State Rep. Rich Irvin | Pennsylvania 81st Legislative District
State Rep. Rich Irvin | Pennsylvania 81st Legislative District
HARRISBURG – Representative Rich Irvin of Huntingdon, Centre, and Mifflin counties has issued a statement following the House's approval of the 2022-23 state budget. The budget aims to support businesses, families, seniors, and students while also saving for future needs without increasing taxes.
Irvin stated: "This is a responsible budget that sets aside more than $3 billion to help with next year’s budget and puts roughly $2.1 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund for the future. This money will help safeguard against future tax increases and put the state on firmer financial footing."
The budget includes provisions for vulnerable citizens, including a one-time increase in the Property Tax Rent Rebate Program for low-income seniors and an increase in the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. These measures are designed to assist eligible Pennsylvanians in managing current economic challenges.
Irvin highlighted rural health care access as a priority, noting: "Being in a rural area, access to health care services is of great importance. In this budget, we are dedicating $50 million to help our EMS companies stay afloat and continue providing essential services."
To attract businesses to Pennsylvania, Irvin emphasized efforts to reduce corporate taxes: "To help job creators decide to make the Keystone State their base of operations, we are also aggressively reducing the Corporate Net Income Tax." He believes these tax incentives will draw more businesses to Pennsylvania.
Additional benefits outlined by Irvin include funding for 200 new state troopers, support for farmers affected by avian flu, record increases in education funding—covering mental health and school safety—and investments in infrastructure improvements.
Addressing election integrity concerns, Irvin mentioned that the budget prohibits private money from funding elections and introduces guidelines ensuring accurate vote casting and counting.
For further details on Pennsylvania's state budget plans, additional resources are available online.
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