Irvin Says Governor’s Budget Proposal is Unsustainable

February 8, 2022

HARRISBURG – In response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal to increase state spending by $6.2 billion, or 16.6%, over the current year, Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin) issued the following statement:

“It is always tempting to spend money when it isn’t yours; however, the additional $6 billion the governor wants to spend is YOUR money. 

“He wants to follow in the path of our nation’s leader and spend money we don’t have on programs we don’t need, while ignoring what truly needs fixed. 

“His budget proposal is outlandish and demonstrates a real lack of awareness of what our state needs. Inflation is at a 40-year high, businesses are shutting their doors and students are still suffering from forced school closures during the pandemic. Consumer goods and services are lacking, and business are closing, in part due to a lack of workers.

“It is not in the best interest of the Commonwealth to be growing state government and dramatically increasing the amount of taxpayer dollars it is spending. Right now, we need to be saving money and making target investments where they will yield the greatest return. We can and must do better than the spending spree the governor is proposing.

“The only positive thing I can say about this budget is that for once he is not trying to strip funding that supports our farmers and the state’s agriculture industry.”

For more information on the governor’s state budget proposal, go to pahousegop.com.