August 6, 2007
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Standing by the "Promise to Pennsylvania"
By Senator Mike Folmer 

I ran for office because I felt we needed more citizen legislators in Harrisburg.  I believed that the scope, cost, and inefficiency of state government had reached unacceptable levels.  I believed elected officials were not living up to the first three words of our state and federal constitutions: "We the people."

This is why I committed myself to the "Promise to Pennsylvania":  legislative and political reform, taxation and spending reform, legal and labor law reform.

I came to office determined to fight for these principles and policies, which will strengthen our economy, reform state government, and create hope for a bright future for our children and grandchildren.

These values were put to the test as I voted on my first state budget – in which we allocate state tax dollars for vital programs and services.

This budget was a challenge because we have a governor who is bent on helping special interests, and who can't set priorities.  Nearly a quarter-billion dollars will be used to build a Pittsburgh hockey arena.  Almost a billion dollars more will go to Philadelphia for the Convention Center. Seventy-five million dollars will go to Hollywood for Pennsylvania-made movies.

Meanwhile, critical programs went unfunded or under-funded.  For example, last year's state budget included $43.3 million for alternative education for a number of schools, including Lebanon in my district, and Harrisburg and Philadelphia.  At the same time, the Governor was working to give away billions of dollars to special interests in this year's budget, funding for at-risk children was being slashed to $17.5 million: Harrisburg (the original recipient) will receive $3 million (about $10 million less) – the rest will go to Philadelphia.  Isn't education supposed to be a top priority of the Governor?

To me, this is yet another deplorable example of the inability to set sound fiscal policy.  Billions of dollars more for special interests and less for children?  Unbelievable!

In addition to these questionable spending priorities, the Governor also increased state spending yet again beyond the combined rates of inflation and population growth.  This would have been addressed with my "Taxpayer Protection Act" (Senate Bill 707), which would limit spending to the concurrent rates of inflation and population growth.

I came to Harrisburg to get state spending and taxes under control and to stand by the other core principles of the "Promise to Pennsylvania."  While I am pleased that we were able to stop seven of the Governor's proposed taxes, I have also come to realize that it will be an ongoing battle against his spending, taxing, and borrowing policies.

For these reasons, I was not able to support the 2007 – 2008 state budget.  I hope that my "no" vote will help to make a statement for next year:  Pennsylvania must live within its means, just like families across the Commonwealth have to.  And, we need to get our priorities straight.