SHAMOKIN DAM – Valley business leaders issued a call to action Monday in advance of Wednesday budget vote in Harrisburg. Aimee Buehner, chair of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee said in a statement, “When it comes to our state’s lingering budget impasse, enough is enough.”
Buehner asked business leaders to make two phone calls. One, to Governor Wolf to encourage him to abandon his plan to raise taxes, the other to House majority leader Dave Reed to ask him to stand strong in opposing the massive tax increase that could be on the way if the budget vote passes Wednesday.
Bob Garrett, President and CEO of the Chamber says the Governor and legislature need to work together, “Get a budget passed that’s fiscally focuses, but fiscally controlled, that makes prudent increases in some spending.”
Garrett says increases in spending on education are important, but should not be funded by additional taxes on small business and families, “Let’s not do that on the backs of our employers who are trying to create jobs and on the backs of our families who are struggling through what is, at best, a weak recovery.”
The Chamber represents more than 52,000 employees across the Susquehanna Valley. (Jennifer Wakeman)