Sen. Scarnati, Pileggi Call for Bipartisan Agreement to Complete Taxpayer-Friendly Budget by June 30

HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) and Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) today called on the House and Gov. Rendell to join them in completing a taxpayer-friendly 2007-08 state budget on time.

"This year's budget should be completed on time, with no tax increases for this year or next, with a growth in spending close to the cost of living, and without gimmicks designed to mask the true cost to taxpayers," Sen. Scarnati said. "There is no reason to hold up consideration of the budget while we continue working on other legislative issues."

Scarnati and Pileggi noted that the House moved the budget process forward last month. House Bill 1286, which passed the House on May 23, was amended by the Senate and returned to the House on June 20. The budget bill is now in the House Rules Committee, chaired by Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Greene).

"We are committed to continue working on issues related to transportation and transit funding, energy, and health care," said Sen. Pileggi. "As Gov. Rendell has often pointed out, such legislation tends to be best when it is developed with strong bipartisan input."

"The economic stimulus plan that I proposed more than a year ago has been made better by legislative input. Each of the four caucuses has given me ideas that I have incorporated into this program and made it stronger and better and more likely to produce dramatic economic results for our Commonwealth." – Gov. Ed Rendell, April 3, 2004, radio address.

"The Senate has passed legislation for electronic medical records, to fight hospital-acquired infections, to provide state oversight of the Blues merger, and to implement the Clean Indoor Air Act," Sen. Pileggi said. "And we are prepared to thoroughly review and debate a transportation package.

"We are making great progress on many issues important to our fellow Pennsylvanians. Some pending issues of importance, such as an energy strategy and biotechnology research funding, would be improved by additional bipartisan review. We will continue to gather input and develop legislation in these areas, along with strengthening Pennsylvania's Open Records Law, and we will take legislative action on these issues as soon as possible."

Sen. Scarnati said the threat of a government shutdown should not be used to win support for such proposals. "These are important ideas that should rise or fall on their own merits," said Sen. Scarnati. "Our constitutional duty is to pass a budget on time, and Pennsylvania families should not be held hostage to political gamesmanship. We urge the House and the governor to set partisanship aside and join us in enacting a timely, taxpayer-friendly budget."

CONTACTS:

Tim Nyquist (Sen. Scarnati)
(717) 787-7084

Erik Arneson (Sen. Pileggi)
(717) 787-4712