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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
02/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/04/2026 14:05
Rep. Hamm: Governor Shapiro Should Put Pennsylvanians First, Not Harrisburg
Feb. 04, 2026
HARRISBURG - Governor Josh Shapiro delivered his budget proposal in his annual address to the General Assembly yesterday. Representative Joe Hamm (R-Lycoming/Sullivan) shared his strong opposition to the plan and issued the following statement:
"Governor Shapiro continues to ignore the fiscal realities Pennsylvania is facing. While hardworking Pennsylvanians and our seniors struggle to make ends meet, the Governor's budget adds new taxes and excessive spending. Families, farmers, and small businesses cannot afford overspending from their State Government," Hamm said. "I strongly oppose Governor Shapiro's proposed budget and call on my colleagues to work with me to craft a budget that puts Pennsylvanians first rather than the Harrisburg establishment.
"Shapiro's $53.3 Billion plan would increase spending from the present year by over 5%, which is nearly $3 Billion more than last year's bloated budget. This Tax and Spend proposal would legalize recreational marijuana and tax it, legalize skill games through statute and tax it, and create combined reporting for businesses which is another new tax," Hamm added. "We need to get serious about our future here in Pennsylvania. The Independent Fiscal Office has said Pennsylvania is headed toward a fiscal cliff with Pennsylvania running out of money next year. It is far past time for Harrisburg to tighten its belt and stop the out-of-control spending. Our children and senior population deserve better from Harrisburg."
Hamm pointed out that the state Independent Fiscal Office forecasts Pennsylvania budget structural deficits in the near-term: $5.84 Billion in 2026-2027, $6.90 Billion in 2027-2028; $7.27 Billion in 2028-2029 and more than $7.5 Billion per year after that. Those numbers could drastically increase if the economy enters into a recession.
The governor's address is just the beginning of the annual budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings in the coming weeks to examine the details of the governor's plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. The state budget must be in place before July 1 as required by the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Representative Joe Hamm
84th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Erik Houser
570-546-2084
[email protected]
www.RepJoeHamm.com
"Governor Shapiro continues to ignore the fiscal realities Pennsylvania is facing. While hardworking Pennsylvanians and our seniors struggle to make ends meet, the Governor's budget adds new taxes and excessive spending. Families, farmers, and small businesses cannot afford overspending from their State Government," Hamm said. "I strongly oppose Governor Shapiro's proposed budget and call on my colleagues to work with me to craft a budget that puts Pennsylvanians first rather than the Harrisburg establishment.
"Shapiro's $53.3 Billion plan would increase spending from the present year by over 5%, which is nearly $3 Billion more than last year's bloated budget. This Tax and Spend proposal would legalize recreational marijuana and tax it, legalize skill games through statute and tax it, and create combined reporting for businesses which is another new tax," Hamm added. "We need to get serious about our future here in Pennsylvania. The Independent Fiscal Office has said Pennsylvania is headed toward a fiscal cliff with Pennsylvania running out of money next year. It is far past time for Harrisburg to tighten its belt and stop the out-of-control spending. Our children and senior population deserve better from Harrisburg."
Hamm pointed out that the state Independent Fiscal Office forecasts Pennsylvania budget structural deficits in the near-term: $5.84 Billion in 2026-2027, $6.90 Billion in 2027-2028; $7.27 Billion in 2028-2029 and more than $7.5 Billion per year after that. Those numbers could drastically increase if the economy enters into a recession.
The governor's address is just the beginning of the annual budget process. The House Appropriations Committee will conduct a series of hearings in the coming weeks to examine the details of the governor's plan and how state departments and agencies are spending their funding. The state budget must be in place before July 1 as required by the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Representative Joe Hamm
84th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Erik Houser
570-546-2084
[email protected]
www.RepJoeHamm.com
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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on February 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 04, 2026 at 20:05 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]