Mihalek Responds to Budget Address
HARRISBURG – Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington) issued the below statement following Tuesday’s budget address:
“In his effort to increase our overall budget by 16.6%, I fear that Gov. Tom Wolf is neglecting the seriousness of Pennsylvania’s fiscal outlook over the next few years. The Independent Fiscal Office has been very clear that our revenues will slow while our expenses inflate. This cannot be ignored.
“I appreciate that the administration wants to use the federal funding that the Commonwealth has received over the last two years, but using these one-time grants to prop up fixed, annual spending is a dangerous trap that taxpayers expect us to stay away from.
“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I look forward to taking an even harder look at his proposal. But I will certainly maintain those sentiments that have been successful during the last few budget cycles: to prioritize government’s key functions and services such as education and public safety while keeping spending in check. Ultimately, citizens now and in the future, should have confidence that the taxes they send to Harrisburg are not spent haphazardly.”