Jun. 20, 2018
HARRISBURG – Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) today voted in favor of the 2018-19 state budget, saying he had little reason to vote against it.
“It has been a long time since we have heard the word ‘surplus’ in connection with our state budget, but this year will be different,” Moul said. “Holding the line on state spending and standing up for taxpayers has clearly put Pennsylvania on firmer financial ground than it was just a few years ago when it was facing a $2 billion budget deficit.”
Today, the House overwhelmingly approved the $32.7 billion spending plan, which is just 1.7 percent higher than last year’s budget – an increase that is below the rate of inflation. It contains no new taxes or fees, and for the first time since 2006, it will set money aside in the Rainy Day Fund.
“This is a decent budget and we are even getting it done early,” said Moul. “It pays the bills, does not raise taxes, increases funding in key areas, and there’s money left over.”
The 2018-19 budget, which is now on its way to the Senate for consideration, invests $457 million more for PreK-12 education, bringing total spending to a record-high $12.3 billion. Included is $224 million for the Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System; $170 million for basic education, special education, PreK Counts, Head Start and Career and Technical Education; and $60 million for the creation of a new school safety initiative. Higher education will also see increases. Pennsylvania’s state-related universities and community colleges will get a 3 percent increase and the State System of Higher Education will get 3.3 percent more. Other key increases include about $7 million more for the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection; about $8 million more for the departments of Health and Veterans Affairs.
Moul, a staunch opponent of the massive tax increases proposed in recent years, said he could not vote for last year’s budget because it borrowed $1.5 billion from future state revenues. “That budget will fall squarely on the backs of our children and grandchildren and I could not vote for it,” Moul said. “This year, things are looking up.”
More information is available at
http://www.pahousegop.com/201819pabudget.aspx.
Representative Dan Moul
91st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives