In response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to increase state spending by $6.2 billion, Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Altoona said, “The governor has somehow even outdone himself when he proposed one of the highest spending increases in recent years. Using unrealistic revenue numbers, which are $5 billion higher than the Independent Fiscal Office’s expectations, the governor is proposing to increase spending by nearly 17%. Schmitt added, “Let’s be perfectly clear. If we had followed Wolf’s previous spending plans, taxes would have gone up dramatically, just as he had proposed. Fortunately, House Republicans stood firmly against his tax increases and we will again stand against Wolf’s exorbitant spending hike.”