Local legislators react to Shapiro's budget

Mar. 7—HouseRep. Tina Pickett, R-110, Bradford:

In a joint statement, Pickett said the budget includes "new investments in education, public safety and other key issues," but would "eviscerate the nearly $13 billion in budgetary reserve and the Rainy Day Fund."

"With financial turbulence predicted to continue and perhaps worsen, it would be irresponsible to use this funding for anything other than a safety net for the people of Pennsylvania," Pickett said.

Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-112, Blakely: Mullins was pleased with Shapiro's increase for the property tax and rent rebate program for seniors and disabled people and increased benefits and eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and child care services.

He also favors increased funding for police, fire, emergency services and nurses.

"This takes care of workers. It takes care of the young and old ... and invests in safer communities," Mullins said.

Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-113, Scranton: Donahue was pleased with proposals to increase spending on public education and workforce development.

"Funding for our police officers, first responders and teachers — I think that's an important first step to trying to attract and retain more people for those positions," Donahue said.

He also supports increasing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and providing free breakfast to all school students.

Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp.: Kosierowski believes the budget provides common sense solutions to some pressing issues.

"I really liked that he addressed the workforce shortage among nurses, teachers and cops," Kosierowski said. "He's addressing day care facilities hoping to get more people to take those vacancies and get those kids off wait lists. If the kids get to day care, then those moms and dads get to work."

She said she's also pleased to see increased funding for education, including money to increase mental health services in schools.

"Mental health with our youth is a massive problem we have to address," Kosierowski said.

Rep. Dane Watro, R-116, Kline Twp.: Watro called himself "hopeful" about getting to a budget he can support, but said Shapiro's plan falls short in providing enough property tax relief for homeowners. The budget also lacks enough money to aid the education of veterans' children and transportation for veterans.

Rep. Michael Cabell, R-117, Butler Twp.: Cabell called the budget "a mixed bag but a good starting point." He agrees with spending increases for career and technical education, workforce development, mental health care, law enforcement and seniors citizens, but worries the new spending and programs will deplete the Rainy Day Fund in a few years.

The governor's support for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative could hurt the state's energy industry and jobs, increase utility bills for consumers and fuel inflation, he said.

Rep. James Haddock, D-118, Pittston Twp.: Haddock was pleased to see more funding for public safety, including hiring state troopers and for training of volunteer emergency service workers.

"There's actually a large investment for firefighter training and for our volunteers ... which is concerning in our area with the lack of volunteerism," he said.

He supports proposals to increase property tax and rent rebates for the elderly and disabled, the minimum wage and funding for workforce development. He also supports increased funding for public education, but wants details.

"I'm looking at the educational piece a little harder to fully understand the $1 billion investment and how it will be spent," Haddock said.

Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-120, Kingston: Kaufer supports expanding the property tax and rent rebate program for senior citizens and "and making it easier to do business in Pennsylvania." He wants Shapiro to drop his support for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, fearing it will only increase utility bills.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, Wilkes-Barre: In a statement, Pashinski said Shaprio's proposal would build on things he's been fighting for for years, including raising the minimum wage, additional funding for public schools, expanding property tax relief for senior and disabled Pennsylvanians, investing in our workforce, and more money for making our communities safer.

"This is a budget proposal that should benefit Luzerne County and communities across our commonwealth — and I hope that the General Assembly can work together and pass it," Pashinski said.

Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp.: In a statement, Twardzik compared every budget to paging through a toy catalog at Christmas time.

"We now need to be the responsible parents who review the list and carefully consider what's best and spend wisely," he said. "We have the strong Rainy Day Fund and should not deplete it as bigger economic storms may be expected. I hope to find ways to cut waste and fraud moving forward."

Rep. Jamie Barton, R-124, East Brunswick Twp.: Barton called Shapiro's speech "very eloquent" and said he's all for free breakfast for students and bigger rebates of property taxes, but wants specifics about paying for them.

"He spoke of opening Pennsylvania for business and harnessing our energy, natural resources and lowering corporate net income tax, but he gave no specifics on how to do it. He gave no assurance that he was backing it," Barton said. "He also spoke about spending an additional $2.5 billion. And my concern is we can either grow government or grow the private sector, but we're not going to do both."

Shapiro also talked about "supporting our energy and natural resources," but backs the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which "basically is a tax on fossil fuels," Barton said.

Rep. Joseph Adams, R-139, Salem Twp.: Adams called the budget "a good starting point" and said he's happy about the increased education funding, the increase tax and rent rebates and additional funding to aid veterans.

However, he's concerned about spending $2 billion in rainy day money and more in the future.

"That's a recipe for disaster, spending fund balances and spending rainy day funds and then drawing them down to almost nothing left four or five years from now," Adams said.

SenateSen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp.:

In a statement, Baker said Shapiro identified several priorities she shares, including ensuring senior citizens continue qualifying for the property tax and rent rebate program; expanding community- and school-based behavioral health services; and shifting state police funding away from the motor vehicle fund to free up money for infrastructure.

She cautioned the spending plan must be carefully reviewed.

"Pennsylvania's finances are in good shape at the moment, but expert analyses indicate trouble in the years ahead if there is overspending and not enough attention paid to economic growth," she said.

Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore: Flynn believes the budget balances progressive and conservative spending priorities.

"Although there's some progressive things, like moving the minimum wage to $15 an hour ... there's other things that are more conservative, like lowering the corporate net income tax," Flynn said.

Flynn said he particularly supports increasing the minimum benefit for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and cutting the corporate tax.

"Children should not have a hard time with food in the richest country in the world," Flynn said.

Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-40, Middle Smithfield Twp.: She appreciates Shapiro's practical and bipartisan approach — referring to his knowing at least 102 representatives and 26 senators must agree to get anything done — and his defining what he won't do.

She appreciates his proposals to boost mental health care treatment, improve transportation and increase property tax and rent rebates. But the budget's $648 million for a regional greenhouse gas initiative looks shaky to her.

"Some of these numbers, a little bit in this budget, appear that we don't have the revenues for the expenses piece of it as presented right now," Brown said. "I don't think we have to play the blame game. I think we just need to get into the weeds of how to make sure that we're doing the right thing for the right reason."

— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK