HARRISBURG – Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) attended a joint session of the General Assembly today during which Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his state budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Mackenzie issued the following statement in reaction to the governor’s $48.3 billion spending plan, which is a $3.7 billion (8.4%) increase over the current fiscal year:

“The governor had a few decent ideas, but his spending wish list is too long, and the overall amount of spending is fiscally irresponsible. After years of tough budget decisions, we have finally, successfully, gotten the state back onto stable financial footing. We should reject the governor’s call for massive spending increases that rely on dipping into important reserve accounts because that is not sustainable in the long term.

“We have a balanced budget requirement in state government, which is a good thing. We just can’t print money like the federal government. Therefore, we need to focus on our priorities and deliver a no-tax increase budget that is balanced.”

Mackenzie noted that the governor’s address is just the beginning of the annual state budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings starting Tuesday, Feb. 20, to examine the details of the governor’s plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. The General Assembly and governor face a June 30 deadline to finalize the budget.

Information provided to TVL by:
Andy Briggs
Representative Ryan Mackenzie
187th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
http://www.repmackenzie.com/

 

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