Democratic lawmakers critical of Republican governor’s budget
Kula
Daley
Mahoney
Solobay
State legislators who represent people locally do not share Gov. Tom Corbett’s vision that the proposed 2014-15 budget will meet the needs of the commonwealth’s residents, especially those in southwestern Pennsylvania.
Reps. Timothy S. Mahoney, D-South Union Township; Deberah Kula, D-North Union Township and Peter J. Daley II, D-California, along with Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, and Richard A. Kasunic, D-Dunbar, were in agreement on Tuesday that the financial plan fell short in addressing issues such as a long-term solution to the state pension plan program and was too reliant on help from the federal government to balance the budget.
Corbett’s $29.4 billion spending plan — up 3.6 percent from the previous year — earmarks $400 million for public education; $78.3 million to state correctional institutions; $1 million to the Veterans Trust Fund and $13.7 million to the state police to provide funding for the training of four cadet classes.
Kasunic said that it was “too little, too late.”
It is obvious it is an election year,” he said. “We are hearing the governor talking about jobs and about education and health care, but where has he been for the past three years?”
Kasunic said that the region has lost skilled workers, health care workers and educators because of prior funding cuts in programs and opportunities.
“(The proposed budget increases) are too little, too late,” he said.
Daley termed the plan “disheartening.”
“I had hoped for some election-year enlightenment, but instead heard a fable about where Pennsylvania is heading,” he said. “The state is among the worst in the nation in job creation under this governor, yet I heard nothing from him that would halt our race to the bottom.”
Corbett, however, touted the 6 million people now in the labor force, noting the 2.3-point decrease in unemployment figures during his administration.
“The economists say conditions are right for more job growth this coming year and well-beyond,” said Corbett during the speech Monday. “We are building a stronger Pennsylvania.”
Pointing to figures that show Pennsylvania as 48th among all states in job creation and 41st in projected job growth, Kula said that the governor’s plan does little to spur job growth, but instead, continues to offer corporate tax breaks to big business.
“Everyone wants to cut taxes, but only when we can afford to cut,” she said. “These corporate tax cuts have clearly not created enough family-sustaining jobs.”
Mahoney said that the budget proposal was more of a “campaign speech” rather than a plan to improve the state’s economy, the resident’s security or the education system for the youngest citizens of the commonwealth.
While acknowledging the proposed spending plan does increase educational funding, Mahoney said that it has yet to be fully compensated to the level of the prior administration.
“He took a billion dollars from the education budget two years ago and now he is putting $240 million back in the form of a block grant, but it is not enough,” said Mahoney. “It is not going to help every school that needs help.”
The Ready-to-Learn block grant is to ensure all children are reading and able to do math at grade level by third grade, that schools are offering basic science and technology instruction and those in need are receiving additional direction, according to Corbett.
“We have a responsibility to give the children of this state a 21st century education, and over the past three years we have worked every day with thousands of parents, teachers and administrators from across this state to ensure that we dive each and every dollar into eduction that meets the needs of the children in Pennsylvania,” he said on Monday. “Through targeted initiatives, we have worked to increase accountability and transparency in our schools, infused stronger educational resources into our classrooms and focused financial resources on supporting students at all levels.
“This budget will continue to support these strong reforms.”
The Corbett budget also proposed an additional $20 million in special education funding. However, state-operated colleges and universities, such as Penn State, Pitt and Temple, will not see any increased funding in the governor’s 2014-15 budget.
Kula said that she was pleased to see increases for pre-kindergarten programs, special education and the additional funding for the grants, but it remains unclear how the funding would be distributed.
“I could also be supportive of the proposed new grants for college students attending state schools,” she said. “I also agree with the governor’s call for increased funding for rape crisis services and domestic violence programs.”
The budget does not offer a remedy for the 20,000 school employees who have lost their jobs during his administration, added Kula.
“He did not restore any funding to the basic education line item, which is what school districts rely upon when planning their budgets,” she said.
Legislators said that Corbett’s plan to temporarily lower the minimum amount that state governments and school districts must pay into the state government pension plan is again “kicking the can down the road.”
“The governor basically said, ‘Let’s short-change our retirement obligations,’ which is what put us in a deficit in the first place,” said Daley. “The combined additional debt for the two systems — the State Employees Retirement System and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System — will reach nearly $13 billion under the governor’s proposal.”
Mahoney agreed.
“Not addressing the pension plan is going to have an adverse impact in the future,” he said. “We can’t continue to kick this can down the road.”
The lawmakers, too, are skeptical of Corbett’s plan to increase state revenues with the overhaul of the state’s Medicaid program and in conjunction with his Healthy PA program.
The program is Corbett’s alternative to expanding Medicaid as outlined in the federal Affordable Care Act, and would include the reduction of coverage options and implement a work requirement for some receiving Medicaid or those eligible to enroll in a similar program through Healthy PA.
The Corbett budget anticipates $125 million in savings if the U.S. Health and Human Services Department changes its long-standing course and permits a work program as a part of the state health coverage programs.
“We can’t propose a budget on ‘what ifs’,” said Mahoney.
Solobay said that the budget address did recognize the “mistakes” of Corbett’s first three years in office but did not offer adequate solutions to resolve the matters.
“Cuts to education and human services in previous budgets shifted a big portion of the state’s responsibility to county and local governments and this budget plan offers little in relief,” he said. “Over the next few weeks, the (House) appropriations committee will comb over it line by line and get some answers from department heads,” he said.