Rep. Ellis Says Democrat Billion Dollar Tax Bill Wrong, Calls for 'No New Taxes' Budget Plan - 10/3/2009
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A revenue plan that would call for $1 billion in new taxes for Pennsylvania was pushed through the state House Friday in a party line vote. House Democrats, who sponsored the tax bill, claimed a narrow victory, while Republicans voted as a whole to oppose new taxation at the state level. Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler) said he remains committed to a no tax increase budget and called for consideration of the House Republican ‘no tax increase’ budget plan. Mike Davies reports...
Rep. Ellis Comments on Meeting of House/Senate Conference Committee on Budget - 7/29/2009
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The joint House/Senate conference committee on the state budget met for the first time in Harrisburg on Wednesday, in an effort to achieve a compromise on the spending plan, which is nearly a month overdue. Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler) said he hopes that a budget can be crafted quickly so state workers can receive paychecks. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available.
Marcellus Shale Press Conference - 7-27-09 - 7/28/2009
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Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler), co-chairman of the House Oil and Gas Caucus, recently hosted a press conference in Harrisburg to highlight the potential benefits that drilling in the Marcellus Shale natural gas formation would bring to Pennsylvania. Ellis showcased a new Penn State University Study which indicates that the industry could bring more than 175,000 jobs and up to 25 billion dollars in economic activity to the commonwealth. Following is the audio of the entire press conference.
Rep. Ellis Says Study Shows Gov's Gas Severance Tax Would Hurt Jobs and Damage Economic Hopes for PA - 7/27/2009
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Pennsylvania may realize the creation of as many as 176,000 jobs and as much as $25 billion in economic activity from gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation over the next 10 years according to a recent study by Penn State researchers that was released Monday by members of the House Oil and Gas Caucus in Harrisburg. But Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler), co-chair of the bipartisan group said the predictions may not pan out if the gas severance tax plan proposed by Governor Rendell is signed into law. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.
Rep. Ellis Comments Democrat Budget Plan that May Hurt PA's Eligilblity for Federal Stimulus Money - 7/17/2009
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A record breaking $29 billion state budget that would spend more than any previous state spending plan was approved on a largely party line vote Friday in the Pennsylvania House. Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler) said the House Democrats’ plan would jeopardize stimulus funding from the federal government plan because it fails to address the funding of higher education. Mike Davies reports...
Rep. Ellis Comments on Competing Budget Plans - 7/16/2009
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Competing state budget plans were debated on the House floor on Thursday, with House Republicans pushing for an amendment to restore the funding for higher education which was completely eliminated in the bill proposed by House Democrats. Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler) said that a vote for the Democrat proposal ultimately was a vote for higher taxes. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available.
Rep. Ellis Says Democrats Cut All Higher Ed Funding as Tactic in Budget Battle - 7/13/2009
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In a surprise move House Democrats introduced a last minute amendment to the Governor’s budget bill on Monday that would eliminate $1.2 billion in state funding for higher education and college’s from Pennsylvania’s state budget. Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler) a member of the Appropriations Committee, said he feels this surprise funding cut is a tactic by House Democrats to scare lawmakers into supporting tax increases. Mike Davies reports...
Rep. Ellis Says Gov's Proposed New Tax on Natural Gas Would Hurt Drilling Industry and Jobs - 6/9/2009
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Natural gas drillers and lawmakers concerned with the economic future of Pennsylvania joined in calling for no new taxes on the fledgling Marcellus Shale Natural Gas production industry Wednesday in Harrisburg. Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler), co-chair of the Natural Gas Caucus, said lawmakers want to protect the growing gas drilling industry and Pennsylvania’s economy from the negative effects of Governor Rendell’s proposed severance tax on gas production. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.
Rep. Ellis Comments on Committee Rejection of Senate Budget Plan - 6/8/2009
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A Senate sponsored state budget plan that would have ensured no tax increases for Pennsylvanians was voted down in the House Appropriations Committee Monday in a party line vote. Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler) said House Democrats voted to kill the balanced Senate budget bill because they are looking to push their own agenda that calls for more state spending and higher taxes. Chuck Nichols Reports - Story and Bite available.
Rep. Ellis Says State Needs to Hold the Line on Spending This Year - 6/2/2009
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Despite a $3.2 billion dollar revenue shortfall in the current year’s state budget, Governor Rendell appears to remain committed to spending almost a billion more in next year’s plan, and his Democrat allies in the House Appropriations Committee are now hinting that an income tax increase may be the easiest way to balance the budget. But Rep. Brian Ellis (R-Butler) says the state needs to hold the line on spending and live within its means this year. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.