FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2007
 

Senator Armstrong: New State Budget Responsible, Taxpayer-Friendly

The state budget soon to be voted on by legislators contains good news for state taxpayers, Senator Gib Armstrong reports.

"We held to the principles we set for this state budget – no tax increases, a spending increase in line with the cost of living, and fewer of the fiscal gimmicks that have been heavily used in recent years to disguise the real and excessive increases in state spending," Armstrong said.

"We said 'no' when some Democrats wanted to cancel tax cuts taking effect this year, and we said 'no' when those same Democrats tried to drain the Rainy Day Fund in order to have more money to spend.  So we made sure that current tax relief and future tax prevention remain key parts of the budget," he added.

"We told Pennsylvanians there would not be any tax increases in this budget, and that we would hold down spending so there would not be a tax increase next year.  In the end, this budget will accomplish both, and square with what people in our area had in mind," Armstrong stated.

"If I had my way, we would spend and borrow even less, but this budget is the most conservative on spending in many years.  Those who are accustomed to running up state spending are going to be very disappointed with this year's budget," he noted.

Armstrong said that showing legislators and community groups the huge growth in the state budget in previous years and the dire consequences for taxpayers if state spending continued to grow at 6-9% over the next decade is making a difference.  "People are scared when they realize that just doing a budget to get by for another year, and failing to take into account what happens in the years ahead, is economically disastrous."

With the agreement on the broad budget outline in place, it will take several days of intensive effort to get the bills ready for votes and to the Governor's desk for signature. 

Armstrong is one of six legislators serving on the conference committee that will assemble the final state budget to be voted by the Senate and the House.

Contact: David Atkinson (717) 787-6535