Bernstine Reacts to Governor Wolf Budget Address

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) today joined his colleagues in a joint session of the General Assembly as Governor Tom Wolf delivered his budget address. Bernstine released the following statement on the governor’s proposal.

“The governor today failed to mention the billions of dollars he wants to borrow from the taxpayers’ credit card. He claims his budget does not include any new taxes, but we know that debt doesn’t magically disappear. He’s mortgaging the paychecks of our children and grandchildren with his excessive overspending and borrowing agenda.

“Instead of discussions about all the different ways to spend the taxpayers’ money, government leaders should be talking about living within our means. We desperately need transparency reforms that make it harder for the governor to overspend the approved budget by nearly $600 million. We need to address out-of-control cost drivers, such as welfare reform and health care. We must put an end to the accounting gimmicks that hide the true cost of government spending from those who have to pay the bill.

“Gov. Wolf and tax-and-spend politicians have proven time and time again that they can’t be trusted with a blank check from the taxpayers. Unchecked government spending only paves the way for future tax hikes and more reckless borrowing which drives businesses and residents to other states. I refuse to let the hard-working taxpayers be used as government’s personal piggy bank. The only way to truly control spending is to pass constitutional spending limits like the Taxpayer Protection Act.”

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