HARRISBURG – Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) today offered the following statement after Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his annual budget address to a joint session of the state House and Senate:
“The governor’s budget proposal calls for deficit spending that could lead to future tax increases or cuts in programs for senior citizens, military veterans and children.
“Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget would throw more money into underperforming public schools instead of empowering parents through enhanced school choice programs that enable students to succeed. Throwing money into failing programs doesn’t create solutions; it creates more expensive problems.
“The governor wants to use more tax dollars from central Pennsylvanians to subsidize bus and train rides for Philadelphians through increased state funding for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA. I don’t believe taxpayers across Pennsylvania should have to send more of their money to subsidize the crime-ridden, incompetently run public transit system in Philadelphia.
“Gov. Shapiro seems to want to follow the example of his extreme progressive counterparts in California and New York, where excessive government spending has created huge budget deficits and led to increased inflation. The governor’s proposal would put Pennsylvania on a path toward financial collapse and economic ruin.
“The problem with socialist government spending schemes is, to paraphrase British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, at some point you eventually run out of other people’s money. Gov. Shapiro’s budget would spend taxpayers’ money faster than they could earn it.”
Video comments from Mastriano are available here.
Constituents of the 33rd Senatorial District can learn more about Mastriano by visiting his website at SenatorMastriano.com or following him on Facebook at Facebook.com/SenatorDougMastriano.
Media contact: Josh Herman
717-787-4651