Spend, Spend, Spend: PA Budget Passed in the House

Written by Roberta Biros

Governor Rendell is in a hurry to pass a budget before the June 30th deadline (for the first time in his career as Governor I might add). That is a GOOD THING.

Unfortunately, the piece of garbage that passed the House today is a mess. I don’t usually allow legislators to put words in my mouth, but in this case I’ll make an exception. I’d like to quote Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th District), whose official email announcement stated that “this spending plan is a fiscal train wreck”.

Wow! I wish I had written it myself! In a way, I guess I just did. It was absolute plagiarism . . . plain and simple but I digress. Regardless of WHO said it first . . .

Calling the budget a "fiscal train wreck" is some strikingly straight talk from a Harrisburg insider. In response, I say “It’s about time”.

I received numerous email messages from Pennsylvania legislators today. Each one explained that the idea of passing a budget quickly (and well before the deadline) is a great idea. Every legislator hopes to have a budget passed before the end of June this year . . . especially those legislators that have opponents in the General Election. However, the obvious fiscal irresponsibility of House Bill 2279 is poor policy. We can all tiptoe around the fiscal quagmire that IS the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but all of the icing in the world can’t sweeten this poison pill that they call a State budget.

Here are a few excerpts from the legislator email messages that were received in my “In Box”:

Representative Dick Stevenson (R-8th)

“At a time when state revenues have not yet rebounded, Pennsylvania needs to look to other states and follow their lead to reduce spending, not increase the state budget by $1.2 billion or 4 percent,” said Stevenson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Neighboring states like Maryland, New Jersey and New York have all taken steps to decrease expenses. They face the same financial obstacles we do, but they realize their taxpayers cannot afford a penny more in increased taxes and fees.”

Representative Brad Roae (R-6th)

“I voted ‘no’ because there is too much spending in the budget bill. Spending has increased by more than $8 billion since Governor Ed Rendell took office. We cannot afford to spend more than a billion dollars more than last year’s budget.

Representative Karen Boback (R-117th)

“I am greatly concerned about the overall spending number of this budget. The 2009-10 budget used all of Pennsylvania’s reserve accounts, and we are facing another deficit at the end of the year. To increase spending by $1.2 billion, which is 4 percent growth, is not wise. We should continue to look for ways to allocate our resources prudently, and we should remain cognizant that federal stimulus funds we have received for the past two years will soon run out. This is just not the time to increase state spending. “

Representative Sam Rohrer (R-128th)

“The current administration has led Pennsylvania down the path to fiscal insolvency,” Rohrer said. “The budget approved today by the House is simply a continuation of the fiscally irresponsible practices of the last eight years. It spends too much, disregards financial reality and ignores the wishes of Pennsylvanians.”

Representative William Adolf (R-165th)

“While I am pleased to see us debating the budget this early in the process, I believe the spending plan that was passed today is taking us in the wrong direction,” Adolph said. “This budget spends far more than we can afford, and it sets us up for some major financial problems in the near future.”

Representative Michele Brooks (R-17th)

“I agree that government should be listening to the people it serves and address the numerous calls to live within its means. This spending plan is a fiscal train wreck that does not reflect the priorities of the people who are paying the bills and who have told us government must operate more efficiently and effectively.

In Closing . . .

HERE is a link to the budget document, and HERE is a link to the House Vote (which ended at 107 to 89 . . . pretty much along party lines).

My father used a saying when I was a kid. I never had a purpose for it until today. He would say “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear”. I find that analogy to be perfect in this situation. House Bill 2279 is a sows ear. It will be the job of the State Senate to transform it into a silk purse before June 30th.

Unfortunately, my faith in the ability of the Senate to bend and twist this sows ear into something attractive is limited. Our State Senators are concerned about having their names tethered to another delayed budget. That concern will make them hold their nose and vote FOR this “train wreck” with hopes of not drawing attention to themselves. They are crossing their fingers, closing their eyes, and praying for this election year to blow over without incident.

Time will soon tell.

Uncontested Races Troubling

Guest Column By Denny Bonavita

So, the Tea Party folks are going to force the national government to change its ways, are they? Hot air. Ditto for screamers in Internet chat rooms, for strident espousers of Second Amendment gun rights, for the people who claim our government is spending us into bankruptcy.

We yak about that, but it's simply lip-flapping. Nobody will change the current system of government, despite all the jaw-jabber. Why do we say that?

Look at who is running for election this year: Mostly, it's incumbents, or former incumbents. In area races for the state House of Representatives, there is not one contested race in the May 18 primary election, according to the filings with the Department of State. Matt Gabler (R), Kathy Rapp (R), Sam Smith (R), Martin Causer (R), Donna Oberlander (R), Bud George (D) are all assured of renomination.

Rapp, Causer and Oberlander are all but assured of re-election. No Democrats filed against them, so there probably won't be any major contests in November, either.
On the federal level, first-term incumbent Glenn Thompson, a Republican, is unopposed in both the primary and in the general election. So is Altoona-area Rep. Bill Shuster.

Sure, incumbent U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter is opposed - but by a current member of the federal Congress in the primary, and by a former member of Congress in the general election. More incumbents.

To hear the critics of government tell it, the state and federal governments are poorly run. But the critics are lip-flappers, only. Otherwise, some would have joined in the campaigns.

It doesn't take a lot of money, either. Gabler won the Republican nomination two years ago on a write-in basis. In our system of government, it is impossible to vote "No," or "None of the above," except in judicial retention elections. We can't vote people out of office if there is no opponent to vote in. Don't blame the incumbents. It isn't their fault if they do not have opponents. That is our fault.

Even the best incumbents benefit from having opponents - for the same reason that we learn something best when we know we have to teach about it. When an incumbent knows that he or she will be called to account on an issue, the incumbent rethinks the issue. Sometimes, the incumbent even changes positions, because the circumstances surrounding the issue have changed.

But that won't happen this year. We just don't care enough about our system of government to help to lead it. So the incumbents can just keep on doing what they have been doing.

Pennsylvania Tax Revenues Falling Short Of What State Lawmakers Projected

THE KEYSTONE COPS BUDGET SAGA CONTINUES!!!!!!

Pennsylvania is on course for another fiscal train wreck this year according to the latest Department Of Revenue figures. Last year Governor Ed Rendell and state legislative leaders in both the House and Senate were not able to pass a budget until the end of October. Even then the budget that was passed was packed full of projected revenue numbers and voodoo mathematics. Just imagine how this year's budget negotiations are going to play out with these figures.

From The Department Of Revenue Press Release:

Acting Secretary of Revenue C. Daniel Hassell today reported that Pennsylvania collected $1.5 billion in General Fund revenue in February, which was $102.3 million, or 6.4 percent, less than anticipated. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $16 billion, which is $476.7 million, or 2.9 percent, below estimate.

Click Here To Read More

I just don't understand how our state lawmakers don't do something to cut spending when they know state tax revenues are coming int 2.8 percent below estimates. Commonsense tells you not to just set back and do nothing. That isn't leadership. Neither is Governor Ed Rendell's budget proposal that wants to once again increase state government spending. Again where does the madness stop?

PA Sixth Congressional District Drama: Schroder to Get Nominated From Floor?

Did anyone else read Chris Freind’s post about the prospect of Curt Schroder getting nominated to Congress from the floor of the ChesCo GOP Convention tomorrow? I have talked to enough people today to confirm there is a legitimate grassroots movement afoot to do just that. Hard to say how large this movement is.

But just think of it this way:

Curt was close to securing enough commitments to win the endorsement over a month ago. If just half of those people decide to go ahead and vote for Curt event though he’s still not formally running for this seat, that could split the whole affair into a three-way tie. Depending, of course, on which existing candidate– Welch or Gerlach– experiences more desertion.

Of course, it is also possible that Curt gets nominated from the floor and doesn’t get many votes at all.

But seeing how the chair of the Chester County Republican party decided to send an e-mail just yesterday re-emphasizing his support for Gerlach…well…the necessity of that e-mail certainly wouldn’t comfort me if I was Jim.

WE THE PEOPLE SHALL STAND UNITED

"Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. " John F. Kennedy

I chose this quote because it says it all. There are people everywhere trying to get Obama and or all the democrats out of office. This, I can deal with however; take the republicans with them.

My congressman, Bill Shuster, asked me to support him in opposing Obama's health care plan. I am all for stopping this health care plan but, I will not support Mr. Shuster in his effort or lack thereof. I asked his staff, what is he proposing to American's on this issue and all I got was directed to a statement he made on the internet, that didn't offer any answer to my question.

I can't accept a person just because he disagrees on the same topics as I. I want someone in office who has a solution, not an excuse to blame someone else. I have no interest in helping anyone stay in office because they have a family to feed and need a paycheck. If you have no solutions to offer then you need to step down and get out of office, so someone else can bring fresh ideas to the table and be productive at the position.

Now this is not a personal attack on Mr. Shuster. This should be the respect held for the particular seat/office by all our politicians. I hear way too many people complaining about the problems instead of actively searching for a solution. If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem.

We've all heard this sad story before but, do oneself a favor and think about it for a second. I personally do not wish to be a part of the problem anymore. Yes, at some point we have all been or are part of the problem.

Everyone says Obama is the whole problem. Well I can assure you that no one man is the whole problem. History has proven that there is always more than one. Most of you are fully aware of this, so I will not go any further on this.

We spend all this time idolizing politicians and those in office. Why? Has one of them never let you down? Has one never disagreed with you on a single subject? or is it just because he was a democrat or republican like you? I ask that stop your idolizing. Idols fade away. Idols will only let you down.

They are but mere men or women. Please don't idolize because these people portray themselves in a way to mess with our minds. I become irritated from time to time, because I try to talk to people and help Americans realize that we need to unite. The irritation comes from the fact that almost everyone agrees with some of which I deem best for America. Yet, the "almost" is normally the same thing. They are quick to defend the political party of choice.

This is a major issue in our nation. I think it is a pretty simplistic statement and strong one too. " UNITED WE STAND & DIVIDED WE FALL" Political parties are nothing more then dividers amongst the American people. So, why is it that very few in comparison actually see this point?

America, we must stop allowing the corruption of our nation to blind us and even worse turn on each other. Once again I say it,"UNITED WE STAND & DIVIDED WE FALL". Please, I plead with you, rid the tyrants of this tool of leverage. We need a president that won't be lead by the corruption of the banks and corporate America.

We need a Congressman who isn't in his seat because all his buddies from high school didn't do their homework or do not care about issues and just want to help a friend out. The buddy system must come to an end, NOW! The buddy system is part of what allowed the corruption in our government in the first place.

WE THE PEOPLE, must stop voting for the lesser of the evils, and stop voting the evil in PERIOD! That's like me saying "heroine is worse, so I'll just smoke crack instead". That is the dumbest justification or excuse ever.

Time has come my fellow Americans. The time to take our nation back and rise up from the grasp of these nay sayers and false idols. It bares repeating: "WE THE PEOPLE", "UNITED WE STAND", "DIVIDED WE FALL" America, we the the people shall stand united.

Rats in the PA Capitol Cafeteria causing a media frenzy in Harrisburg

KWY Newsradio 1060 is reporting that the Capitol Cafeteria in Harrisburg operated by Philadelphia-based Aramark and overseen by the Rendell administration has failed another cleanliness inspection. The Capitol Cafeteria had to be shut down in December when an inspector found numerous violations and even rodent droppings all over the place. Click Here To Read More

All Of This Has The Patron's Of The Capitol Cafeteria Mainly The Harrisburg Media In An UpRoar!!! The following is an interview with Rep. Bill DeWeese:

Media: Representative DeWeese!!!! Representative DeWeese!!!!! Can you give us a statement on the rats that were found in the Capitol Cafeteria area?

Rep. DeWeese: "Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus."

Media: But what about the rats? What is the Democratic leadership in the House planning to do about all these rats running around the Capitol especially in the cafeteria.

Rep. DeWeese: Well guys I've heard of rats in the Capital before, but I don't know of any rats that particularly like to hang out in the Capitol Cafeteria.

Media: Is there an ongoing investigation of the rats in the Capital building and can you share any details?

Rep. DeWeese: Lets see. MMM! I always thought that former Speaker of the House John Perzel was a rat, but i do not know of any initiative that is moving forward emphasizing the extermination of the rats in the Capitol.

Media: What about the rumors going around that the leadership in each caucus planted the rats in the Capitol to deflect public attention away from the bonusgate trial?

Rep. DeWeese: "Any speculation that I knew about this unsanitary act is absolutely false and there is no evidence to support this opinion"

Let me tell you folks. It is Ratgate not bonusgate that is the real reason nothing is getting done done in Harrisburg. The rat infestation has severely impacted the legislative process. Everywhere you go lawmakers think they are seeing rats.

THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!!

PETA IS ACTUALLY LOBBYING FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF THE RATS!

Now everyone knows that the company overseeing the Capitol Cafeteria has connections to Governor Rendell. The company is from Philadelphia so it is not a far stretch to assume that the rats have somehow migrated from that area of the state!!!

But I have to Give Rendell credit. He has been calm throughout the crisis. I love that Rendell finds the humor in it all.

Here is Rendell's answer to a reporters question about ratgate:

(Romeo:) “Any witticisms about rats and mice in the capitol?”

(Rendell:) “(laughs) Just put it this way: assuming there were rats and mice there, they’re not the first rats and mice to be in the capitol.”

YOU ALSO HAVE TO LIKE HOW GOVERNOR RENDELL
DOESN'T MIND EATING WITH RATS

Just think of all the gambling lobby lunches and dinners Rendell must have participated in. I'm sure he is used to all the rat droppings by now!

'Take This Job And Shove It': State House Speaker McCall Resigns

I have to say I had an OMG moment yesterday when I hurd that Pennsylvania House Speaker Keith McCall (D-Carbon County) resigned yesterday. I am sure it came as a surprise to everyone. McCall calls it quits after 28 years of service. In a statement McCall said that his decision will allow him to spend more time with his family.

"As much as I care for the institution of the House, I love my family, and it’s long overdue that I put them first. After 2010 is over I know I will miss the House and the wonderful members and staff with whom I’ve been blessed to serve, but, I know in my heart that I am doing the right thing for myself and my family." (Source: AP PennLive.Com)

McCall's tenure as Speaker has been filled with controversy to say the least. The 'Bonusgate' investigation has plagued the House Democratic Caucus making it very difficult to get much of anything done legislatively speaking. Just look at last's years budget and how the House has struggled to pass table games legislation.

McCall plans to remain Speaker while he serves out the remainder of his term which ends on December 31st of this year. I have to give credit to McCall for saying enough is enough. This is not the same good ol' boys club anymore is it Mr. McCall.


Articles: Pennsylvania House Speaker Keith McCall plans to retire at end of this term (PennLive.com)

Pa. House Speaker Keith McCall won't run again (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Constituents shocked by McCall's announcement (Morning Call)