Brewster says state budget features historic fundings

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com

State Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, updated Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce members about where things stand with state budget talks.
The senator was the keynote speaker of the annual MYAC Legislative Luncheon Friday at Youghiogheny Country Club in Elizabeth Township.
The new fiscal year for Pennsylvania begins July 1, and Brewster said no state tax increases were being proposed.
Brewster said lawmakers will be in Harrisburg today through Saturday trying to hash out the spending plan. He’s hoping the budget — which he said includes historic fundings — is approved by Saturday.
“We’re sitting right now with north of a $3 billion surplus in revenue, and thanks to the American Rescue Plan, another $7.2 billion. So, we’re just north of $10 billion in surplus, which to my knowledge has never happened before,” Brewster said.
“That’s a good thing,” he said.
“This is coming indirectly. It can change literally by the hour, but we’re told in the governor’s budget there’s no tax increase plan,” Brewster said Friday.
Democrats are “looking to spend, if we can, about $1.3 billion on schools, which is a good thing that should mitigate some of the local school taxes,” Brewster said.
He said the coronavirus pandemic and approval of the American Rescue Plan has impacted the way state Senate Democrats are looking at the spending plan.
“This is probably, having lived through 2008 when I was mayor (of McKeesport) during the recession whenever they bailed the car manufacturers and banks, I’ve never seen anything the likes of this to help people, small businesses, those who are unemployed, communities, school districts,” he said, later adding that “One of the problems we have is, we’re still not sure if we’re at the finish line on the pandemic, so we have to be careful how we spend this money.”
The senator said be believes “that this year there will be very little disagreement.”
“Everyone seems to want to do the right thing with regard to infrastructure. We have to find the money for the sewers, water lines and roads and bridges, and that’s sort of thing,” he said.

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State Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, was the keynote speaker at the Mon Yough Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Luncheon on Friday. Members on the legislative panel are, from left, Allegheny County Councilman Bob Macey, state Reps. Brandon Markosek and Austin Davis, both Democrats; Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission CEO Mark Compton; state Rep. Nick Pisciottano and state Sen. Jim Brewster, both Democrats; and MYAC President Maury Burgwin.
Jeff Stitt / Mon Valley Independent