Cut perks first
With just a week on the job, Gov. Ed Rendell speaking before a gathering of Pennsylvania newspaper publishers and editors said that when he decided to seek the office his wife asked him if he was sure. Yes, he was sure, Rendell quipped. The job would be easy. Pennsylvania was sitting on a surplus, a flush Rainy Day fund, a stable economy. What could be easier? That all changed during the campaign trail. Lawmakers and Gov. Schweiker through a mix of one-time fixes closed last year’s budget gap by raising cigarette taxes and landfill fees and nearly depleting the Rainy Day fund.
Rendell’s budget experts are telling him that he’s looking at a $2 billion deficit in preparing a balanced budget. Republicans estimate the deficit is much lower at $600 million. And Pennsylvania’s budget isn’t as dire as other states, such as New York with an estimated $11 billion deficit.
It will take much negotiating, finagling and compromise for Rendell to pull this one off. He plans to look at cost-reducing measures. Already he’s ordered energy-efficient lighting for his own offices. While even such small steps as this can add up to measurable savings, a $2 billion, or even $600 million, is a large gap.
At this point, Rendell hasn’t ruled out raising taxes and a hike in personal income taxes is on the table. But before Pennsylvanians willingly send more money to Harrisburg, they need to see that the governor and lawmakers share their pain.
Rendell must submit a budget that shows deep cuts in spending to the executive branch. Lawmakers must also tighten their belts. There should be no reason to continue to increase caucus and special leadership funds – as was done last year during a budget crisis. Recent news that two former lawmakers are now on the House Democrats caucus payroll for their so-called expertise doesn’t go over well when Pennsylvanians are asked to give more to keep government going.
Taxpayers don’t complain too loudly when they believe the money is going to worthy goals such as police protection, better roads and better schools. Or when they believe that they must pay more to ensure that basic government services are not crippled.
But when taxpayers are forced to write bigger checks to pad lawmakers’ perks revolt can’t be too far behind.