State Rep. RoseMarie Swanger (R-Lebanon) issued the following statement following passage of House Bill 2779, budget legislation for fiscal year 2010-11:

“I am pleased that this year’s budget negotiations took significantly less time than last year, and I appreciate the efforts of leadership to get a spending plan put into place. Our constituents are asked to follow deadlines and guidelines, and the least we can do is to serve as an example of the same discipline.

“While we are considered ‘elected leaders,’ we have not exemplified true leadership skills in serving as exemplars of sound, financial practice. This budget spends approximately $3 billion more than projected revenues. It again relies heavily on future generations by increasing debt service by $57.3 million. Pure and simple, this budget increases spending in a recession, some will say ‘only by $207 million.’ To me that’s a lot of money.  We should be following the lead of many other states and reducing overall spending, not increasing it.

“The budget relies on income that is far from guaranteed in banking on Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentages (FMAP) dollars which Congress has not yet authorized.  As each day passes, it becomes more and more doubtful that this funding will be forthcoming.  I don't think our constitutional mandate to pass a balanced budget is met by this conjecture.  If we don’t limit the governor’s discretion, he will have the sole authority to decide what line items get cut further to make up for the loss of FMAP money. 

“While most departments will be taking significant cuts, including the Department of Agriculture, the state’s and my district’s largest industry, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) is allocated a 22.15 percent increase. The bulk of this is through ‘discretionary funding,’ more commonly known as WAMs.  To me this is unconscionable. I can only surmise this funding is being used to buy votes in favor of the budget, or for legislators facing challenges in the fall to hand out in their districts, another form of buying votes, this time from the electorate.

“The budget deal also includes a commitment to the governor by the Senate to agree by Oct. 1 to a bill placing a tax on natural gas extraction, with the actual tax becoming effective as of Jan. 1, 2011.  There are no details as yet on how much the tax will be or how it will be distributed.

“I am also concerned with funding for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), which has been cut by more than 38 percent.  In this time of unrest and terrorism in the world, I don’t think this is a wise move.

“While we have made strides in reducing spending, we could have accomplished more. I will continue to work for my constituents in fighting for responsible government and prudent fiscal practice.”

Rep. RoseMarie Swanger
102nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 277-2101

(717) 787-2686

Contact:  Scott B. Little

slittle@pahousegop.com

(717) 260-6137

Member Site:  RepSwanger.com