Local lawmakers sound off on Gov. Wolf's budget proposal - TribLIVE

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Local lawmakers’ early reactions to Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget fell along party lines Wednesday, with Republicans condemning the proposed personal income tax increase, while Democrats praised the increase in school funding and proposed minimum wage hike. Here’s what they had to say:

Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny): “I’m happy that today the governor prioritized the working Pennsylvanian, and included a proposal for investment in job opportunities in local businesses, as well as a huge tax cut for working families.”

Rep. Bob Brooks (R-Westmoreland, Allegheny): “To think of paying higher taxes, let alone 50% more, during these difficult times for people who have been forced to seek unemployment compensation is just hard for me to swallow. I was hoping the governor’s address would feature more of an emphasis on growing the economy and improving personal safety as ways to bring us back to normal. Then, we might be able to look at new spending and increased revenues.”

Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny, Senate minority leader): “There are some laudable goals outlined here by our governor and many of the investments reflect requests we have seen from constituents across the state. Our schools need increased funding, local governments need more assistance to handle covid-19, and the workforce development programs proposed have the potential to get many Pennsylvanians back on the job.”

Rep. Eric Davanzo (R-Westmoreland): “Over the last year (Wolf) has done nothing but destroy small businesses. His proposed budget of tax hikes and minimum wage increases would further hurt our struggling economy. The focus needs to be getting vaccines in arms and getting people back to their normal lives.”

Rep. Austin Davis (D-Allegheny): “Today’s budget address was like no other budget address in Pennsylvania history. As a House Appropriations Committee member, I look forward to reviewing (Wolf’s) budget proposal. The challenges ahead are great, but we must rise to meet those challenges.”

Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny): “For the last 11 months, millions of Pennsylvanians have sacrificed — by protecting their loved ones, looking out for their neighbors, and foregoing their normal lives. Pennsylvanians did this because they are invested in their communities and in their state. Now, it is time their state invests in them. I applaud Governor Wolf for a budget proposal that focuses state government’s resources on helping Pennsylvanians bounce back from the economic effects of the pandemic.”

Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny): “Pennsylvanians need real relief and resources to recover from covid’s impact. Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget would mean a tax cut for most working families.”

Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny): “Last year, we kept our commitment to funding education without raising taxes. We plan on keeping that commitment again this year. These are tough times for all Pennsylvanians. More taxes and more spending is not the direction for the Commonwealth.”

Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso (R-Allegheny, Westmoreland): “From his proposed personal income tax increase to his plan to triple tax the natural gas industry, Gov. Tom Wolf wants more of the Commonwealth’s hard-earned tax dollars at a time when money is tighter than ever for many working-class families.”

Rep. Robert Mercuri (R-Allegheny): “I was disappointed that (Wolf’s) focus during these consequential times was on tax increases for our hardworking families, and for business owners.”

Rep. Lori Mizgorski (R-Allegheny): “It is disappointing that (Wolf) has chosen to focus his budget on raising taxes. Pennsylvanians need access to the covid-19 vaccine so they can open up businesses and get back to work.”

Rep. Eric Nelson (R-Westmoreland): “The administration’s number one priority should be getting vaccines in arms so that we can return to normal. We are ranked 44th in the nation when it comes to vaccine roll out, and that ranking is a direct reflection on the Wolf administration’s decisions. New taxes are not the answer to economic recovery. Getting people back to work is.”

Jason Oritay (R-Allegheny, Washington): “It’s a proposal that I don’t agree with. It seeks to solve some of the state’s problems with recycled ideas that have all largely been rejected by the Legislature in previous years including the largest personal income tax increase in the state’s history, increased taxes to small businesses and massive borrowing and spending.”

Sen. Joe Pitman, (R-Armstrong, Butler, Indiana, Westmoreland): “That may have been one of the most tone-deaf infomercials that I have ever heard. For the governor to stand before us behind a TV screen and propose a massive increase in the (personal income tax) and to yet again propose a severance tax on natural gas in this economic time and climate is asinine.”

Rep. Michael Puskaric (R-Allegheny, Washington): “We cannot afford additional taxes, and I’m disappointed that he would even develop such a plan knowing the hardships our Commonwealth has faced in the past year. I do not support the governor’s budget plan. We must deliver economic recovery and protect our families.”

Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny, Washington): “You cannot tax your way into prosperity. Pennsylvania does not have a revenue problem — it has a spending problem. I am willing to work with the governor to ensure a better tomorrow for all of my constituents. I haven’t seen in this budget how taxing everyday workers — blue-collar workers — is going to make their lives better.”

Rep. Jason Silvis (R-Westmoreland, Armstrong, Indiana): “We should be cutting taxes to get our economy moving again — not increasing them. It appears the governor is living in a fantasy land. As a former small business owner, he should understand the working person’s plight.”

Sen. Patrick Stefano (R-Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland): “This is absolutely the worst possible time to raise taxes and spending as Pennsylvanians struggle with the covid-19 crisis. It would place an enormous burden on citizens, families and our small businesses who are barely making ends meet.”

Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland, Senate majority leader): “It’s full of massive tax increases and massive spending. I find it tone deaf to what is happening here in Pennsylvania, while our economy is in shambles, to raise taxes and put more of those restrictions on those who are employing others.”

Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette, Westmoreland): “We don’t get a healthy economy by requiring people to send more of their hard-earned money to Harrisburg. We don’t get a healthy economy by growing the size, scope and cost of government. We don’t get a healthy economy by shutting down the businesses that provide jobs to our citizens.

Rep. Jake Wheatley Jr. (D-Allegheny): “Governor Wolf has set the stage and laid out a pathway forward. Now, it’s time to see if my fellow colleagues are courageous enough to join his bold vision and find common ground for the long- term future and success of all Pennsylvanians.”

Jacob Tierney is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jacob at 724-836-6646, jtierney@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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