(Harrisburg) -- A $160 million revenue shortfall has some state House Republicans worried they’ll spend next year fending off more proposed tax increases. October’s revenue numbers came in $19.5 million below expectations, increasing the commonwealth’s projected budget gap. House Minority Whip Mike Turzai, an Allegheny County Republican, says he’s concerned about how lawmakers will try to fill that deficit during next year’s budget process, especially since this year’s spending plan wiped out the entire Rainy Day Fund. He says he expects Governor Rendell to call for more tax increases, but argues that's not the answer. "We have to make more expenditure reductions. There has to be. I’m not saying people have to live without-I’m saying all of us have to live with less," he says. "That means government operations, including the Legislature, has to live with less. Including the governor’s office has to live with less." Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma says it’s too early to talk about next year’s budget proposals. He says the administration is still holding out hope the economy might improve and tax revenues will fill in the budget gap. Last year at this time, the projected deficit was $565 million.

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