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Area lawmakers back bill to rein in state spending

Area lawmakers are behind a measure passed by the state House this week to rein in government spending.

The Taxpayer Protection Act would limit annual growth in the budget to the rate of inflation, unless the General Assembly votes to exceed the limit.

State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, said he supports House Bill 110 as a means of forcing the state to live within its means and preventing tax increases to pay bills.

“Since government seems unable to consistently control its ‘spending problem,’ “ I believe the Taxpayer Protection Act is a reasonable restraint on the state’s addiction to ‘spending other people’s money,’ ” he said.

State Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, also voted in favor of the legislation.

“I do support any ideas that will provide spending limitations,” he said.

Wheeland noted the alternative would be to raise taxes.

“And I don’t support that,” he said.

Wheeland said the state for too long has been spending at a rate higher than that of inflation.

Everett noted the bill will mean annual budgets that don’t introduce huge increases in expenses.

“The result of this would be budget requests that are more closely in line with what the General Assembly is willing to appropriate, and thereby, preclude the budget impasses we have seen all too often in recent years,” he said.

State Rep. Matt Baker, R-Wellsboro, who also voted in favor of the bill, noted that at least 30 states have adopted some form of spending limits.

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