State Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr. says he is "pretty much on board" with suggestions by a group of protesters that the new state budget reduce expenses and hold the line on taxes.
Eichelberger, R-Blair, was the only senator who addressed a group of a couple hundred protesters in the Capitol rotunda during a rally Tuesday in Harrisburg. He said he told those at the rally that spending cuts are possible.
He also addressed some of the rumors that have been circulating during the ongoing budget debate that has seized the General Assembly as it attempts to pound out a 2009-10 budget.
Eichelberger said some services at state parks may be cut, but the parks will remain open.
The same thing goes for schools, he said, pointing out that some programs may be cut, but that basic and special education should see an increase.
Economic development programs may take a hit, he told the group.
Eichelberger and state Rep. Jerry Stern, R-Martinsburg, met earlier in the day with residents from Blair County, including Jeff Metzler of Martinsburg and Tom Link of East Freedom.
State Rep. Rick Geist, R-Altoona, said he was on the floor of the House when the Blair County residents came to his office and wasn't able to meet with them.
The small contingent associated with the Blair County tea party group that rallied in April outside the Blair County Courthouse to protest excessive government spending joined others from across the state. Together, they wanted to emphasize that the upcoming state budget should avoid tax increases even if it means cutbacks in programs.
The efforts to pass a new state budget suffered a setback Monday when the Senate's proposed budget, which held the line on taxes, didn't make it out of the House Appropriations Committee on a party line vote.
That means nothing is on the table right now, with the deadline to pass a balanced budget just three weeks away.
Stern, who said he has not voted for a tax increase in 17 years as a legislator, said this is the wrong time to be talking about large tax increases.
"Right now, with the economy the way it is [and] high gas prices, the taxpayers want to see state government living within its means," he said.
Geist said Tuesday, "The budget process has a long way to go."