(File Photo of State Representative Roman Kozak)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) State Rep. Roman Kozak (R-Beaver) issued this statement following Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget address in Harrisburg yesterday: “In a 90-minute marathon of a speech before the General Assembly today, Gov. Josh Shapiro laid out a budget plan that would spend more than 53 billion of your taxpayer dollars. This is an extra $2.7 billion of spending on top of the $2.3 billion increase from last year’s budget, which drained our general fund reserves. The governor will need to raid the Rainy Day Fund for over $4.5 billion. That’s almost 60% of our emergency reserves and creates a structural deficit that can only be funded by future tax increases. This isn’t just irresponsible; it’s dangerous and it’s completely unsustainable. The governor continues to demand to spend more money than we have, and he expects you, the taxpayer, to make up the difference. At a time when the affordability of housing, gas and groceries is under the microscope, he wants you to send more of your money to pay for expanded government in Harrisburg. We cannot be fooled by accounting gimmicks and tricks. This plan proves Gov. Shapiro isn’t serious about the financial sustainability of our Commonwealth. This is more about a national campaign for future aspirations. He’s proving he’s out of touch with the challenges we face, and it’s the taxpayers of Pennsylvania who will suffer for it.”

Kozak will also be Frank Sparks’ guest on Beaver County Radio’s Driving in the Fast Lane today at 11:10 a.m.