Following the governor’s signature of the state budget earlier this week, Rep. Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) said today that he voted “no” on two budget-related bills that provide for new capital projects and increased state borrowing to pay for them.

“I want the people I represent to know that I voted against the two bills that support this borrowing and the significant raising of the state’s debt ceiling.  Included in these two Capital Budget bills are the funding for the Specter and Murtha projects that have been widely reported in the press.”

Smith explained that there is a general fund budget that provides for the daily operation of state government that he supported and two separate bills that provide for the state’s Capital Budget that he opposed.  The Capital Budget, he said, includes funding for many maintenance projects around the state, as well as building expansions at hospitals, colleges and universities.  He stressed, however, that this year the governor also sought to increase borrowing by $600 million to fund economic development projects within various communities around the state.

Smith said he voted against these measures because he personally does not believe the spending was a necessary or worthwhile expenditure of state dollars and he thinks the people he represents would agree. 

“We cannot continue to borrow money to pay for things we don’t actually need,” he said.  “This mindset is contrary to the way most households are run and government needs to handle taxpayer dollars responsibly.  The consequences of irresponsible borrowing will be felt by future generations.

“With all due respect to Senator Specter and the late Congressman Murtha, I would have to question the necessity of constructing these kinds of buildings at a time when people are losing jobs and the state faces huge economic challenges down the road.”

Representative Sam Smith

Republican Leader

PA House of Representatives

Contact:  Kelly Fedeli (717) 787-3845

Internet:  www.SamSmithPaHouse.com