In numerous public appearances throughout the state, Governor Wolf and members of his Administration have repeatedly demanded that legislators consider his budget plan as a whole, rather than criticize its individual parts. My colleagues in the House of Representatives recently honored the governor’s wishes by putting his tax and spending proposal up for a vote. The result was unanimous – 193-0 in opposition to the Wolf budget. The bipartisan rebuke of the governor’s budget is a strong sign that we must consider other, more responsible options.

For months, lawmakers have been telling Governor Wolf there was little support for the idea of adding billions upon billions in new spending and taxes. The governor is fond of extolling the virtues of his new government spending, but he is loath to discuss how he would pay for it. There is very little support in the legislature and in the public at large for a proposal that would add $12 billion in new taxes over the next two years and increase the tax burden on families in every income class in Pennsylvania.

As the Senate prepares to create its own version of the state budget in the near future, I am hopeful the Administration will realize that its proposal to accelerate the unchecked growth in state spending and tax rates is a doomed approach. Pennsylvanians deserve a budget that funds core government services at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers, and that means addressing the major cost-drivers in the budget, including public employee pensions. Producing a fiscally responsible and sustainable spending plan will be my priority as budget negotiations continue.

The hearing showed a deep divide in opinions regarding taxation of the industry and highlighted some of the problems with the governor’s proposal. Natural gas companies already pay the same taxes as other corporations, as well as an additional impact fee enacted in 2012. Governor Wolf’s proposed severance tax would give Pennsylvania one of the highest natural gas tax rates in the country at a time when natural gas prices are extremely low.

The economic impact of the severance tax proposal is an important consideration as we debate the merits of the governor’s plan. Video of the hearing is available here.

I was extremely pleased to welcome some of the local school groups who have visited the Capitol in the past two weeks. In addition to joining Centerville students for this photo, I also enjoyed meeting students from Denver Elementary, Rohrerstown Elementary and Highland Elementary recently.