State Spending Cap
Contributed by Alice Fling:
November 4, 2005
Rep. H. William DeWeese, Democratic Leader
Rep. Mike Veon, Democratic Whip
Beware this Republican TRAP
Although House Democrats voted overwhelmingly in the negative, the Republican majority insisted on passing a dangerous state spending cap (H.B. 2082) this week. We believe it should be called the Taxpayer Rights Assault Plan because if it becomes law, this TRAP would destroy all ongoing efforts to reduce school property taxes.
Today's editorial in the Allentown Morning Call does an excellent job in describing the severe problems this plan would create, as did an earlier analysis by the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center.
In a bit of irony we could not have scripted, at the same hour that Pennsylvania House Republicans were forcing a vote (without a single public hearing) on this bill, Colorado was counting the votes in a statewide referendum that rejected a 13-year-old spending cap that starved essential human services and education.
Republicans in the Senate and House have not yet agreed on how badly they want to stick it to municipalities, school districts, universities and local taxpayers, so the next step for this legislation is not clear. In the meantime, we have created an online resource site on this issue. It includes a wealth of information from numerous sources and is being updated frequently.
The Republican hypocrisy on state spending is thick. Collectively and individually, each week they continue to propose new spending without saying what they will cut to pay for those programs. We support Gov. Ed Rendell's effort to make Pennsylvania budgeting efforts "pay as you go."
A new way to get news from us
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus now offers exclusive media content via the Internet.
"I on Pennsylvania" explores issues using Web-based video that can be viewed on your desktop or on video-enabled mobile devices.
You can also sign up for our RSS feed to have news automatically delivered by e-mail or through news reader software.
Finally, the pahouse.com Media Center offers photographs and audio clips that update you on developments in Harrisburg.
Stay in touch with your state government by visiting www.pahouse.com
November 4, 2005
Rep. H. William DeWeese, Democratic Leader
Rep. Mike Veon, Democratic Whip
Beware this Republican TRAP
Although House Democrats voted overwhelmingly in the negative, the Republican majority insisted on passing a dangerous state spending cap (H.B. 2082) this week. We believe it should be called the Taxpayer Rights Assault Plan because if it becomes law, this TRAP would destroy all ongoing efforts to reduce school property taxes.
Today's editorial in the Allentown Morning Call does an excellent job in describing the severe problems this plan would create, as did an earlier analysis by the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center.
In a bit of irony we could not have scripted, at the same hour that Pennsylvania House Republicans were forcing a vote (without a single public hearing) on this bill, Colorado was counting the votes in a statewide referendum that rejected a 13-year-old spending cap that starved essential human services and education.
Republicans in the Senate and House have not yet agreed on how badly they want to stick it to municipalities, school districts, universities and local taxpayers, so the next step for this legislation is not clear. In the meantime, we have created an online resource site on this issue. It includes a wealth of information from numerous sources and is being updated frequently.
The Republican hypocrisy on state spending is thick. Collectively and individually, each week they continue to propose new spending without saying what they will cut to pay for those programs. We support Gov. Ed Rendell's effort to make Pennsylvania budgeting efforts "pay as you go."
A new way to get news from us
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus now offers exclusive media content via the Internet.
"I on Pennsylvania" explores issues using Web-based video that can be viewed on your desktop or on video-enabled mobile devices.
You can also sign up for our RSS feed to have news automatically delivered by e-mail or through news reader software.
Finally, the pahouse.com Media Center offers photographs and audio clips that update you on developments in Harrisburg.
Stay in touch with your state government by visiting www.pahouse.com
1 Comments:
Since they're talking about spending caps, we should talk about the pay raise/service cuts.
I think everything is a Republican conspiracy; nothing over there happens by accident. Democrats dragging their feet and taking the new money hurt the party.
Remember, greed is the purview of the GOP. The largess couldn't have happened without the Republicans in the State House, but PA Dems seem willing to let it happen TO them when they can turn it into a campaign issue.
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