Aug. 28—WILKES-BARRE — The Northeast Republican Delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the ongoing budget impasse in Harrisburg.
The statement read:
“The people of the Commonwealth deserve the services and programs they pay their hard-earned tax dollars for. This year’s budget was due on June 30, yet families, seniors and communities across Pennsylvania are now being held hostage by unnecessary gridlock in Harrisburg.
“The Pennsylvania Senate advanced a common-sense, level-spending budget that represented a responsible starting point and would have allowed money to flow as it should. Unfortunately, that measure was blocked by House Democrats. Their harmful actions denied both sides a fair opportunity to work toward an agreement.
“Our counties, seniors, at-risk constituents, human services providers, nonprofit organizations, etc., are the unfair victims in this democrat-spawned stalemate. Taxpayers expect their elected representatives to be the ‘adult in the room.’ Instead, we are experiencing political games by the party with a mere one seat majority in the House. Pennsylvanians deserve better.
“We will continue fighting for a fair, balanced and responsible budget that meets the needs of our citizens while respecting the taxpayers who fund it.”
The Northeast Regional Republican Delegation includes the following House Republicans: Delegation Chair Jonathan Fritz (Susquehanna/Wayne), Jamie Flick (Lycoming/Union), Joe Hamm (Lycoming/Sullivan), Robert Leadbeter (Columbia), Jeff Olsommer (Wayne/Pike), Clint Owlett (Tioga/Bradford), Tina Pickett (Wyoming/Bradford), Brenda Pugh (Luzerne), Jack Rader (Monroe), David Rowe (Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata), Alec Ryncavage (Luzerne) and Dane Watro (Luzerne/Schuylkill).
Gov. Shapiro responds
Gov. Josh Shapiro has been optimistic in recent weeks that an agreement would be reached soon.
“I understand the game and I understand that they need to play politics, but I think trying to slow down a state budget for the purposes of seemingly gaining some political advantage that they will not gain, but will only serve to hurt the good people of Pennsylvania, I think it’s cynical,” he said. “I think it’s wrong. I think they got to focus on doing their job.”
One of the major stumbling blocks in getting a budget passed has been deciding what the allocation will be for mass transit.
“The reason why the SEPTA cuts went into effect is because the Senate has failed to close the deal,” Shapiro said. ” They failed to close and get the job done here and provide recurring revenue for mass transit.”
Shapiro said mass transit is needed in each of our 67 counties.
“I am mindful that there are school kids that ride the bus, there’s parents that ride the bus, and yes, there are Eagles fans that ride the subway and ride other mass transit,” Shapiro said. “We’ve got to get it done. The time to close is now. The Senate’s got to put up the votes and show they can do it.”
The governer said Pennsylvania needs recurring revenue for mass transit, and the only way to get recurring revenue for mass transit is by an act of the legislature submitting a bill to his desk, for his signature, to become law.
“It is time for the Senate to act on recurring revenue,” he said. “We’ve shown them a number of different pathways to do that. It’s time for them to show that they’ve got the votes, to stop playing politics, to close the deal and to get it done.”
He added that people in all 67 counties rely on mass transit to get to work, to get to school, to get to doctors’ appointments.
“It’s time to get it done,” Shapiro said. “And I want a bill on my desk that provides recurring revenue, and the only way to do that is by the legislature finally acting.
“I proposed my budget and my fix for mass transit 203 days ago. The Senate has only bothered to come to work 26 times since that day. It is time for them to act.”
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.