Causer Votes in Favor of Overrides to Fund Human Services

HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) today voted in support of overriding the governor’s veto of several line items in the state budget to ensure necessary programs and services may continue for the people who need them.

However, the efforts failed along party lines.

“It’s been more than two months since the General Assembly adopted its budget and the governor vetoed it in its entirety,” Causer said. “Today, human service programs are really struggling, being forced to borrow money or possibly even shut down. This is not fair to the people who rely on these services.

“Voting to override the governor’s veto of certain line items in the budget bill – many of them line items that either matched or exceeded what the governor asked for – offered what I felt was the best opportunity to fund these agencies and ensure the continued availability of services. I am disappointed that those efforts failed.”

Veto overrides require a two-thirds majority to pass.

Causer said progress on budget negotiations has been slow over the last two months, with the governor continuing to push his $33.8 billion spending plan that requires nearly $5 billion in new taxes this year and more than $12 billion over the next two years.

“I’ve heard from many people who are frustrated that a compromise hasn’t been reached, but many of them also tell me they do not support the significant broad-based tax increases the governor’s proposal requires,” Causer said. “People cannot afford a 20 percent increase in their income taxes, and they can’t afford a 10 percent increase on sales taxes that will apply to hundreds of additional items, including things like day care, diapers, nursing home care and more.”

Causer said he remains committed to a responsible budget like the one adopted by the General Assembly in June, which provided record funding for public education and support for public safety and human services without increasing taxes.