State Rep. Julie Harhart (Lehigh/Northampton) today voted “no” on a $28.04 billion state budget that uses $850 million in federal funding that has yet to be approved.

“A state budget should not be passed on the assumption that $850 million from the federal government might be granted at some point in the future,” said Harhart. “If this money is not approved – and as time goes by it is looking less likely – then we will have to cover that funding gap by either raising taxes or further reducing state spending.”

The $850 million in question is stimulus money from the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages that Congress must approve.

The $28.04 state budget for 2010-11represents an increase of $207.2 million over last year and is funded with a combination of state dollars, stimulus funds (which expire next year) as well as money from the Marcellus Shale land leases, the recovery of tax refund errors and various fund balance transfers.

“I would have liked to balance the state budget without the $850 million, and then, if that money were approved, we could have amended the budget to include the additional funding,” said Harhart.

“Pennsylvania is currently facing a $1.2 billion deficit and an expected $3 billion structural deficit next year when federal stimulus money runs out, so now is the time to be financially prudent and not rely on money that just simply isn’t there,” said Harhart.

The General Appropriations bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Rep. Julie Harhart
183rd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(610) 502-2701
(610) 760-9805
(717) 772-5398
www.JulieHarhart.com
Contact:  Tricia Lehman
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 772-9840
www.pahousegop.com