Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon) voted against the $28.05 billion state budget, calling it a house of cards.  Gingrich said the budget is too high and it relies on funding that is speculative at best.

“This budget assumes that $850 million in Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) funding will be approved by Congress,” said Gingrich.  “It is unwise to stake our future on goodwill in Washington, D.C.  We simply cannot rely on this funding because there is no guarantee it will come.”

The Commonwealth is facing a projected $3 billion shortfall next year when federal stimulus money dries up and the state faces a lawsuit stemming from last year’s raiding of the MCare fund.

Gingrich said the budget approved today does nothing to prepare for the fiscal challenges ahead.  

“Pennsylvania school districts may also be in for a surprise under this plan,” said Gingrich.  “The budget contains an increase of $250 million for general education funding.  However, this funding could be in jeopardy if the FMAP funding does not come through.”

House Republicans were successful in trimming about $1 billion from Rendell’s original wish list, but Gingrich said the budget is still at least a half billion dollars too high, it is unsustainable and she could not support it. 

“There is a lot of pain in this budget and, if the funding on which it relies does not come through, the pain will be much more intense,” Gingrich said.  

“It was evident that legislative leaders exercised a great deal of fiscal restraint in this year’s budget,” said Gingrich.  “There was a concerted effort to hold the line on spending, and for the first time in eight years the budget was passed on time and it contained no new taxes.”

The House approved the budget today a 117 to 84 vote.

Rep. Mauree Gingrich

101st District

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

(717) 270-1905

(717) 783-1815

www.RepGingrich.com

Contact:  Donna M. Pinkham

(717) 260-6452

www.pahousegop.com