Shapiro discusses his budget proposal

(WHTM) – On Tuesday, Governor Shapiro presented his budget proposal, and abc27 asked him about the proposal on Thursday.

Shapiro, gave his budget address earlier this week, a $48.3 billion spending plan that Republicans call unicorns and rainbows and way too expensive. What does the governor say? abc27 sat down with him to get some answers.

“Look, I get that there’s some folks on the other side who feel like it’s their job to be just against everything I’m for. But the reality is, we get stuff done here in the Capitol. We bring Democrats and Republicans together. And now is a moment where we have to come together and invest,” said Shapiro.

The independent fiscal officer says in just a couple of years, if we go along this path, the deficit will be as much as $3 billion. Are they wrong?

Shapiro said, “They are. Look, I’m the only one in this building that has to put forth a five-year budget plan that’s required of. It’s not unique to me. It’s required of governors over my five-year budget plan if we’re not raising taxes. In fact, we have plans to cut them. It’s fiscally responsible and it maintains a rainy day fund or a surplus fund balance.”

Governor Corbett, ten years ago, his final budget was about $29 billion. Now you’re talking $48 billion some ten years later. How does Shapiro justify that huge budget?

Shapiro said, “The needs are great. The revenues are up. We are seeing good things happen in Pennsylvania. But if we don’t invest now, we’re going to fall behind.”

Shapiro has a very grand plan here. But some say that what Shapiro is trying to spend now, it’s not like you’re spending at one time. Is Shapiro putting future governors and future legislatures on the hook for that?

Shapiro said, “But that’s just false. I’ve put forth this five-year plan. It is balanced. What you’re really hearing from people who say that is they don’t want to think big. They don’t want to be aggressive, they don’t want to compete. I want to compete and I want to win. And to do that, you’ve got to invest.”

Lawmakers will get their chance to ask questions in the coming weeks as budget hearings begin.