Jun. 26, 2019 Download
House lawmakers have voted to support a 2019-20 General Fund budget that continues a multi-year effort to hold the line on taxes, fees and spending. Total state spending would be set at $33.997 billion, a 1.8% increase over the current fiscal year, which is in line with the rate of inflation. The plan provides for a record level of spending on education and includes a deposit of more than $250 million into the Rainy-Day Fund, the state’s primary “savings account.” Rep. Sue Helm (R-Dauphin/Lebanon) offered the following comments on the spending priorities of the budget plan.
Feb. 05, 2019 Download
Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled his 2019-2020 state budget proposal on Tuesday in Harrisburg. The $34.15 billion spending plan represents a nearly 1 billion dollar increase in state spending over last year. House Republicans said the Commonwealth should be focused on controlling spending and the education and development of our workforce..
May. 01, 2018 Download
Legislation that would establish a First-Time Home Buyer Savings Account Program was the topic of a news conference held Tuesday in the state capitol. House Bill 1981 would allow qualified Pennsylvania citizens to set aside savings, which may be used as a deduction on state income tax toward the eligible costs of purchasing a first home. Under the proposal, first-time home buyers could contribute a total of $50,000 over a 10-year time period toward purchase of a home. Rep. Sue Helm (R-Dauphin/Lebanon), a realtor and co-sponsor of the legislation, said this measure would go a long way to help first time home purchasers, who often struggle for years to save enough money to make a down payment on their first home.
Mar. 08, 2017 Download
A new website designed to encourage state employees to suggest ways the Commonwealth could achieve budget savings was unveiled in Harrisburg on Wednesday by the House Appropriations Committee. The State Employees Achieving Savings website will ask state employees to voice their strategies to streamline state agencies and achieve greater efficiency in government.
Feb. 07, 2017 Download
Governor Tom Wolf delivered his annual budget address before a joint session of Pennsylvania’s House and Senate on Tuesday in Harrisburg. The Governor proposed a $32.3 billion spending plan with no new major taxes for the upcoming fiscal year. House Republicans were encouraged by the Governor’s decision to work with lawmakers to explore several cost-saving measures in order to balance the budget.
Sep. 29, 2016 Download
On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf spoke before a joint session of the General Assembly about Pennsylvania’s ongoing opioid and heroin abuse crisis, calling for the legislature to address access and abuse of the drugs, from prescription to disposal.
Sep. 01, 2016 Download
Legislation allowing the sale of wine and beer at grocery stores recently took effect in Pennsylvania allowing local stores to offer the convenience of food and alcohol purchases in one place. Thanks to the new law, sponsored by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), Pennsylvania has taken the first steps in moving toward a privatized system for the sale of wine and liquor in the Commonwealth. Several local lawmakers were joined by Governor Wolf at a Wegmans store in Mechanicsburg on mark the beginning of private wine sales in the state.
Jul. 13, 2016 Download
Rep. Sue Helm (R-Dauphin/Lebanon) today joined a bipartisan majority of her House colleagues in passing a revenue package and other budget-related bills to complete the state budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17. The $31.5 billion spending plan includes $660 million more for PreK-12 education without the need for any new or increased broad-based income or sales taxes. Rep. Helm said passage of these final bills will complete the budget process and ensure schools and state supported agencies will receive the necessary funding.
Mar. 24, 2016 Download
At a press conference held at the State Capitol on Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that he intends to allow a budget approved by the General Assembly last week to become law without his signature. The move signals the end of a nine-month fiscal impasse in Pennsylvania. The 30 billion dollar spending plan allows money to flow to schools, corrections, and agriculture programs that had been held hostage during negotiations.