Feb. 04, 2025
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jamie Flick (R-Lycoming/Union) attended a joint session of the General Assembly at which Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Flick issued the following statement in response to the governor’s plan:
“I had hoped for more substantial investments that would truly benefit the people of our Commonwealth. The budget falls short of addressing the urgent needs of our communities, and it fails to provide the meaningful relief our taxpayers deserve.”
“The proposed 7.5% spending increase is unacceptable. We simply cannot afford to drain our General Fund Surplus at a time when fiscal responsibility is needed more than ever.
“Taxpayers across our state are already feeling the strain, and this increase in government spending will only add to the burden they bear. Now is not the time to increase spending – it’s the time to focus on efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that every dollar spent is serving the best interests of our residents. Like most of our families in Pennsylvania, we need to do more with less.
“As Ronald Reagan once said, 'It's time to restore the perception that each person is accountable for their actions.' This includes holding our government accountable for every dollar it spends and ensuring those dollars are spent wisely and effectively.
“I remain cautiously optimistic, but I will continue to advocate for a budget that balances necessary investments with fiscal responsibility.”
The governor’s address is just the beginning of the annual state budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings starting Tuesday, Feb. 18, to examine the details of the governor’s plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. The General Assembly and governor face a June 30 deadline to finalize the budget.
Representative Jamie Flick
83rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives