Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa voted no on the proposed Pennsylvania state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, warning on April 14 that the plan spends billions more than the Commonwealth expects to bring in and relies heavily on financial reserves.
The issue is significant as the legislation, which passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, now moves to the Senate for further consideration. The debate centers around whether it is responsible to use surplus funds and savings accounts such as the Rainy Day Fund to balance increased spending.
Grimm Krupa said that state spending would grow to about $53 billion under this plan, with a reliance on both surplus funds and the Rainy Day Fund. “The Rainy Day Fund was created for emergencies, not for politicians who simply want to spend more than taxpayers can afford,” Grimm Krupa said. “This plan spends money Pennsylvania doesn’t have and puts us on a path toward draining the savings meant to protect taxpayers.”
She pointed out that families across Pennsylvania are dealing with higher costs in daily life. “Gas is up. Groceries are up. Health care costs are rising. Electric bills, water bills, sewage bills and trash bills continue to climb,” Grimm Krupa said. “Pennsylvania families are tightening their belts, but Harrisburg refuses to do the same.” She also argued that before asking taxpayers for more money, government should address fraud and wasteful spending: “Every dollar government wastes is a dollar taken from a hardworking Pennsylvania family,” she said.
According to her official website, Grimm Krupa holds the position of State Representative for Pennsylvania’s 51st Legislative District according to her official website. She lives on a farm with her husband and three children according to her official website, has degrees from Penn State University and West Virginia College of Law according to her official website, served as an assistant Fayette County public defender before practicing civil rights law privately according to her official website, and was previously a member of both Gallatin School Board and assistant public defender roles according to her official website.
As House Bill 2400 advances in legislative process, observers will watch how concerns over reserve fund usage influence debate in the Senate. “The people of Pennsylvania work too hard for their money to watch Harrisburg spend it this recklessly,” Grimm Krupa said.
