June 16, 2010
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Passing a Timely State Budget
By Senator Mike Folmer

HARRISBURG - Budgets are filled with numbers and the key number to a timely 2010 – 2011 state budget is 27.5.   That is the amount – in billions of dollars – the Commonwealth collects from you and the amount needed to balance the state budget.  The amount is more than $1 billion less than what was collected last year.

Unfortunately, Governor Rendell has proposed a $29 billion spending plan, putting the budget $1.5 billion out of balance. Similar to years past, he plans to fill this budget gap with higher taxes (natural gas severance tax, and tobacco taxes, to name a few) and tapping into special funds, including tobacco settlement money.

For seven years – before I even took office – the Governor failed to pass a budget on time.  Unless he cuts spending and stops his "tax me more" tours, he is unlikely to get his final budget passed by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.  To me, this is unconscionable.

For whatever reason, the Governor seems to think a budget impasse is a good way to get the General Assembly to knuckle under to what he wants.  I disagree.  There is simply no good reason to hold hostage those who rely upon state government for support until a budget is finalized.  That's not leadership and it's not good public policy. And, it's certainly not what the taxpayers expect.

As the June 30th budget deadline comes – and most likely goes – frustrations will begin to boil over and some may say "split the difference; get it done," or "why can't you get a budget passed on time?"  I share this frustration, and it is embarrassing.

Our Constitution (Article VIII, Section 13) requires the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget: "Operating budget appropriations made by the General Assembly shall not exceed the actual and estimated revenues and surplus available in the same fiscal year."

Taxpayers are already overburdened by federal, state, county, school district, and municipal taxes and fees.  Government at all levels needs to live within its means.

It has been my privilege to have served the people of the 48th Senatorial District for nearly four years.  During that time, I have tried to be a strong and consistent voice for taxpayers,   people who go to work every day, pay their bills on time, and find ways to make ends meet for themselves and their families.

I say to Governor Rendell the Commonwealth takes $27.5 billion from taxpayers; the state cannot – and should not – spend more than $27.5 billion. Do you know this equates to $75 million a day, more than $3 million an hour, approximately $52,000 a minute and over $872 every second?

Higher taxes and budget gimmicks aren't the answer.  Pennsylvania state government needs to live within its means just like taxpayers do.