Altoona Times

Following Governor Josh Shapiro's budget address, Representative Lou Schmitt of Altoona expressed his concerns about the proposed financial plan. In a statement, Schmitt emphasized his disagreement with aspects of the governor's approach, particularly in relation to future tax implications and fiscal strategies.

Schmitt stated, "Though there were parts of the governor’s plan I found myself agreeing with, I cannot support his overall plan as it fails to address spending that will deplete the state’s surplus in a matter of years, which will directly lead to gut-wrenching tax increases for the hard-working citizens of Pennsylvania."

He criticized the reliance on legalized marijuana as a source of revenue for increased spending. He argued that legalizing marijuana would negatively impact law and order within Pennsylvania. Schmitt cited data from Colorado, where pediatric cannabis exposures reportedly increased by 170% between 2017 and 2021 following legalization.

Schmitt also noted that other states like Colorado and Washington have seen their tax revenue expectations fall short after legalizing marijuana. He remarked, "Hedging our bets on a new sin tax to fix Pennsylvania’s fiscal woes is not sound budgeting."

In conclusion, Schmitt pledged to maintain his role as a fiscal watchdog for Blair County residents while working towards an improved budget plan. He asserted this commitment by stating he aims for a budget strategy that positively impacts Pennsylvania's future.