Press Release
$2,000 Stimulus Payments Will Drive Excessive Spending and Inflation
August 2, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Gov. Tom Wolf joined Democrat lawmakers in again calling for $2,000 direct payments to Pennsylvanians, this time using General Fund state tax dollars, with an estimated price tag of $500 million.
Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield issued the following statement:
“Politicians are exploiting voters’ concerns about inflation to justify more big government spending. In the same week that President Biden pushed for higher taxes in his ‘inflation bill,’ our governor proposed another state handout—both bad ideas that would exacerbate inflation.
“If politicians are serious about countering inflation, they should resist the urge to promise ‘free money’ before elections. Instead, state lawmakers can enact limits on government spending through the Taxpayer Protection Act, keeping more money in the pockets of hardworking families.
“Pennsylvania handing out $2,000 stimulus vouchers using taxpayer money is counterproductive to helping families struggling with high prices. This desperate, election-year gimmick ignores the cause of inflation in the first place—runaway growth in government spending.
“Democrats want to fund stimulus payments through the state’s General Fund—despite Wolf just signing (and celebrating) a new state budget. One which already spends $2 billion more than revenue and runs through next June.
“Over-spending now means tax increases later.”
Nathan Benefield is available for comment. Please contact Stefanie Mason at sbm@commonwealthfoundation.org or 414-418-5132 to schedule an interview.
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The Commonwealth Foundation transforms free-market ideas into public policies so all Pennsylvanians can flourish.