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For Immediate
Release
4/27/07
CONTACT:
Donald Houser
dhouser@pasen.gov
(717) 787-1377
Nate Silcox
(717) 787-6063
Senate Majority Policy Committee Holds
Hearing on State Spending Controls
(GREENSBURG) - The
Senate Majority Policy Committee, chaired by Senator Jake Corman (R-34), held a
public hearing Thursday in Greensburg at Seton Hill University to discuss a
Constitutional Amendment to limit the growth of state spending.
Senator Bob Regola
(R-39), host of the hearing, is the prime sponsor of the Taxpayer Protection
Act.
"The destructive
trend of runaway government spending in Pennsylvania underscores the
need for us to enact a Constitutional Amendment to control spending,"
said Sen. Regola. "Spending above and beyond the rate of inflation,
along with continued reliance on borrowing, will leave our children and
future generations with an ever-increasing tax and debt burden."
"This hearing
focused on how this important legislation will not only help employers
and working families, but will serve to reinvigorate our economy,"
Regola said.
David Taylor,
Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association,
testified that Pennsylvania's spending policies have left the state
behind the nation in terms of economic growth.
Jon Andrews,
former President of the Colorado Senate, spoke about Colorado's
experience with spending limits and how they helped Colorado's economy
grow 20 percent faster than the national average in the decade after
voters approved the legislation.
"There is
evidence out there that indicates Pennsylvania's biggest export is our
college educated children," said LaVerne Sober, chairperson of the
Westmoreland County Concerned Citizens. "Controlling government spending
is a good way to begin reversing this trend."
The Taxpayer
Protection Act has been introduced as Senate Bill 7 (Constitutional
Amendment) and Senate Bill 707 (statute). The Senate Majority Policy
Committee will hold another hearing on the legislation prior to the
bills moving out of Committee.
"Reasonable
limits on spending are needed to keep taxes down and improve
Pennsylvania's economic and job growth," Sen. Corman said. "While state
spending has increased by nearly 28 percent over the past four years,
Pennsylvania is consistently near the bottom of the rankings for job
growth, personal income growth, and population growth during the same
period. Imposing reasonable limits on the annual growth of state
government spending would protect working Pennsylvanians from tax
increases that exceed their ability to pay."
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