Feb. 03, 2021 / Press Release
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021-22 budget proposal:
“Every year Pennsylvania has the constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget. That process starts with the governor’s budget address, typically at the beginning of February. This is followed by three weeks of hearings on the budget proposal, then three months of potential negotiations, and finally at the end of June, a budget deal.
“Today Gov. Wolf presented his budget proposal. It is just that, a “proposal.” It lays out his wish list to the Legislature for consideration in crafting an annual state budget. Whether you love or hate the budget proposal, remember it’s just a proposal.
“It’s a proposal that I don’t agree with. It seeks to solve some of the state’s problems with recycled ideas that have all largely been rejected by the Legislature in previous years including the largest personal income tax increase in the state’s history, increased taxes to small businesses and massive borrowing and spending. With that said, we need new ideas and new approaches to move Pennsylvania into the 21st century, especially with our education system. Throwing money at it does not solve the problems our system is faced with in 2021 – in a year that the state will undoubtedly face another budget deficit due to the pandemic.
“Our top priorities should be focused on improving our lagging vaccine distribution and creating easy ways for people to schedule and sign up for the vaccine. That topic wasn’t mentioned in today’s budget address nor was an economic recovery plan for coming out of the pandemic.
“The bottom line is that our state government is broken. This proposal does nothing to help fix it or present a vision for the future of our state. We need to work together to provide a government that works for the people of the Commonwealth.
“I look forward to working with the governor to craft a responsible budget.”
For more information on Wolf’s 2021-22 proposal, visit
www.pahousegop.com.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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