Scarnati Praises Passage of
'Fiscally Responsible' Budget Bill
WARREN--The State Senate today passed and sent to the House of Representatives a proposed state budget package that cuts state spending below last year’s levels and maintains funding for core state services and programs, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson), who worked to negotiate the final compromise.
Most importantly, Scarnati mentioned, the budget compromise is a win for state taxpayers because it includes no broad-based tax increases that had been proposed earlier by the Administration, and it will be sustainable over the coming year.
“This budget is a win for state taxpayers because it does not include an increase in the personal income tax or higher spending,” Scarnati said. “It will not mortgage our state’s future through higher taxes and spending and it will help us to live within our means – just like working families have to do.”
He added that while spending was reduced over last year, the budget does include increases in education funding, to ensure that schools and students receive the resources they need.
“This process has gone on for far too long and we need to get money flowing to programs and services that have been affected by the impasse,” Scarnati said. “The budget package we approved today is realistic, fiscally responsible and reflects the current economic climate in the Commonwealth. I urge the House to move quickly to put this budget package on the Governor’s desk this week so we can help those day care centers and human services agencies that are in need of state funding.”
Senate Bill 1085 sets general fund spending at $27.834 billion – more than $1 billion less than the Governor’s initial budget request and $432 million less than the approved 2008-09 budget total of $28.267 billion
e-mailed from Senator Scarnati's office
Most importantly, Scarnati mentioned, the budget compromise is a win for state taxpayers because it includes no broad-based tax increases that had been proposed earlier by the Administration, and it will be sustainable over the coming year.
“This budget is a win for state taxpayers because it does not include an increase in the personal income tax or higher spending,” Scarnati said. “It will not mortgage our state’s future through higher taxes and spending and it will help us to live within our means – just like working families have to do.”
He added that while spending was reduced over last year, the budget does include increases in education funding, to ensure that schools and students receive the resources they need.
“This process has gone on for far too long and we need to get money flowing to programs and services that have been affected by the impasse,” Scarnati said. “The budget package we approved today is realistic, fiscally responsible and reflects the current economic climate in the Commonwealth. I urge the House to move quickly to put this budget package on the Governor’s desk this week so we can help those day care centers and human services agencies that are in need of state funding.”
Senate Bill 1085 sets general fund spending at $27.834 billion – more than $1 billion less than the Governor’s initial budget request and $432 million less than the approved 2008-09 budget total of $28.267 billion
e-mailed from Senator Scarnati's office
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