Upper Bucks Today

Rep. Craig Staats (R-Bucks) voted against Senate Bill 1001, the General Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2024-25, in a session held on July 11, 2024.

“Tonight, I voted no on this irresponsible budget deal for Pennsylvania,” said Staats. “While it has some positive items, this budget will run through Pennsylvania’s entire surplus in only two years. That is something that will have consequences for regular Pennsylvanians and the health of our state finances. If this spending continues in the future, Pennsylvania will have to dip into its Rainy Day Fund and put the entire Commonwealth at risk if a disaster occurs."

Staats expressed concerns about the financial implications of the budget: “The passed budget for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year spends $3.3 billion more than anticipated revenues to be received in the fiscal year, which adds to the structural deficit Pennsylvania currently faces.”

He further criticized the additional debt incurred by the state: “This budget also adds over $500 million in new debt to the Commonwealth, which will take decades for us to pay off."

Concluding his statement, Staats emphasized fiscal responsibility: “This is an irresponsible deal for Pennsylvanians and will lead to more pain and more costs for taxpayers. To be successful in the future, we need to limit how much we spend and how we spend it. We must get back to common sense fiscal responsibility to protect Pennsylvania’s future.”

For further information:

Representative Craig Staats

145th Legislative District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Media Contact: Joe Szymanski

jszymanski@pahousegop.com

RepStaats.com / Facebook.com/RepStaats