York County News

Jan 26, 2024

HARRISBURG - House Republican Appropriations Chairman Seth Grove has expressed his thoughts on Governor Shapiro's new Higher Education "blueprint." In his statement, Grove highlighted the accomplishments of the House Republican Caucus in bringing accountability and transparency to state-related universities, fighting for tuition freezes, and protecting Jewish students from antisemitism on campus.

Grove commended the Governor for recognizing these successes and stated, "If that is what the Governor considers political gamesmanship, we need more of it in Pennsylvania." He also attributed the proposal to eliminate non-preferred bills to the House Republican Caucus, who used this process to achieve meaningful reform for Pennsylvania students during the Great Betrayal Budget Impasse.

However, Grove also pointed out that Shapiro's blueprint lacks critical details, particularly in terms of financing. He criticized the plan as a continuation of Shapiro's three-step plan for financial disaster: massive and unsustainable spending increases, elimination of the $12 billion surplus, and leaving families and businesses with significant future income tax increases.

Grove argued that the plan creates more bureaucracy, necessitates more spending, and raises more questions than answers. He emphasized the House Republican position on education, which is to fund students, not institutions. Grove suggested that Shapiro should propose direct grants to ensure that every child has options for higher education. However, he expressed concerns about the Governor's track record on reneging on school choice and suggested that Shapiro may be siding with unions over students.

Grove also warned of the negative impact that this massive spending plan would have on the General Fund's financial picture in the future. He compared deficit spending to a financial disaster in Washington DC and stated that Pennsylvania cannot afford Shapiro's reckless spending.

In conclusion, Grove criticized Shapiro's blueprint as a poor "copy and paste" from the far-left State of Minnesota. He described the plan as uninnovative and unbold, likening it to a house that he wouldn't step foot inside. Grove suggested that Pennsylvania should not follow the financial peril of another state and called for a more innovative approach to higher education.

These statements were made by Representative Seth Grove, the Appropriations Chairman, who represents the 196th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. For media inquiries, contact Charlie O'Neill at 717.260.6121 or coneill@pahousegop.com. More information can be found on RepGrove.com and Facebook.com/RepSethGrove.