Senate Passes State Budget That Protects Taxpayers, Controls Spending

HARRISBURG - Staking a claim for Pennsylvania's taxpayers and sending a clear message to Governor Edward Rendell, Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29) voiced his strong support for the Senate's state budget plan, which slashes $344 million in new spending that the Governor proposed and rejects his plea to increase seven state taxes by over $2.5 billion.

The measure was approved by a 49-1 vote and now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

"The Governor says that we need to increase taxes to balance the budget and provide services to Pennsylvanians," Rhoades said. "Today, we proved him wrong. We passed a budget that holds the line on spending, rejects tax increases and still funds essential government programs.

"This budget is disciplined, it is responsible and it gets the job done without raising taxes. We all have to live within our means and state must learn to do the same."

According to Rhoades, the budget includes none of the new or increased taxes that Governor Rendell proposed and holds spending increases to only a modest 2.69%, a figure that is below the inflation rate. The Senate-passed budget also meets Pennsylvania's core funding needs and ensures that initiatives aimed at providing for vital community, agricultural and human services programs are maintained.

"Spending money that we do not have on programs that may not even work is not a responsible approach to the state budget," Rhoades said. "By eliminating those questionable pieces of the Governor's proposal, we can balance the budget without raising taxes.

"The Senate sent a strong message to the Governor today. We showed we can do what is right for Pennsylvanians without raising their taxes - and that is exactly what a responsible state budget should do."