With the June 30 deadline to adopt a new state budget fast approaching, a bicameral group of lawmakers today unveiled the “Pact with Pennsylvania,” a proposed agreement between state legislators and the constituents and taxpayers they are elected to represent.

The proposal is based on the underlying premise that – instead of focusing on how much money special interest groups and politicians want to spend – a state budget should represent how much taxpayers can afford to pay.

The pact outlines five key budgetary principles endorsed by the lawmakers – Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-128), Republican chairman of the House Finance Committee; Rep. Gordon Denlinger (R-99), Republican chairman of the House Policy Committee Task Force on Budget and Economic Issues; Rep. Mike Turzai (R-28), House Republican whip; Sen. Pat Browne (R-16), Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee; and Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr. (R-30), member of the Senate Finance Committee and chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee. The legislators are encouraging their colleagues in the House and Senate, and the governor, to participate in the agreement between lawmakers and residents.

“The Pact with Pennsylvania is more than a promise made by the lawmakers who adopt it,” said Rohrer. “It is a promise to their constituents that they will abide by the commonsense principles in the agreement.  It is a basic fiscal framework that, if embraced, will assure a workable budget that meets not only the demands of the moment, but the uncertainties of the future. Pennsylvanians are tired of politicians who waffle on the basics. They want lawmakers who are willing to take a principled stand on the tough issues like the budget. The pact allows people to see exactly where we stand and hold us accountable for sticking to that position. It’s time for lawmakers to make a promise to constituents and then own up to it.”

The pact is not a budget proposal, but an agreement detailing the five principles that should guide members’ actions during upcoming budget negotiations and the eventual budget vote. Those principles include:

“We want a budget that protects the state’s savings account, addresses long-term issues, promotes economic growth and that does not raise taxes or increase debt,” said Rohrer, who addressed the need to avoid a tax increase as outlined in point number one of the pact. “It is heartless to suggest that, while they’re struggling to make it through an economic recession, the state should take more from Pennsylvanians through higher taxes. State lawmakers should not kick taxpayers while they’re down. It is entirely inappropriate to add greater tax burdens to our citizens just because that is easier than living within our means.”

Denlinger outlined the rationale behind the second principle in the “Pact with Pennsylvania,” which calls for a state budget with no additional state debt.

“Running up the state’s credit card would be an irresponsible way to deal with tough economic times,” Denlinger said. “Like the Pennsylvania families that have had to tighten their belts, the state must spend less – not borrow more.”

Eichelberger argued for the preservation of the Commonwealth’s Rainy Day Fund, while Browne outlined the need to stabilize existing financial obligations by dealing with short-term and long-term costs.

“In addition to our current budget challenges, the pension and health care legacy costs of state government are brewing to explode over the next several fiscal years if they are not addressed during this budget cycle,” Browne said. “The General Assembly and the governor must pledge to develop a reform plan this year which will proactively address these challenges so that their effect on taxpayer resources will be minimized in future years.”

Finally, Turzai – a long-time advocate for policies to promote private-sector job creation – explained the fifth principle calling for proactive tax reform to improve Pennsylvania’s job climate.

The lawmakers argued that the five principles outlined in the “Pact with Pennsylvania” are essential for the state to enact a fiscally responsible budget that addresses the approximately $3 billion deficit without raising taxes or running up new state debt. The lawmakers further argued that the “Pact with Pennsylvania” would place the Commonwealth on the path toward long-term fiscal stability and economic growth.

Copies of the “Pact with Pennsylvania” are available at Rohrer’s Web site at SamRohrer.com.

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Contact: Dan Massing

House Republican Public Relations

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