion spending increase given Pennsylvania’s current revenue situation.  At the end of the last fiscal year, revenues were $3.25 billion below estimates.  This year, revenues are already $374 million below estimates.  The problem is made worse by the fact that the current budget spent all of our one-time reserve funds.  When we do not have enough revenue to cover what we are already spending, it is irresponsible to spend more.  

The governor’s plan relies on $1 billion in tax increases to pay for its spending.  Now is not the time to increase taxes on Pennsylvanians.  Families are struggling.  They cannot afford to give more of what they earn to Harrisburg.  Employers are trying to stay afloat through difficult economic times.  If they are going to weather this recession and continue providing jobs in Pennsylvania, we cannot make it even more expensive for them to do business here.

The governor is also counting on $800 million in stimulus funds from the federal government.  These funds have not been approved by Congress and at this point there is no guarantee we will get them. Even if the funds are approved, they will only be a one-time influx of cash.  They will be gone in 2011-12, and we will be left with a large spending obligation and no way to pay for it without a large tax increase. 

I do not agree with every aspect of the governor’s plan and I am sure the governor does not agree with me on some issues.  Disagreement is a healthy part of the legislative process.  But we cannot allow our disagreement to turn into a battle of partisan wills.  Pennsylvanians expect and deserve better from us. 

I look forward to working with my colleagues and the governor to approve a responsible state budget by the June 30 deadline. 

Rep. Stanley Saylor
94th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 244-9232
(717) 783-6426

www.RepSaylor.com
Contact:  Sean L. Yeakle

House Republican Public Relations
(717) 787-3406

www.pahousegop.com