Lancaster County House Republican Delegation Issues Statement on Passage of House Budget Proposal
6/26/2014
HARRISBURG – The Lancaster County Republican Delegation yesterday voted with their colleagues to approve a $29.1 billion state spending proposal which, for the fourth year in a row, would increase K-12 education spending over the previous budget and fund the core functions of government without raising taxes.
The spending plan is a $536 million increase over the 2013-14 fiscal year budget and includes increased funding for intellectual disabilities programs, county child welfare services, as well as rape crisis and domestic violence prevention programs, placing the Pennsylvania taxpayers’ best interests at the forefront as negotiations continue with the Senate.
State Reps. Ryan Aument (R-West Hempfield), Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom), Gordon Denlinger (R-Narvon), Mindy Fee (R-Manheim), Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock), Dave Hickernell (R-West Donegal), and Steve Mentzer (R-Lititz) issued the following statement following the floor vote on the budget proposal:
“There is no question this is a challenging budget year. While Republican policies have led to the state’s lowest unemployment rate since 2008 and jobs in the private sector are at a record high, our state has not been immune to the Obama Administration’s disastrous economic policies.
“Specifically, Pennsylvania taxpayers are faced with $340 million in reduced Medicaid funds, resulting in increased state costs and another $250 million to implement the wildly unpopular federally mandated ObamaCare program. In sum, the Obama Administration’s reckless spending has caused revenue collections to fall short, to the tune of $1.4 billion.
“Despite the fiscal hand we’ve been dealt, Pennsylvania House Republicans stepped up to the challenge and passed a budget proposal that keeps spending below the numbers specified by the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), while boosting K-12 education spending by 3.9 percent, the largest single line item increase.
“And, for the first time in seven years, this budget proposal would significantly increase state funding for special education by $20 million, a federal mandate for our schools the Administration and Congress have consistently failed to meet.”
Representative Ryan Aument, 41st Legislative District
Representative Bryan Cutler, 100th Legislative District
Representative Gordon Denlinger, 99th Legislative District
Representative Mindy Fee, 37th Legislative District
Representative Keith J. Greiner, 43rd Legislative District
Representative Dave Hickernell, 98th Legislative District
Representative Steven Mentzer, 97th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Charles Lardner
717.260.6443