Gaydos Responds to Gov. Shapiro's $51.47 Billion Budget Proposal

February 4, 2025

HARRISBURG – Rep. Valerie Gaydos (R-Allegheny) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed $51.47 billion budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, which includes a $3.57 billion spending increase over the current year.

“The governor’s budget proposal is just the beginning. The House and Senate will carefully review it and make necessary improvements. Just like in our own households, there’s often a difference between what we want and what we can actually afford. The same goes for government spending.

“While the governor’s budget includes many worthy proposals, we must focus on what we can realistically fund. With inflation already impacting personal finances, raising taxes to cover unaffordable spending is not a viable option.

“My House Republican colleagues and I have worked hard to build a surplus and a strong Rainy Day Fund. The governor’s plan would spend the remaining General Fund surplus and draw down $1.6 billion in Rainy Day Fund money, leaving little for emergencies we may face in the future.

“Pennsylvania is currently facing a structural deficit, meaning our spending exceeds our revenue. The solution is not more taxes but investing in initiatives that promote job creation and economic growth. While unemployment is down, the largest growth has been in government jobs, and that’s not the way to reduce government costs.

“The path forward is clear: lower taxes, less government and more freedom for Pennsylvanians.”

The governor’s budget proposal will be analyzed during three weeks of House Appropriations Committee public hearings beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

For more information on the 2025-26 state budget, go to pahousegop.com. 

To view Rep. Gaydos’ comments following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address, click here.



Representative Valerie Gaydos
44th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Rick Leiner
717.260.6437
rleiner@pahousegop.com
RepGaydos.com / Facebook.com/RepGaydos