Ortitay Joins Colleagues in Approving State Budget
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) issued the following statement in response to passage of a $31.99 billion Fiscal Year 2017-18 state budget:
“This year should serve a reminder to everyone in the wake of the last two budget years that the state needs to change the budgeting process. After the House passed a budget in April, it's disappointing that it took until the last week of the fiscal year to begin serious budget talks. It has become a rushed process that often causes Harrisburg to pass a budget before passing a revenue plan to fund it. It's like a child going to a candy store, filling a basket with candy and walking up to the register without any money.
“There are things I’m happy about in this budget and things I’m not. Education spending has been increased to historic levels and school transportation funding reinstated. There are no new broad-based tax increases, no hidden offline spending and additional funding for manufacturing jobs. It is a significantly better budget than the one the governor proposed, which was almost $600 million higher.
“We need to make government run more efficiently and better for the taxpayers. We need to work on additional policy reforms that provide better services and work more efficiently for the taxpayer. Instead of chasing revenues, we need to live within our means and stop mortgaging the future for the next generation.
“I will continue to work with anyone and everyone to reinvent Pennsylvania government. I look forward to working with leadership in the House, Senate and governor to make the budgetary process better. Together we can move the Commonwealth forward.”
For more information on the 2017-18 budget, visit
pahousegop.com.
The 46th Legislative District includes Collier and South Fayette townships and Bridgeville, Heidelberg, McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Canton, Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and Smith townships and Burgettstown, McDonald and Midway boroughs in Washington County.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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