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 Looming Budget Disaster

 Leave it to Governor Ed "Spendell" Rendell to sign this disaster as his final parting shot then skip town. Legislators are giving each other high fives and "attaboys" for steering the Titanic toward the iceberg. As if to stick it in the eye of the taxpayer for demanding a budget passed on time without tax increases, heavy cuts were made to budgets of the only things that most taxpayers enjoy from government, or that they deem truly necessary for their safety such as zoos, parks, libraries, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Many low pay scale state workers in these areas will be axed as a token sacrifice to the torch and pitchfork bearing taxpayer. At the other side of the ship cowardly Spendell hides behind the old "do it for the children" line to increase education spending that only a teacher's union could love. Never mind that teachers in Pa. are the highest paid in the country in terms of pay beyond what the average Pennsylvanian earns. Does anyone want to bet against me that this will not forestall any property tax increases next year? Nothing was done to avert the pending pension shortfall to the tune of 5 billion dollars in the next 2 years.

In classic self- serving action, a 600 million borrow and spend pork bill was inserted to assure construction of such worship sites as the 10 million dollar Arlen Specter Library and 10 million dollar John Murtha Center for Public Policy. All this is happening while true heroes sleep under cardboard boxes under bridges in increasing numbers. Prudent financial sense in this budget is thrown out the window. Relying on 850 million in federal Medicaid stimulus money payments is like counting on receiving payment on an ancient loan to the town mooch. Who in their right mind would factor in a 3.5% increase in revenues after the past two years saw declines? Nothing was trimmed off the bloated legislative budget.

The upper echelons of state government will continue to live off the fat of the land while the serfs fight over the scraps that are thrown to them. When I was in the army the Non- Commissioned Officer was always taught to lead by example. If I were a state legislator I would take the lead by offering up a 10,000 dollar pay cut for each and every representative that states that he or she is serious about getting the state's financial house in order. It is unfathomable to me that our leaders should tell us we taxpayers are going to have to sacrifice, while they walk across our backs. I implore all voters this November to vote out of office anyone that voted in favor of this monstrosity. I encourage all voters to research and elect someone that will lead by example.  

Tim Mullen