Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett (R) unveiled his 2012-2013 budget proposal Tuesday in Harrisburg. The $27 billion budget does not increase income taxes and also does not include a natural gas extraction fee.
“I’m submitted a budget proposal that is at once lean and demanding,” Corbett said.
Northeast Pennsylvania legislators were quick to react. Their full, unedited statements follow.
Republican Senator Lisa Baker of Luzerne County (PA-20th)
“A state budget that holds the line on state taxes and state spending is clearly in touch with the mood of taxpayers.
With revenues continuing to fall short of projections each month, it is impossible to craft a state budget that will be widely popular. There does not seem to be much choice but to exercise fiscal restraint and try to prepare for an eventual economic recovery. This budget is consistent with the approach Governor Corbett promised to take.
Obviously, some of the cuts being recommended are going to negatively impact groups and facilities in our communities. Over the next several months, we will review how entities receiving state dollars have adjusted to lower funding, and determine what the consequences were for service delivery. The spending level may not increase, but there are likely to be a series of changes to add or subtract money from various programs and institutions.
We will look for ways to better distribute available dollars, for places to cut back or eliminate programs that have become less essential, and for chances to stretch dollars through mandate relief.
We have to make sure that the additional funding cuts he seeks are made judiciously. Tightening up eligibility to prevent abuse is a necessary accountability step in certain programs, but squeezing reimbursements for service providers may end up pushing individuals into more expensive alternatives.”
Democratic Senator John Blake of Lackawanna County (PA-22nd)
“Governor Corbett and his administration have put Pennsylvania on the wrong course by focusing almost exclusively on the interests -- and the influence -- of big business while ignoring our working class families. The Governor heralds the advantages of free market forces while ignoring seriously flawed state tax policies that unfairly and disproportionately burden our workers and small businesses.
There is nothing visionary or inspiring in this budget. It is more of the same – consolidation of budget line items to hide deep cuts to vital state investments in public and higher education and a further erosion of the safety net that serves persons with disabilities and our seniors. This administration turns a blind eye to our students, our schools, our teachers, our working families, and our small businesses and says simply: “you’re on your own”.
Gov. Corbett’s plan for education defies economic sense. This budget will force more teacher layoffs and larger class sizes in our public schools; higher local property taxes for fixed income homeowners; and it is certain to ensure that a college education remain but a dream to more Pennsylvanians who will surely be unable to afford it.
There is a better way to lead this state than to mask the true human impacts of the state budget axe with shell-game numbers and high-minded rhetoric. It is my hope that Senate Democrats, unlike last year, are afforded an opportunity to participate in serious budget negotiations over the next few months so we can craft a spending plan that addresses not only the concerns of all of our citizens -- but that truly responds to their hopes, expectations and priorities.”
Democratic Senator John Yudichak of Luzerne County (PA-14th)
"The Governor's budget continues a dodge and shift philosophy that shortchanges Pennsylvania's future by hurting working families, our schools, and our communities. The budget dodges the responsibility of creating jobs and opportunity while shifting the tax burden to local taxpayers.
“Cutting education funding by $400 million raises school taxes and college tuition rates, cutting human services programs by $600 million forces counties to raise property taxes; and this budget continues that disastrous dodge and shift philosophy.
"Since day one, Senate Democrats have outlined a job creation strategy that proves that through innovation and strategic investment, we can turn this economy around and invest in Pennsylvania without raising taxes. Dodging the tough decisions in Harrisburg while shifting more and more of the burden onto the backs of working Pennsylvanians is the driving force of the Governor's budget and much work remains to improve the document.
“Pennsylvanians are looking for a fair shot at a good job, an education for their children and a safe neighborhood to raise their family. The state budget should be focused on these common sense priorities, not driven by a cut-first ideology. ”
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