I felt compelled to write about Gov. Josh Shapiro’s $53.2 billion budget outline. I am dismayed when politicians continually increase spending instead of staying within fiscal limits of good governance. I am not saying Democrats are the only ones guilty of spending tax dollars, but they certainly have a penchant for spending over and above incoming revenues.

When I was a local politician, we looked at our revenues and then decided what items our budget could accept and then planned accordingly. This governor and his cohorts believe that legalizing marijuana and taxing skill games will bring in billions of tax dollars that, of course, go flying out the door for his new spending initiatives.

As a former law enforcement officer, more access to drugs will lead to increased illicit drug usage along with the ramifications. More DUIs, assaults and other incidents will occur. Of course, the drug rehabilitation industry will love this as it perpetuates a culture of abuse and rehab over and over again.

I hope sensible minds will prevail in Harrisburg and reject this out of control spending.

Eric B. Prendergast

Duncansville