Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
02/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/03/2026 12:57
Mako Reacts to Governor’s Budget Proposal
Feb. 03, 2026
HARRISBURG - Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro's $53.26 billion budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026-27:
"The governor is celebrating Groundhog Day one day late as for the fourth year in a row he is proposing the Commonwealth spend more money than it will be taking in. The final 2025-26 state budget was balanced through cash reserves and transfers from specialized funds and agency reserves. Now he wants to raid almost 60% of the Rainy Day Fund. Yes, there are storm clouds on the horizon, but no precipitation has started. The Rainy Day Fund needs to be preserved. In addition, he plans to create a new slush fund called the Federal Response Fund. All it sounds like to me is he desires to campaign for president on Pennsylvania taxpayers' dimes.
"Fortunately, this is just a starting point. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I look forward to digging deep into all aspects of his plan so the hardworking residents of the 183rd Legislative District are not left holding the bag."
For more information on the 2026-27 state budget, go to pabudget.com.
The 183rd District includes Lowhill and North Whitehall townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.
Representative Zachary Mako
183rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepMako.com / Facebook.com/RepMako
"The governor is celebrating Groundhog Day one day late as for the fourth year in a row he is proposing the Commonwealth spend more money than it will be taking in. The final 2025-26 state budget was balanced through cash reserves and transfers from specialized funds and agency reserves. Now he wants to raid almost 60% of the Rainy Day Fund. Yes, there are storm clouds on the horizon, but no precipitation has started. The Rainy Day Fund needs to be preserved. In addition, he plans to create a new slush fund called the Federal Response Fund. All it sounds like to me is he desires to campaign for president on Pennsylvania taxpayers' dimes.
"Fortunately, this is just a starting point. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I look forward to digging deep into all aspects of his plan so the hardworking residents of the 183rd Legislative District are not left holding the bag."
For more information on the 2026-27 state budget, go to pabudget.com.
The 183rd District includes Lowhill and North Whitehall townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.
Representative Zachary Mako
183rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepMako.com / Facebook.com/RepMako
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Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus published this content on February 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 03, 2026 at 18:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]