Mullins responds to governor’s budget proposal

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-Lackawanna, offered the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021-22 budget plan, which was unveiled today:

"I have been through enough state budgets to understand and express that the governor's proposed budget is a statement of principles, a flag in the ground, and the beginning of a long process toward ultimate compromise and a very different-looking spending plan than the initial proposal. Therefore, I don't engage in the partisan charade initiated by legislative Republicans who, with their bluster, reject these proposals out of hand. 

“There are components of this proposal that are immediate imperatives and long-standing priorities of mine: immediate grants to small businesses, which have borne the brunt of this pandemic recession; striving for tax fairness for individuals and businesses alike; investing in infrastructure and funding the remediation of lead and asbestos in our schools; and finally leveling the playing field for our school children by applying the Fair Funding Formula to all education dollars. 

“In six years, we've been able to get 11 percent through that formula; this proposal does almost 8 times that amount in one year. I'm looking forward to working toward a final budget compromise, but my priorities will remain unchanged and reflect what my constituents want," Mullins said.