O’Neal Voices Support for State Budget
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) today issued the following statement in response to the House on Friday approving a $39.79 billion Fiscal Year 2021-22 state budget:
“I’m pleased to support another no-tax-increase state budget. As we exit the pandemic, now is not the time to be raising taxes despite the governor’s wishes. We need to carefully think about how we use the federal stimulus money. It is not the government’s money. It is the taxpayers’ money.
“We are placing $2.52 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund. This will bring the fund to $2.76 billion, a historic level never seen before. If 2020 taught us anything, it is that we need to be prepared for the unexpected. If you asked anyone two years ago if we would experience a pandemic that would shut down the world, very few people would have predicted it.
“I have been a long-time champion of the Rainy Day Fund. My House Bill 51 would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to require budget surpluses to be deposited into the Rainy Day Fund until the total amount in the fund is equal to 20% of all revenue collected by the Commonwealth. In order for money from the Rainy Day Fund to be used for state spending, either the state treasurer would have to loan money to the General Fund or the Legislature would have to approve the expenditure by a two-thirds vote. While this budget strengthens the Rainy Day Fund, my legislation would fortify it further which would raise our credit rating while leaving the state more prepared to handle a future recession. I’m hopeful my bill will see action soon.”
For more information on the 2021-22 state budget, go to
www.pahousegop.com.
The 48th Legislative District in Washington County includes the city of Washington; Chartiers, North Franklin, North Strabane and South Strabane townships; and Canonsburg, East Washington and Houston boroughs.
Representative Tim O’Neal
48th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
RepONeal.com /
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