In a series of statements issued this afternoon, Governor Rendell, Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler and others offered comments on the House Republican budget proposal unveiled earlier in the day.

According to the governor:

“The budget proposal being described by House Republicans is contrary to the best interests of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its taxpayers, and – especially – its students.

“It relies on $1.5 billion in one-time revenue sources, setting Pennsylvanians up for future tax increases. It makes devastating cuts to public schools that will diminish the quality of education, while causing permanent property tax increases rather than a temporary increase in the Personal Income Tax.”

According to Secretary Stetler:

“The House Republicans today unveiled a fiscally irresponsible budget blueprint: a plan that fails to take the difficult but necessary steps that Governor Rendell has proposed to bring our budget into balance for the long-term, and that instead relies on a ‘tax amnesty’ gimmick that is unlikely to work and that sends the wrong message to hard-working taxpayers.”

According to Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak:

“The House Republican budget follows in the footsteps of the Senate Republicans by gutting $729 million out of the state school funding formula. Both caucuses

Continue reading Governor and others react to House Republican proposal