HARRISBURG – Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill) released the following statement today in response to Governor Wolf’s 2019-20 budget address:
“The plan proposed by the governor today includes some proposals that should earn bipartisan support, including funding for flood-ravaged communities, new tools to address blight, and initiatives to help create jobs and train workers for new careers. These ideas deserve a prompt and comprehensive review in order to promote stronger communities and a more robust economy not only in Schuylkill and Berks counties, but throughout Pennsylvania.
“While Governor Wolf’s budget address offers a viable starting point for negotiations, I believe we need to go one step further and address other issues that impact every Pennsylvania community – including the growth in government spending. We should implement commonsense work requirements for able-bodied welfare recipients and increase our efforts to reduce welfare fraud.
“I also have serious concerns about the governor’s plan to cut $15 million from school safety. Given the terrible events of the past year, there was broad bipartisan support for additional school safety funding in last year’s budget. We should be able to work together once again to restore this funding and ensure our young people can enjoy a safer learning environment.
“My biggest disappointment is the lack of a solution to Pennsylvania’s property tax crisis. I am proud to stand with the bipartisan coalition of grassroots organizations who are leading the charge toward property tax elimination. We need the Governor to join us in developing a fairer way to fund our schools, rather than continue to depend upon this unfair property tax model which dates back to the 1600s.”
Contact: Christine Verdier
570.773.0891