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Pennsylvania Coalition for Responsible GovernmentAction Alert

State Budget Hearings

Last week, the Republican controlled PA Senate passed a $27.3 Billion Budget for fiscal year 2009-2010, which is $1.6 Billion less than Governor Rendell's proposed spending plan. The Rendell Budget has a $3 billion deficit, plans to tap into the State "Rainy Day" funds, and increase taxes by $500 million. The fight over the budget now passes to the Democrat controlled House. The House Democrats are strongly in favor of the Governor's scheme to raise taxes and increase spending.

The House Appropriations Committee convened hearings on the proposed budget with public comments on May 22. The PA Coalition for Responsible Government was represented at the hearings by its President - Gregory Wrightstone. Other than a representative of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, he was the only speaker out of 78 persons who stood up against the Governor's plan to increase taxes and spending. "I felt like a lamb sitting down with a large group of wolves, discussing what we were going to have for dinner" said Mr. Wrightstone. He advocated for decreased spending, no tax increases, and shrinking the size and scope of the Government. "Contrary to what other speakers have told you, the average taxpayer doesn't want the Government to do more for them, they want the Government to get out of the way, to downsize, to spend less, to do less and to tax less."

Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Senate Budget

The day before Greg's testimony the Commonwealth Foundation came out in support of the Senate budget bill as part of their testimony. The Commonwealth Foundation is an independent, non-profit research and educational institute that develops and advances public policies based on the nation's founding principles of limited constitutional government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility for one's actions.

Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette also testified before the House Appropriations Committee that the Senate's budget plan (SB 850) is a step toward putting Pennsylvania on a path to prosperity.

"You really only have two choices: you can raise taxes or you can reduce spending," Brouillette told lawmakers. "You can do both, of course, but raising taxes during a recession for more government spending is precisely the wrong prescription for our current economic ills. Even Keynesian economists recognize that raising taxes now would be harmful to our economy."

Read the Foundation's news release of the Senate budget bill.

Read the full testimony of CEO Matthew J. Brouillette

Actions You Can Take

First, contact your state representative and let them know you are in support of the reduced spending and fiscal responsibility of Senate Bill 850

Then, contact your state Senator and ask them not to back away from their budget bill

Find your state representatives

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