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For Immediate
Release
1/25/11
Listen
Brubaker Re-Introduces Legislation to Establish
Two-Year Budget Cycle
HARRISBURG – Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-36) re-introduced
legislation today that would establish a two-year budget cycle in Pennsylvania
to promote greater efficiency and productivity in state government.
Senate Bill 267 would reduce the time and resources
necessary to enact a new budget each year and encourage the governor and the
Legislature to incorporate long-term perspectives in budgeting. The plan would
also allow for a more in-depth review of how state agencies spend taxpayer
dollars.
Brubaker first introduced legislation to establish a
two-year budget cycle last year in February. The two-year budget cycle is one of
the government reform proposals supported by Governor Tom Corbett.
"It is extremely important for the General Assembly to
review all state agencies and programs to determine the best way to save
taxpayer dollars, and a two-year budget cycle would provide greater
opportunities to review state spending," Brubaker said. "My legislation would
help to provide a clearer picture of the programs and services that provide the
greatest benefit to the communities we represent, and it has the added benefit
of taking some of the politics out of the budget process."
Brubaker's legislation would also help create more
predictability in the budget process for state agencies and other groups that
rely on state funding.
"Our current budget process is repetitive, time-consuming
and inefficient," Brubaker said. "This simple reform would allow every state
agency and state-funded program to engage in greater long-term planning with a
funding stream that is not subject to change every year."
The proposed legislation would require an amendment to the
state Constitution. To become law, the bill would have to pass in two
consecutive two-year legislative sessions before going before the voters for
final approval via referendum.
CONTACT:
Kristin Crawford
(717) 787-4420
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