Snyder critical of budgetary impasse
WAYNESBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf on Tuesday vetoed the GOP’s short-term spending plan, something state Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, predicted five days earlier he would do.
“The people are hurting right now and we need a true, real budget,” Snyder said in a state House video posted on YouTube Sept. 24.
“This is not a good bill before us,” she said. “It’s the same as what we gave the governor in June and therefore we know what the outcome will be – the governor will veto this stop-gap.”
Snyder also said she hopes the leadership and the governor get in a room, roll up their sleeves and get a real budget.
“Let’s get this done and get on with the people’s work,” she said.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday Snyder took her frustration to another level by saying public schools are beginning to feel the effects of the budgetary impasse.
“Budget negotiators in Harrisburg must compromise and deliver a state budget to save public schools from further fiscal mayhem,” she said. “Two school districts in my legislative district – Bethlehem-Center and Albert Gallatin – already have borrowed a combined total of almost $6 million to keep operating.
“After three months of stalemate on the budget, it’s time to end the theatrics and grandstanding and find a solution,” she said.
Snyder said the increasing costs to school districts and ultimately taxpayers were highlighted by the state auditor general, who noted that at least 17 school districts and two intermediate units already have borrowed more than $346 million to meet expenses and keep classrooms open.
The state auditor general said interest and fees on those borrowed education dollars could reach $11.2 million, and at least 28 additional districts and two more intermediate units will be forced to borrow an estimated total of $122 million in October.
“Public education is a hallmark of our Republic, yet in Pennsylvania political intransigence has reduced many public schools’ finances to junk bond status,” Snyder said. “The slash-and-burn funding cuts of the last four years coupled with the current impasse are embarrassing, costly to taxpayers and a disservice to citizens, especially schoolchildren.
“Budgeting is all about priorities and compromise,” she added. “It is critical that all sides compromise now around shared priorities of an adequately funded educational system, property tax relief and a better Pennsylvania for everyone.”
In another matter, Snyder – in a press release issued Wednesday – also praised the state Senate’s recent confirmation of Greene County resident Andrew Place to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
“Andrew Place’s impressive talents and experience will serve Pennsylvania well,” said Snyder, who is also Democratic secretary of the House Consumer Affairs Committee, which oversees the PUC. “He brings an outstanding mix of energy know-how and environmental savvy to the table – qualities that I salute Governor Tom Wolf and the Senate for recognizing.”
According to the release, Snyder said Place’s experience as an energy executive involved in Marcellus shale natural gas development and in state government dealing with energy and technology development make him an ideal PUC commissioner.
“As a fellow farmer in Greene County, Andrew has experience dealing with energy and environmental matters on a personal level,” Snyder said. “His hands-on experience is burnished by his record at the EQT Corp., the state Department of Environmental Protection and his degrees from the universities of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon.
“He is the right person for the job at precisely the right time,” she added.
According to the release, Place replaces Jim Cawley on the commission, which oversees natural gas utilities, pipeline safety and inspection and administers Pennsylvania’s impact fee, the levy gas producers pay on new natural gas wells.