PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 3, 2014 − When Pennsylvania’s nearly $2 billion budget deficit was announced today, state Senator-elect Art Haywood declared the deficit to be a product of the Republican myth that we can’t afford a strong state.
“The budget that Governor Corbett signed last summer completely fails to take advantage of Pennsylvania’s common wealth,” Haywood said. “Any suggestion that the deficit is unavoidable is a myth. Pennsylvania is a rich state and Republicans have simply invented a deficit by refusing to put families first in the budget.”
Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office projected recently that the structural budget deficit will top $1.8 billion for the upcoming budget season, while the state treasurer said that the administration was forced to borrow from the treasury for the second time in two months after depleting the General Fund.
Haywood said that an emergency line of credit issued by the treasury in September may be nearly gone.
“It’s appalling that we may be forced to re-open the budget only half way through the year,” Haywood said. “By repealing Corbett’s corporate tax breaks, raising the minimum wage and implementing a shale extraction tax, our state budget could actually have a surplus.”
Haywood said the Republican-controlled General Assembly, unlike the administration, won’t be able to keep hiding from the truth.
“I’m certain Pennsylvanians will join with me to make it clear to Republicans that families come first in our state’s budget. This is revenue that could be supporting our schools and a 21st century infrastructure. It’s time we put an end to the myth that we can’t afford a better state,” he said.
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