Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Schuylkill) issued the following statement regarding his vote on House Bill 2279, the Pennsyvania budget for fiscal year 2010-2011, whuch passed the house on Wednesday.

"Today, the House approved a budget of more than $28 billion for fiscal year 2010-2011. While I am pleased the budget process is competed, I could not support this plan. It spends more than last year and is dependent on $850 million in federal dollars that may not come. I find this totally unacceptable with our current financial situation. We are ending this fiscal year with a deficit of more than $1 billion and we are getting deeper in the hole." I have serious concerns about the impact this plan will have on future budgets," warned Rep. Knowles."I look forward to working with our next governor to restore fiscal integrity to our Commonwealth following the tax, borrow and spend approach to budgeting that has been the hallmark of the Rendell administration," he offered.