Monroe County News

Governor Josh Shapiro presented his state budget proposal for the 2024-25 fiscal year to the General Assembly, which received a mixed reaction from representatives. One such representative, Rep. Jack Rader, expressed his concerns about the proposed budget in a statement released today.

Rader acknowledged that there were some aspects of the governor's spending plan that were worth considering. However, he emphasized the need for long-term, viable solutions that are paid for both in the present and the future. He stated, "State government can't pay for everything for everyone." Rader believes that relying on surplus funds and neglecting to address the existing structural deficit will result in massive tax increases in the future, which will burden taxpayers.

While Rader recognized that the governor's address was only the beginning of the budget process, he assured the public that he would work with his House colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop a reasonable and responsible budget that moves the Commonwealth forward without further burdening taxpayers.

The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings to examine the details of the governor's plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. These hearings are set to begin on February 20th. The deadline for finalizing the budget is June 30th, giving the General Assembly and the governor several months to deliberate and negotiate.

It is clear that Rep. Jack Rader is committed to representing the interests of his constituents and ensuring a fiscally responsible budget for the state of Pennsylvania. As the budget process unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the concerns raised by Rader and other representatives are addressed and incorporated into the final budget plan.