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Scarnati – State Budget Agreement Meets Senate Republican TestsIncludes No Broad-Based Tax Increases and Lowers Spending Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) said the budget agreement reached this evening between legislative leaders and the governor meets the standards outlined by Senate Republicans when they first passed their budget proposal in early May. "Our priorities have been very clear throughout this process. We would only support a budget if it included no broad-based tax increases, kept spending below last year and was sustainable in the years ahead," Scarnati said. "While not perfect, this budget agreement meets these tests and will not impose higher taxes and spending on hard-working Pennsylvanians at a time when they can least afford to pay." Scarnati stressed that resolution of the budget impasse was crucial to ensure that funding will be restored for important state and local services that state residents depend on. "We need a state budget now – and we need to fund core government programs – but we can’t afford to mortgage our future with higher taxes and higher spending," Scarnati said. "This agreement does not include the massive personal income tax increase that the governor proposed, but it does invest in education and recognizes the fiscal realities that we face." The proposed budget spends $400 million less than last year, significantly reducing revenues to reflect the current economic downturn. It also is fiscally responsible – reflecting the revenues that are available -- so that Pennsylvania will be in a better position to take advantage of an economic recovery. "We fought for taxpayers and working families who told us that they didn’t want higher taxes and spending," Scarnati said. "This budget is balanced, it is fiscally responsible, and it meets the needs of the citizens of this Commonwealth."
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