(Jul 20, 2017) Finance
The House Finance Committee is tasked with reviewing bills relating to all financial matters for the state. Tax collection rates and policies are regularly reviewed, as well as policies that create or build on programs financed by the state. State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, is the Democratic chairman of the committee. He believes the committee's priority is to consider all legislation in the context of the state budget and how bills would impact the state’s bottom line and revenue outlook, as well as provide the means to pay for it. A recurring talking point of the Republican majority is that Pennsylvania must reduce its spending. However, the committee is regular asked to consider Republican-sponsored legislation that would increase spending, sometimes by hundreds of millions of dollars, but offer no means to pay for it. “Pennsylvanians deserve to be clear about our choices. Members of the House Finance Committee are the revenue stewards of the commonwealth. When the only bills we pass out of committee are tax credits and tax cuts, without discussing the loss of revenue to the state or the means to pay for it, we are not doing our jobs,” Chairman Wheatly said. This story has been unfolding for years. It’s past time to show Pennsylvanians not only the work of the committee, but the Republican double standard where it exists so that we can take an honest look at how to move Pennsylvania forward with a state budget and spending Read more