Schmitt: More Sin Taxes Not the Path Forward

February 4, 2025

HARRISBURG – Following Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget address today, Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Altoona) issued the following statement:

“Though there were parts of the governor’s plan I found myself agreeing with, I cannot support his overall plan as it fails to address spending that will deplete the state’s surplus in a matter of years, which will directly lead to gut-wrenching tax increases for the hard-working citizens of Pennsylvania.

“Expecting legalized marijuana to fill spending increases is just that, an expectation. First and foremost, legalizing the drug would be terrible for law and order in our Commonwealth. In fact, pediatric cannabis exposures in Colorado soared 170% between 2017, when the drug was still illegal, and 2021, three years after it was legalized. 

“Tax revenue expectations have fallen short in states, such as Colorado and Washington, that legalized marijuana. Hedging our bets on a new sin tax to fix Pennsylvania’s fiscal woes is not sound budgeting. 

“I will continue to be the fiscal watchdog the people of Blair County expect me to be as we work toward a better budget plan that will move our state in a positive direction.”