Senator Browne Wants Limits on State Spending

Taxpayer Protection Act would return revenue surpluses to citizens

Citing the need to set fiscally responsible limits on state government spending, Senator Pat Browne was among a group of Republican Senators at a Harrisburg press conference today to announce their support for the Taxpayer Protection Act bill and constitutional amendment.

The proposal will likely be the topic of public hearings by the Senate Finance Committee on which Senator Browne serves as Chairman.

“This proposal sets a priority for the future that most other states already have in place today,” Senator Browne said. “The Taxpayer Protection Act would set in place a requirement that state government live within its fiscal means.”

Senator Bob Regola, R-Westmoreland and prime sponsor of the Taxpayer Protection Act bill and constitutional amendment, said his proposal would limit state spending to the average inflation rate plus the average percentage change in state population over the three preceding years.

Senator Browne stated the Taxpayer Protection Act is essential to prevent a “structural deficit” in the Commonwealth.

“The amount of projected revenues follows the spending models included in this bill,” Senator Browne said. “Either we set these limits now or in the future, we will face tax increases.”

In addition to the spending limits in the Taxpayer Protection Act, the proposal also sets realistic restrictions on the use of any unanticipated revenues received by the Commonwealth.

Specifically, 75 percent of any revenues exceeding the spending limits imposed by the bill would be returned to the taxpayers. The remaining 25 percent would go directly into the Rainy Day Fund to help the Commonwealth cope with unanticipated revenue shortfalls.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, commented that the cost of excessive state spending is ultimately borne by working Pennsylvanians.

“The Taxpayer Protection Act will help rein in excessive government spending and enable working Pennsylvanians to keep more of their hard-earned money,” Senator Scarnati said.  “It is imperative that we cut spending and act in a more fiscally conservative manner.”

The legislators stressed that reasonable limits on spending are needed to improve Pennsylvania’s economic and job growth. 

While state spending has increased by nearly 28 percent over the past four years, Pennsylvania has been and still is consistently near the bottom of the rankings for job growth, personal income growth, and population growth.

The Taxpayer Protection Act bill could be enacted this year, while the constitutional amendment must be approved by the Legislature in two successive sessions and be ratified by the voters as well.

Contact:

Matt Moyer 
(610) 821-8468