Jul. 08, 2022
HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) joined a bipartisan majority of his House colleagues in passing the 2022-23 state budget bill. The $42.8 billion spending plan increases education funding to an all-time high while making a sizable deposit into Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund to help offset the impact of future economic downturns.
Heffley is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, which developed the budget blueprint in negotiations with the Senate and governor’s office.
“Overall, this is a good budget. It is a conservative budget. We are being fiscally responsible and have actually reduced taxes,” said Heffley. “There is also no borrowing in this budget. We have paid down our debt from past budgets and are now looking to set the Commonwealth on solid financial footing as we move forward.”
The budget bill adds $2.1 billion into the Rainy Day Fund, bringing the total to an historic level of $5 billion. It also reduces the state’s Corporate Net Income Tax, which currently stands as the second highest in the nation, stifling economic growth. In addition, the spending proposal pays back over $2 billion worth of prior budget borrowing.
Heffley is pleased Pennsylvania’s public, charter and private schools will share a largest-ever allocation of $15 billion for PreK-12 education. This includes $225 million in Level Up Initiative funding to the 100 poorest school districts. A dual-enrollment program Heffley supports that allows high school students to attend an institution of higher learning was also allocated $7 million. Additionally, there is more funding for state-owned universities, community colleges, mental health services and home health care workers.
Heffley noted the budget includes $250 million in federal relief funds to help struggling nursing homes, assisted living facilities, personal care homes, and home and community-based services.
“We are investing in the long-term care of our seniors. We all know what these facilities went through during the pandemic. In this budget, they are getting additional money to cover the ongoing costs related to COVID-19 and the retention of workers,” he added.
Finally, funding was included that will allow the Pennsylvania State Police to train 200 additional troopers for the protection of communities statewide. It also reduces the amount of Motor License Fund dollars used to support the department by $175 million, freeing up more money for badly needed road and bridge projects. As a result, the General Fund now supports a larger share of State Police funding.
The spending plan (Senate Bill 1100) was sent to the governor’s desk for his signature after passage in the House and Senate this week. Additional information about the 2022-23 state budget is available at
pahousegop.com/statebudget.
To view or download a broadcast-quality video of Heffley’s budget comments,
click here.
Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepHeffley.com / Facebook.com/RepHeffley