West Montgomery Times

Rep. Donna Scheuren of Montgomery County has expressed mixed reactions to Governor Josh Shapiro's recent budget address. In her statement, Scheuren acknowledged some positive aspects of the governor's proposals, including funding for career and technical education programs, support for veterans, emergency services, and new cadet classes for the Pennsylvania State Police.

However, she raised concerns about a proposed 7.5% increase in spending compared to last year. Scheuren noted that projected revenues are insufficient to cover this increase and criticized the plan to legalize marijuana as inadequate to bridge the gap. She stated that "Gov. Shapiro has once again proposed to drain our surplus," warning that such measures could deplete state reserves by the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Scheuren also highlighted her opposition to utilizing $1.6 billion from the Rainy Day Fund, which she believes should be reserved for major emergencies only. She remarked that "draining this fund doesn’t just put Pennsylvania at the fiscal cliff - it takes us right over it."

While acknowledging certain elements of the budget she can support, Scheuren emphasized that spending increases are excessive and argued for more aggressive efforts against fraud and inefficiency in government programs. In its current form, she cannot endorse the budget proposal.

Representative Donna Scheuren serves Pennsylvania's 147th Legislative District in the House of Representatives.