Feb. 08, 2022
HARRISBURG - PA State Rep. David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union) issues the following statement in response to Gov. Tom’s Wolf’s final budget address on Tuesday.
“Just like Punxsutawney Phil, Gov. Tom Wolf saw a familiar shadow of another year of significant spending increases paid for by Pennsylvania families.
“The proposed $43.7 billion budget is a 16.6% increase over the prior year, equating to $17 million per day in new state spending or $1,055 annually per working Pennsylvanian. After almost eight years in office, the governor's legacy is one of shuttered schools, bankrupt small businesses, and personal tax increase proposals at the height of the pandemic.
“Last June, my colleagues and I approved a responsible budget that created the healthiest reserve Pennsylvania has seen in decades without any tax increases, and now the governor wants to spend every penny.
“Gov. Wolf is living in a fantasy if he thinks he has created a positive legacy for himself. In his last year in office, he is attempting to buy a gubernatorial legacy, but really, he would only be leaving us in a rapidly growing fiscal sinkhole.
“Today was an expected disappointment, but I look forward to working with my colleagues to craft a responsible budget that supports our small businesses, ensures an excellent education for all students regardless of their zip code, and safeguards the financial future of the Commonwealth."