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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Tim Briggs |
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Briggs says Corbett budget puts all pain on working families
HARRISBURG, Feb. 7 – State Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, today released the following statement after Gov. Corbett delivered his budget address for the 2012-13 fiscal year:
"How many budgets can the middle class and poor survive under Governor Corbett? Under his first budget, college tuition rose, basic education funding was slashed and the poorest citizens of this Commonwealth suffered, while major corporations and natural gas companies got a free pass.
"It appears he is following the same destructive blueprint this year: cuts that directly hurt the middle class, children, vulnerable, sick and elderly. What every citizen of this state should be asking is, 'why?'
"The state should restore fairness to our tax system by collecting millions of dollars in lost revenue caused by tax loopholes for major corporations. It should tax smokeless tobacco and enact a real severance tax in Pennsylvania – not the mockery of a bill that was passed today. The state should demand greater efficiency from our government, cut truly wasteful spending and maximize our revenues.
"After the unprecedented backlash he received from across the state and from every income bracket last year, I had hoped the governor would have seen the damage he’s causing to our middle class. I will strongly oppose this proposal and will work hard during our negotiations to produce a budget that supports hardworking Pennsylvanians and Pennsylvanians who most rely on government services.
"We must give teachers and schools the tools to do their job effectively. We also need to support the unemployed by maintaining unemployment benefits and investing in job training programs. Pennsylvanians are looking for jobs and are eager to work, but it is our job in Harrisburg to create the environment where well-paying job opportunities can flourish. Finally, we need to make sure natural gas drilling companies and major corporations are paying their fair share of taxes, just like every other Pennsylvanian does."
Briggs represents the 149th Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Briggs, or get regular updates on Twitter and Facebook.
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