The following statement was issued by Rep. Doug Reichley (R-Berks/Lehigh), vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, after today’s vote on a state budget:

“I voted against this year’s budget because I’m not pleased that spending wasn’t brought under further control.  House Republicans initially wanted to restrain spending by $500 million below what was finally approved today.  We can take credit for our adamant insistence that spending be significantly less than what was proposed by the governor and the fact that that no new taxes will be used to balance this budget or fund the additional spending proposed by the governor.  Instead of spending $29 billion, this budget comes in at just over $28 billion, and the budget growth rate was held to just 0.74 percent, less than inflation during that period.

“However, I am concerned that we did not position ourselves well for next year’s budget.  I anticipate further problems as this budget kicks the can further down the road. 

“We’re going to start the next fiscal year with a structural deficit approaching $3 billion, and if expected federal funding that this budget is predicated on does not come through, we’re going to be looking at further cuts during the 2010-11 fiscal year.

“However, this budget was passed on time, and does restrain growth in government to a great degree.  It also includes several Republican ideas to incorporate government efficiencies, and I anticipate more of those to be considered as we look at further reductions in the size of government.”

Rep. Douglas Reichley

134th District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

(717) 787-1000

(610) 965-9933

Contact:  Todd Abele

tabele@pahousegop.com or (717) 783-3957

Member Site: RepReichley.com

Twitter Site:  Twitter.com/repreichley