Inside Harrisburg

by state Rep. Dan Frankel

Corbett, House Republicans push deep cuts, hoard $500 million surplus

Pennsylvanians just received great news: the state has a $500 million surplus, with a potential $500 million surplus next year. That’s an extra $1 billion in revenue that could be used to prevent drastic budget cuts.

Sadly, it’s $1 billion that the Republicans are refusing to include in their budget proposals.

I was surprised when Gov. Corbett indicated he was against using the surplus to undo some of the harsh cuts in his proposed budget. But I am stunned that House Republicans have now unveiled a budget plan that also hoards the surplus while imposing deep cuts that would harm middle-class and vulnerable Pennsylvanians.

In fact, the House Republican proposal and the governor’s proposal are similar in many respects.

The House Republican budget proposal would cut $26.6 million, or 14.7 percent, from current state funding levels for Pittsburgh Public Schools. Corbett’s proposal is even worse, eliminating $35.4 million for Pittsburgh schools. I am deeply concerned about what such deep cuts would mean for local students’ education, and for homeowners' property taxes.

The budget proposed by the House Republicans would force 25 percent cuts in state funding for the University of Pittsburgh and Penn State, and 15 percent cuts in state funding for State System universities such as California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock. The Corbett budget would cut them all by 50 percent. Both plans would mean layoffs and tuition increases for Pennsylvania students and their families, all while $500 million sits in the bank. 

Similar to the Corbett budget, the House Republican plan would cut hospital funding by more than $250 million, with about half of that due to the loss of federal matching dollars. These cuts would negatively impact hospital resources and staff, jeopardizing Pennsylvanians' access to health care. The proposal also cuts funding for nursing homes, putting care for many seniors at risk.

A 50 percent cut in state funding for Pitt and other universities, a $1 billion cut in funding for K-12 education, a more than $300 million cut to hospitals, or an almost $500 million cut to resources for our most vulnerable residents – we simply can’t afford any of these options. 

Some of the most devastating cuts proposed by House Republicans would affect services for victims of rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that more than 6,000 women and children trying to escape violent homes were turned away from the coalition's shelters last year due to a lack of space; with even less funding, how many more victims will be declined next year?

"We have found every operating efficiency we can," Peg Dierkers, executive director of the coalition, told the Harrisburg Patriot-News. "There's no place left to trim fat."

Delilah Rumburg, chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, told the Patriot-News the proposed cuts would come at the same time corporate donations are drying up. PCAR would have to cut 4,000 counselors who provide help to 33,000 rape victims annually, many of them children. This is especially troubling since studies have shown that immediate counseling helps prevent future mental health problems.

"For a child who is raped, it's critical to get services immediately," she told the newspaper.

Hoarding a $500 million surplus is immoral when so many important needs would go unmet under the Corbett and House Republican budget plans. Similarly, it makes no sense to let the multi-million-dollar tax break for Marcellus Shale gas drilling continue, especially when no other major gas-producing states provide one. I will continue to fight for a sound budget that reflects your priorities.

As always, if you need assistance or information on these or any state-related matters, please contact my office at 412-422-1774 or visit my website at www.pahouse.com/Frankel. I also invite you to follow my updates on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/RepDanFrankel and twitter.com/RepDanFrankel.

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