Local legislators mixed on state’s new budget

The disagreements don’t all involve party lines.

By MICHAEL VINSICK
mvinsick@yourmvi.com

Mon Valley lawmakers had mixed reactions to the $50.8 billion budget deal that was finalized Sunday.

State Sen. Nick Pisciottano, D-West Mifflin, supports the budget, highlighting the $15 million that will go toward public education in his district, as well as $53 million for additional bridge and road projects in Allegheny County.

“The new state budget passed today invests in our community, devoting funds to our kids’ schools, repairing more roads and bridges, and lowering costs for Pennsylvanians, with no tax increase,” Pisciottano said in a press release.

Many legislators refused to sign on to the budget deal, claiming it supports government action while taxpayers don’t benefit. Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Perryopolis, claims that eliminating property and inheritance taxes, along with lowering the gas tax, would provide more benefit to Pennsylvanians.

“It’s time to stop growing government on the backs of taxpayers,” Warner said. “If Harrisburg supposedly has this much money to spend, then it’s time to give some of it back to the hardworking people who earned it.”

Warner added that tax relief for families would allow taxpayers more affordability for day-to-day living expenses like groceries and gasoline.

“Instead of pouring more money into new government programs we do not need,” Warner said, “let’s provide meaningful tax relief so families can better afford their dayto-day expenses.”

Rep. Bud Cook, R-West Pike Run, shared similar sentiments, claiming the new budget will result in $4.8 billion in expenditures than is projected and resulting in spending from the Rainy Day Fund.

“It’s a shame we needed to use taxpayer money to come in on a weekend to do the work of the people after House Democrats,” Cook said, “who are in the majority, failed to get a reasonable budget to the Senate on time that both sides could agree on.”

Unlike his fellow Republicans, Rep. Tim O’Neal, R-Washington, showed support for the budget, claiming the additional spending increases are safeguards against spending money from the Rainy Day Fund, as well as praising increases to pensions of civil servants and the absence of new taxes for Pennsylvanians.

“We all hoped this could be completed on time,” O’Neal said, “but working a few extra days resulted in a better product.”

O’Neal noted the additional allocation of $775 million toward shovel-ready rural road and bridge projects, claiming they will lessen the financial strain on Pennsylvanians.

“These are projects that have been approved and ready to go but lack funding in order to be completed,” O’Neal said. “These repairs will reduce the wear and tear on vehicles, which will benefit drivers’ pocketbooks.”