Gabler Criticizes Rendell's Budget

HARRISBURG - State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) issued the following statement in reaction to today's budget address from Gov. Ed Rendell:

"As someone who ran for office armed with a desire to effect the real change that voters desired from their elected leaders, I find no good reason to support the spending plan laid out today. The administration's strategy for next year's budget exemplifies the same pattern of spending behavior that has contributed to the state of disorder we now find ourselves in.

"Today we witnessed is nothing less than economic sleight of hand from the administration. The proposal is being portrayed as a spending decrease is in fact just the opposite to the tune of a $705 million increase. This request to spend more comes at a time when our constituents are in many instances being forced to spend less, thereby exhibiting more of the undisciplined habits that have been the hallmark of our governor's time in office.

"This budget relies too heavily on the expected Federal stimulus plan and too little on reigning in our state's past practices with regard to spending. We have no idea what will be coming our way from Washington, D.C., and therefore, we cannot rely heavily on a definitive amount of support. Conversely, $281 million in new taxes plus the continued pattern of borrowing makes it look as though our state's leaders have not learned a lesson from the bad habits that contributed to this crisis.

"We are tasked with serving as stewards of the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. We must also be examples of good business practices. If the families in our legislative districts ran their households in the manner that we are being asked to run our House (and Senate), they would putting themselves on a certain path to financial hardship. While our constituents make personal sacrifices, we in turn must do more with less and not sacrifice future generations by saddling them with the inevitable debt and tax increases that come with this spending plan.

"We can and must do better than a strategy that imposes $281 million in new taxes. The people of Pennsylvania have been taxed to the limit and deserve a more responsible business model in Harrisburg. This responsibility must start with a refocusing of state funding onto programs that are most effective in assisting those most in need, and a reduction in programs that have been less effective in serving our fellow citizens. My hope is we can find a solution to our budget crisis that more exemplifies state government working hard to give its citizens what they deserve."