GOP, Dems butt heads over Pennsylvania spending
By Brad Bumsted
STATE CAPITOL REPORTER
HARRISBURG — State House Republicans today vowed to boycott legislative hearings they claim are being staged by the Democratic majority and Gov. Ed Rendell to gin up state spending.
“House Republicans will not participate in hearings to trump up reasons for a major tax increase,” said House Minority Leader Sam Smith, R-Punxsutawney.
Smith charged that Appropriations Committee hearings last week and an Education Committee hearing today were orchestrated by Democrats to demonstrate a need for higher spending that would require a tax hike.
Smith’s salvo was a prelude to the budget battle that will be waged next month. A state budget must be in place by June. Pennsylvania faces a deficit of at least $3 billion.
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What the Democrats should be doing is holding “tax hearings” to gauge the impact of state taxes on Pennsylvanians, Smith said.
“Tax hearings are not scheduled because the Democrats may not care about the impact,” Smith said. “Every week, several state agencies have been putting out ‘scare’ press releases about programs they claim will end if the Senate’s budget bill is enacted. … Next we’ll hear about the state police being unable to fuel their vehicles or purchase ammunition.”
The Appropriations panel held two days of hearings on the Senate’s proposed $27.3 billion budget. Rendell has proposed a $29 billion budget that would be funded in part by tax increases.
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Brad Bumsted can be reached at bbumsted@tribweb.com or 717-787-1405.
