|
 Adjust Text Size
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2009
Back to
Releases
 
Orie Urges Action on Senate-Passed
Budget
With a midnight deadline
approaching to pass a state budget, Senator Jane Orie (R-Allegheny) joined
Senate Republicans at a Harrisburg news conference to call for action on a
Senate-passed budget which cuts spending and includes no new taxes.
"The Senate Republican Caucus has
taken a position that is very real and defensible -- that we have to live within
our means without raising taxes," Orie said. "And now, once again, we call
upon the House to do the same thing we have done -- bring up a budget and vote
for what you feel is right for Pennsylvania, whether you agree with Senate Bill
850 or with the governor's 16 percent increase in the PIT."
Orie and Republicans have been
strongly critical of the Governor's plan to increase spending and impose a
higher personal income tax on Pennsylvanians, at a time when they can least
afford to pay it.
She also took issue with the "political scare tactics" that
the Administration is using to garner support for a tax increase and urged the
governor to negotiate in good faith with the House and Senate.
"We need action by the House and a
stop to the games," Orie said. "The scare tactics -- closing state parks,
laying off 800 state troopers, letting sexual predators loose, and throwing
veterans out on the street -- this type of rhetoric must stop."
She said Senate Republicans are committed to their budget
proposal, which was adopted almost two months ago, and balances spending with
available revenues. She also made a commitment to keeping the budget process
open and transparent, so taxpayers know what is being voted on.
"Voters have a right to know what
is in a budget document before it is voted upon. This is my first time at the
negotiating table and I feel it has been my duty to help make this process as
open as possible," Orie said. "The old days of negotiating tax increases behind
closed doors are over. This is a new day in Pennsylvania and our new leadership
team is not going to repeat the lessons of 1991."
The Senator reiterated her commitment to passing a fiscally
responsible budget that will help to position the state for economic recovery.
"We cannot afford to overspend and mortgage our future,"
Orie said. "Our budget is a reflection of our economic condition – when you
are in a recession, the worst thing to do is increase spending and tax people
more. Like working Pennsylvanians, we need to set our priorities and tighten our
belts."
CONTACT:
Carol Maravic
(717) 787-6725
| 
