More than one month after the new fiscal year began on July 1, the House today approved a state budget bill supported by Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana) that is headed to the governor’s desk for his signature. The governor has said he will use the bill as a stopgap measure to pay state workers.
The Senate approved the measure on May 6. House Democrat leaders, who control the chamber’s voting calendar, refused to bring the bill up for consideration until this week.
“We could have and should have done this back in May,” Reed said. “There was no reason for state workers to go without pay. While I’m glad that our prison guards, state police troopers and other state workers will finally be paid for the important work they do, we should never have come to this point. It is a shame that some politicians in Harrisburg are playing with people’s lives in an attempt to get their way.”
Gov. Ed Rendell has publicly voiced his intent to sign the bill into law as a means to pay state workers, who have not been paid for work they have performed since July 1. However, before signing the bill, the governor said he will “blue line” or line-item veto all spending that is not necessary to pay state workers. This means the governor would eliminate funding for local schools, colleges and universities, and other state programs and services.
“This action is a life preserver for Pennsylvanians when what they really need is a life boat,” Reed said. “Sure, they’re not drowning any more. But, they’re still bobbing around with no hope in sight.”
Reed said once the state workers are paid, he hopes the governor and legislative leaders will work together in a quick and bipartisan manner to agree on a final budget. He voiced concern that today’s action could result in the exchange of one group of “hostages” for another.
“The governor could release state workers, but take hostage Pennsylvania students and teachers,” Reed said. “By eliminating funding for schools and universities, the governor may hope to use the people who rely on these institutions as pawns in an effort to pressure lawmakers to vote for a tax increase. I hope this is not the case, but it has to be a concern for anyone who cares about education in our Commonwealth.”
The ongoing budget debate between the governor and legislative Republicans revolves around the issue of how much the state should spend and whether or not to raise taxes. The governor has called for significant spending increases and a 16 percent hike in the state’s Personal Income Tax (PIT) to pay for them. Legislative Republicans have called for a balanced budget that funds core government services without raising taxes.
Senate Bill 850 now heads to the governor’s desk for his consideration.
Rep. Dave Reed
62nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 705-7173
Contact: Dan Massing
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 772-9845