Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly are seeking praise for agreeing to a state budget by the June 30 deadline imposed by the Pennsylvania Constitution -- to which I respond, "Not so fast!"
Although it is a plus that this budget shall increase state spending by less than 1 percent, that Gov. Ed Rendell decided not to push for the additional $1 billion in pet projects for which he had advocated, and that there is no broad-based tax increase in the plan, this budget is woefully out of balance, as it is highly unlikely that the nearly $850 million in federal Medicaid reimbursement that is being counted upon to balance the budget shall actually be forthcoming.
The budget was formulated behind closed doors and, as the rule requiring a period of public comment was suspended so that it could be passed immediately, we taxpayers had no say in the final product, having not seen the details in advance.
This budget cuts library funding significantly -- again. This is shortsighted and foolish, as this challenging economic time is one in which libraries are flooded with patrons, including job-seekers who need assistance.
It is nice to know that there continues to be no shortage of money for what is truly important to us -- our professional sports teams. They shall continue to garner tens of millions of dollars each year to pay for their state-of-the-art stadiums.
What type of society starves the engines of lifelong learning while forcing the working poor to subsidize the rich?
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper St. Clair
