Increase in Senate WAM funds draws criticism
An $85 million increase in the state Senate’s spending bill for so-called “walking around money” came under fire from two conservative groups Wednesday, but spokespeople for Gov. Tom Wolf and Senate Republicans said the attacks were off the mark.
In separate emails, the Commonwealth Foundation and Americans for Prosperity (AFP) criticized spending increases and the WAMs that have a checkered history of secrecy and misuse in the state.
Under the Senate plan, WAM funding would increase from $45 million last year to $130 million, the Commonwealth Foundation said.
“With Pennsylvania families already facing a tax burden of more than $17,000 per year, it’s mind-boggling that legislators would demand even more so they can fund pet projects and events in their districts,” Matthew Brouillette, president and chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Foundation said in a statement.
Brouillette called the WAMs “slush funds” for legislators and he invoked the specter of former Beaver County state Rep. Mike Veon, who served five years in state prison on corruption convictions before being paroled earlier this year, and another convicted legislator.
“Disgraced former lawmakers Mike Veon and Vince Fumo infamously used WAMs to enrich themselves,” Brouillette said. “There’s no good reason to put taxpayers at risk for similar abuses.”
AFP also derided the $30.8 billion appropriations bill agreed to by Senate Republicans and Wolf in an effort to end the nearly six months-long budget impasse.
House Republicans, however, do not like the Senate plan’s increased spending and $1.2 billion in additional tax revenue.
The GOP-controlled House passed its own $30.3 billion appropriations bill mostly along party lines Tuesday with new taxes on tobacco and lottery winnings, and Internet gambling proceeds.
That House plan was sent to the Senate, which late Tuesday simply amended it with language from the Senate’s bill and returned it to the House to face an uncertain fate.
Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman got a budget “but the results are a massive increase in spending without any cuts, an additional $85 million in unaccountable walking-around-money, all requiring an additional $1.2 billion in tax revenue,” said Beth Anne Mumford, state director for AFP, in a statement. “Passing a massive budget without specifying where the additional revenue will come from is a perfect example of irresponsible governing.”
The Commonwealth Foundation listed several areas in which spending was increased, such as community and business assistance ($3.6 million) and economic growth and development assistance ($9 million).
“Just as this budget begins to fix the deficit and invests in education, it also invests in other areas to help redevelop and revitalize our economy and our communities,” Wolf spokesman Jeff Sheridan said.
“The Commonwealth Foundation is inaccurate in their assessment of important lines in the budget,” said Jennifer Kocher, the spokeswoman for the Senate Republican caucus.
“These are not ‘pet projects’ but rather funding for economic development and the health of our communities,” Kocher said. “These areas include funding for epilepsy support services, breast cancer screening, ALS research, domestic violence services, fixing ongoing blight and community revitalization, clean up of abandoned coal mines, avian flu research and prevention, biosecurity threats facing the state and reimbursements for emergency medical services providers.”
Nate Benefield, the Commonwealth Foundation’s vice president of policy analysis, questioned why programs that were eliminated to much fanfare under former Gov. Tom Corbett are now being “resurrected” under Wolf.
Some programs could be worthwhile, “but the process has also shown that there as been wasteful spending and corruption,” Benefield said in an interview Wednesday.
“We want to make sure we’re looking at every dollar we’re going to be spending before we start asking families to pay more,” he said.