Sunday, February 10, 2013
Gov. Tom Corbett's 2013-14 budget ties sale of state liquor system to a $1 billion grant for school safety, early education programs, individualized learning and science/math programs.
Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2013-14 budget, which he presented Feb. 5, contains an interesting cocktail that mixes the sale of the state's liquor system with funding of a public schools grant. Under his proposal, $1 billion obtained by the proposed privatization of the state's liquor sales would be used to create the Passport for Learning Block Grant that would focus on school safety; enhanced early education programs; individualized learning; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses and programs. The $1 billion in revenue to fund that grant will come from the three- to four-year process of selling the Liquor Control Board: $575 million from the wholesale license process, $224 million from the Wine and Spirits retail …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Democrats voice concerns while Republicans lend support for Gov. Tom Corbett's 2013-14 budget.
Western Pennsylvania Democrats had some harsh words for Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2013-14 state budget, which he presented Tuesday, while state Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason called the governor's plan a "balanced and responsible budget that reinvests in Pennsylvania." “The plan presented by the governor is disappointing,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills. “It was long on politics but short on solutions.” State Rep. Erin Molchany, a newly elected Democrat serving South Hills communities said the governor’s "Band-Aid budget does little to make up for the hurt this state has felt from his deep cuts." State Rep. Robert Matzie, a Democrat representing the Sewickley area, said: “New Jersey has Chris Christie as …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The governor has raised funding in some areas but at least some opponents don't feel the budget addresses important issues.
Gov. Tom Corbett delivered highlights of his proposed 2013-14 budget in a speech before the state Legislature on Tuesday morning. The $28.4 billion state budget plan, a 2.4 percent increase over this year, includes no general tax increases. In one of the most controversial areas, Corbett recommended against expanding Medicaid, as provided for under the Affordable Health Care Act. Corbett plans to ask the federal government for flexibililty to let Pennsylvania customize the health insurance program for its needs or have the state reject the Medicaid expansion. Under the act, also known as Obamacare, Medicaid could expand to cover people earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level and provide coverage for upwards of 600,000 uninsured …
Friday, June 29, 2012
Republicans call spending plan responsible, Democrats decry social service cuts.
The state senate is expected to vote today on a $27.66 billion dollar spending plan that holds the line on taxes for the new fiscal year, which begins Sunday. The house approved the measure by a vote of 120-81 Thursday night, the Post Gazette reported. The new budget increases spending by less than 2 percent over this year’s budget, the Patriot-News reported. The spending plan maintains current funding for public schools and colleges. However it eliminates the state department of public welfare’s cash assistance program and cuts $84 million, half of what the Governor had proposed cutting, for county-provided human services. The bill also includes a tax break that could exceed $1.7 billion dollars for Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s natural gas “…
Friday, June 22, 2012
Corporate tax breaks, public education, college affordability, infrastructure and human services among concerns for local state representative.
State Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, said he has serious concerns about the budget proposal being offered by Gov. Tom Corbett and Republican leaders in the General Assembly. "We are expected to vote on a final budget next week," said DeLuca, "and I am concerned about what the governor's proposal does to hurt the people of Pennsylvania." DeLuca, Democratic chairman of the House Insurance Committee, issued the following statement on Thursday: "Republicans currently control Pennsylvania’s government. Gov. Corbett has large Republican majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly and can pass legislation without any bipartisan support. Unfortunately, this has enabled Gov. Corbett to propose a budget that ignores the needs of millions of…
Thursday, February 9, 2012
What does your state legislator think of Gov. Tom Corbett's 2012-13 budget proposal? Find out here.
Gov. Tom Corbett released his 2012-13 state budget that immediately drew either applause or gnashing of teeth depending on which side of the aisle legislators reside. The governor released his $27.14 billion budget proposal Tuesday that would keep spending in line with last year’s budget that slashed a billion dollars from public education and welfare programs. However, public universities such as the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State University face even larger reductions in funding from the state this year. The budget does not include any tax or fee increases, but also does not address transportation issues that include crumbling infrastructure and mass transit funding problems. Corbett, a Republican who was elected in 2010…
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Riverview School District officials have passed what they call a very preliminary 2012-13 budget due to several uncertainties.
Residents in the Riverview School District might experience a real estate tax increase next fiscal year, but it's too early to tell, according to school officials. On Monday, the school board approved a $17.8 million preliminary budget. The budget includes a 0.58-mill tax increase. The current millage rate is 24.7864 mills. With the proposed tax increase, the owner of a $100,000 home would pay about $58 more next school year. Superintendent Chuck Erdeljac said the district is in a bind because officials have yet to receive county-mandated property reassessment figures. Those figures definitely will affect next school year's budget in terms of how much revenue the district will receive from real estate taxes. Last month, district business …
Monday, July 4, 2011
A representative from the Tell Everyone All Cuts Hurt organization expresses outrage over this week's state budget passed by the House.
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Monday, July 4, 2011
So this is how public education ends - not with a scream but with a whimper. With apologies to T.S. Eliot, the above sentiment sums up the position of the thousands of parents, children and teachers in the T.E.A.C.H. Organization with regard to the farce played out two nights ago in Harrisburg—the passage of a 2011-12 state budget that unnecessarily slashes $1.1 billion from education, $860 million of which was lacerated from our public schools especially the poorer ones. Gov. (Tom) Corbett made it clear these are not just “austerity measures.” He did this by accepting four new vehicles for himself, Lt. Gov. Jim Crawley and their wives at a total cost to the taxpayers of $186,000. He did this by accepting a $30,000 pay raise for himself …
Thursday, June 30, 2011
State representatives Frank Dermody, Joe Markosek and Anthony DeLuca vote "no" on the budget. State senators Jim Ferlo, Jim Brewster and Jay Costa also disagree.
The state House approved a $27 billion budget on Wednesday night, and three Democratic representatives from the Plum-Oakmont communities are saying they voted against it because it cuts school funding, slashes Medicaid programs and protects big corporations. The budget passed with a 109-92 vote largely along party lines. The Senate passed the bill on complete party lines on Tuesday, and Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to sign it today, Thursday. Though the state budget didn't increase state taxes, Democrats noted that it is actually a "tax shift" because has forced school districts and counties to raise local property taxes to meet their basic needs, according to a statement from the Pa. House Democratic Caucus. State Rep. Frank Dermody (D-…
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Republicans and Democrats voice their opinions about the Tuesday passage of the state budget.
Whether Tuesday’s vote in the state House of Representatives to approve the $27.3 billion state budget plan is viewed as “prioritized spending…responsible spending” or as inflicting “excrutiating pain” on the Commonwealth’s “most vulnerable citizens” seems split clearly along party lines. The budget passed the House by a vote of 109 to 92. The bill now goes to the state Senate, which is expected to restore some of the cuts made by the House. The budget is required by law to be adopted by June 30. The House Democrats stood firm against the Republican budget, which they say would include $976 million in cuts to K-12 education funding, nearly $300 million in cuts to higher education and about $500 million in cuts to health care and human …
Joseph
1:47 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I've been involved. I've seen the beast first hand. The only way to change it is to become a part of the special interest groups or run for office to diffuse the special interest groups (good luck winning an election without the support of special interest groups). more ›