Aug. 03, 2015
We are now several weeks into the state’s fiscal year with no signed budget and education funding in the balance. So why is Gov. Tom Wolf traveling the state campaigning for an already rejected budget proposal? It’s time to get off the campaign trail and get serious about working on a budget that moves Pennsylvania forward.
When Wolf was elected, I agreed with many of his stated priorities, such as promoting bipartisanship, making education funding a priority, closing the budget gap and aligning our education system to better prepare our students for in-demand jobs. Unfortunately, as time goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that we have major disagreements on how to get there.
I believe we need a responsible spending plan that cuts wasteful government spending, reforms our failing pension system and gets the state out of the liquor business. I do not agree with Wolf’s plan, which would raise our personal income and sales taxes, and levy new taxes on items like day care, assisted living services for seniors, diapers, college tuition and non-prescription drugs.
In addition to raising our taxes, Wolf wants to send 32 percent of new education funding straight to Philadelphia. Locally, school districts in Fayette County would only receive 0.05 percent to 0.37 percent of the new funding. They have been virtually ignored in the governor’s proposal.
I will not support an education funding plan that raises our taxes and sends more of our money to Philadelphia. The balanced budget passed by the Legislature, but vetoed by Wolf, cut government waste, distributed education dollars fairly across the state and increased funding for local schools without raising our taxes.
Vetoing the entire budget was an unnecessary choice. Of the 401 total line items in the budget passed by the House and Senate, 274 were identical to or increased funding over what Wolf proposed. And the impact is already being felt locally, with several social service providers and nonprofits now at risk. That is not leadership. That is politics as usual.
With one of my children in public education and another child well on his way there, I have a vested interest in making Pennsylvania public schools the best they can be. That being said, it is ludicrous to continue talking about increasing education spending without addressing the No. 1 cost driver for school districts: public pensions.
This year alone, the pension costs for Connellsville School District increased by an additional $8,000 per employee. Laurel Highlands School District’s contributions to the pension fund will be $5.183 million this year, up $1.068 million from last year. These skyrocketing costs are the main reason for increasing property taxes, and are taking taxpayer dollars out of the classroom. That is unacceptable. Is the education of our children not what taxes are intended to support?
I led the fight for reform by example and did not take a state pension, and in June, I joined my colleagues in the state Legislature in passing needed reform. The plan was respectful of current employees, retirees and taxpayers alike, and would have saved the state an estimated $11 billion over the course of the next 30 years, which could have been used to better educate our children.
But just like the no-tax-hike budget, this too was vetoed by the governor. I find this troubling. If a very similar retirement plan was good enough for Wolf’s own employees, why is it not good enough for the state’s public employees and taxpayers?
As we continue to debate the budget I will hold firm to the belief that Harrisburg must begin to do what we have done in our homes and businesses - eliminate waste and set real budget priorities. You cannot spend more than you have, and we must put our working families before any political party.
I urge Gov. Wolf to stop his campaign tour, and get back to Harrisburg. Enough is enough. It’s time to move on from this tax-and-spend plan and start serious negotiations on a budget that cuts government waste and prioritizes education, job creation and infrastructure.
I know I am one of many Pennsylvanians who are disappointed that Wolf’s “fresh start” is looking a lot like President Obama’s “hope and change.”
Representative Ryan Warner
52nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Morgan Wagner
717.260.6281
mwagner@pahousegop.com
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