Local lawmakers had split votes on this year’s budget.
State Representative Marci Mustello (R-PA11) voted in favor of the bill.
“No budget is perfect. However, this avoids new or higher taxes on Pennsylvania families and businesses, and protects our Rainy Day Fund,” Mustello said in a statement. “Generally, it’s a win for taxpayers given what was in the governor’s initial proposal.”
State Senator Elder Vogel also voted for the bill, saying it doesn’t increase taxes. He also cited $10 million set aside for fruit farmers who were impacted by the harsh freeze this spring.
“Many of our fruit farmers across the state suffered catastrophic crop losses after the historic freeze earlier this spring, resulting in significant revenue loss,” Vogel said. “This budget has allocated $10 million to assist these farmers in navigating through this crisis – something I advocated for as the chairman of the Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee.”
However Aaron Bernstine (R-PA8) opposed the budget saying it used “accounting tricks” and doesn’t address spending.
“Nearly $3 billion in delayed payments are being used to make this budget appear smaller and more balanced while hiding the true cost of government spending. Those bills do not disappear. They will still have to be paid by future taxpayers, and Pennsylvanians deserve honesty and transparency when it comes to how their money is being spent,” Bernstine said.
Representative Tim Bonner (R-PA10) and Sen. Scott Hutchinson also voted against the bill.
