State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa | Pennsylvania 51st Legislative District
State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa | Pennsylvania 51st Legislative District
Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa, representing the 51st District in Fayette, expressed her dissatisfaction following the House's approval of the General Appropriations bill for the 2024-25 fiscal year. Krupa voiced concerns about the delayed budget process and fiscal irresponsibility associated with the bill’s passage.
"In each of my first two years in office, failed leadership has led to a budget impasse," she stated. Although she acknowledged that the chamber has finally moved forward, she criticized the tardiness, asserting, "There’s no excuse for not getting a deal done on time."
Krupa emphasized that the budget process began too late, starting in June with only a month until the deadline. She placed responsibility on the Speaker of the House, pointing out, "The Speaker of the House has the sole power to set the House calendar. Her failure to appropriately schedule the session days necessary...is just one example of the gross incompetence you see in Harrisburg."
Krupa also noted concerns about the budget’s magnitude, which amounts to just under $47.6 billion—a nearly six percent increase from the previous year. She warned that such spending could deplete Pennsylvania's budget surplus in less than two years, leaving the state vulnerable during economic downturns.
Moreover, Krupa criticized the voting process, highlighting the lack of passage for the code bills that comprise the state budget before approving the General Appropriations bill. She metaphorically compared it to agreeing on a pie’s size without considering the ingredients, questioning, "Why would we pick the total spending figure first?"
Finally, Krupa acknowledged the differing priorities between Republicans and Democrats concerning the state budget but stressed a common ground for timely and effective budget management. "I think we can all agree Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve a budget that is on time and makes sure every penny is being spent effectively," she concluded with a call to action: "We must do better."
Representative Charity Grimm Krupa
51st District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Contact: 724-438-6100
Alerts Sign-up