He’s not Santa Claus
Gov. Ed Rendell played Santa Claus last week – traveling across Pennsylvania and distributing gifts to all the good little projects and organizations. But – whether we realized it or not – Santa bought us these gifts with our money, wrapped them with our money, and flew here in a sleigh paid for with our money.
The prizes included $466 million for repairs to 224 bridges in the 25 counties, part of $1 billion statewide project to repair or replace about 600 bridges.
In stops across the state, the governor announced a whopping $643 million in funding for projects in 25 counties.
Those state tax dollars are expected, Rendell’s office said, to be used by local leaders to “leverage more than $1.3 billion in private and local investments.”
Yes, we are excited about the potential impact of the projects supported by this state funding.
And we expect that some jobs will be created and there will be some positive economic and quality-of-life impact for everyone.
However, we hope the folks who are cheering these announcements don’t forget one important fact: The governor and the Legislature do not have a money press down in Harrisburg.
Our state officials are not printing cash that they then are bringing into our towns to spur community excitement and economic development. And they certainly are not reaching into their own pockets to support our street projects, educational opportunities and tourism venues.
This is our money they’re giving back to us – millions upon millions.
If that makes you happy, then you should contact the governor and your local legislators and let them know about it.
Tell them thanks, and please keep our tax dollars coming.
You should also call the people running for the state House and Senate in this fall’s elections and tell them that you want them to do the same thing when they get into office.
But, if you want the state government to reduce your taxes, rein in spending and be fully responsible in how it spends your money, then you need to send the politicians and candidates that message instead.
What we can’t do is be all smiles as we tear open the wrapping on a big bundle of state funding, and then get angry when the bills come due at tax time.