Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell sees a federal stimulus package and bailout of the states as both a fix to Pennsylvania’s current budget crunch and as a tool to revitalize the economy. Pennsylvania faces a revenue shortfall of $2.3 billion, according to Rendell’s latest guestimate. His proposed fix relies on $450 million from a federal stimulus package. However, a look at recent Pennsylvania spending shows why a federal bailout of the states is bad policy.
Under Governor Rendell, Pennsylvania state spending increased 35.8%, well exceeding the rate of inflation of 17.4%. In Government on a Diet: Spending Tips 2008, a report released last year, the Commonwealth Foundation identified billions in potential spending reductions.
While Governor Rendell has cut $500 million from the current state budget through freezing new hires and other measures, the revised budget still represents a 2.3% increase over 2007-08. It would be hard to argue he has “cut spending to the bone.” In fact, even after these cuts, the Commonwealth Foundation found about $1.4 billion in wasteful spending.
While Governor Rendell is now encouraging spending restraint and threatening layoffs for state workers, he continues to practice “do as I say, not as I do” politics. Rendell recently created a new position for a former lawmaker and political ally, and continues to celebrate pork projects like grants to snowmobile clubs, a tourism website about a groundhog in a car accident, and millions in grants for agriculture and tourism and for the “President’s House” project.
A federal bailout of the states only rewards the misuse of taxpayers’ money in states like Pennsylvania.
Nathan A. Benefield is Director of Policy Research with the Commonwealth Foundation.
Gov. hiring still, despite "hiring freeze"
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09013/941452-100.s…
I PERSONALLY THINK THAT OBAMA AND THAT FREEDOM HATING VICE PRESIDENT SHOULD TELL GOV, RENDELL TO GO FLY A KITE,CONCERNING PELOSI SHE IS A IDIOT ANYWAY, SHE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED WE HAVE A GANG OF CRIMINALS IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND A MUSLIM FOR A PRESIDENT UNLESS WE ACT FAST WE ARE GOING THE WAY OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, READ THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, IT FELL FROM CORRUPTION WITHIN. QUIT LISTENING TO THE LIBERAL MEDIA AND COMMUNIST LIKE TOM BROKOW (MAY NOT BE SPELLED RIGHT NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO LEARN) YOU KNOW WHO I,M TALKING ABOUT.
This is only the first example of States cioming to the Trough!
Jennifer the former budjet Guru for Obama and
Arnold the Actor are standing in that same long line of non Budjet Minded States!
America is sick and the dummbies who voted for these sicko's deserve what they get and there is a place in hell waiting for them. See what years of a horrible public education does to a country. God Help America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!