Causer Responds to Partial Budget Veto
HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to line-item veto portions of the 2015-16 state budget sent to him just before Christmas:
“After six months of rejecting repeated attempts by the Legislature to get funding out to the agencies and organizations that need it most, Gov. Wolf finally saw the light today and did what he could have done back in June. Despite his decision to veto portions of the budget bill, the governor is releasing funds desperately needed by our schools and human service agencies. School children and people in need of support services should never have been held hostage by his actions in the first place, and I am pleased they are finally getting at least some of the funding owed to them.
“That said, I remain disappointed by the governor’s actions. In his press conference today announcing the line-item vetoes, he claims our budget cut $95 million in funding for public education. The reality is it actually increases overall education funding by more than $400 million over last year.
“The governor needs to be honest with the taxpayers about what is in this budget, and he needs to be honest about how he plans to pay for the alternative budget he is advocating. His $30.8 billion plan will require significant increases in the state income tax or sales tax, or both. It’s easy to advocate for higher spending, but it’s irresponsible to do so without explaining how you plan to pay for it.
“While I remain as frustrated as anyone with the lack of a full-year budget, I recognize the final plan must be responsible and affordable for the people who have to foot the bill and will continue to fight for that.”
Representative Martin T. Causer
67th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Patricia A. Hippler
717.772.9846
phippler@pahousegop.com
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