Simmons Co-Sponsors Bill to Limit State Spending
HARRISBURG – Emphasizing the importance of responsible and reasonable management of Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars, Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton) strongly supports legislation that would control the growth of state spending.
Simmons is a co-sponsor of the Taxpayer Protection Act (
House Bill 472), which was introduced in the House of Representatives on Monday. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate.
“Republicans took control of the General Assembly in 2010 and since then we have enacted budgets that uphold the basic principles of the Taxpayer Protection Act,” said Simmons. “However, there is no guarantee that will happen in the future. This legislation needs to be in place in order to protect taxpayers from the out-of-control spending that has plagued Pennsylvania in the past.”
The legislation would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to establish a spending cap based on a combination of the inflation rate and population growth, forcing state government to be fiscally responsible. It would also establish a healthy Rainy Day Fund for balancing the state budget during times of recession.
The Taxpayer Protection Act must be approved by two successive general assemblies and then would have to be decided by voters. The earliest a ballot referendum could go before the public would be 2017.
The bill has been referred to the House State Government Committee for consideration.
For more information on Simmons and his legislative priorities, please visit
www.RepSimmons.com or
www.Facebook.com/RepSimmons.
Representative Justin Simmons
131st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717.260.6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepSimmons.com /
Facebook.com/RepSimmons