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GUEST COLUMN |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Jan. 13, 2008
Cut the Government Excess First
By State Rep. Josh Shapiro
While most Pennsylvanians struggle with their family budgets in these tough economic times, Pennsylvania’s budget forecast gets bleaker by the week. The shortfall in revenue receipts for the Commonwealth’s General Fund increased to $814.5 million at the close of December and we expect the fiscal picture to deteriorate further in the months ahead. Many have projected the overall budget deficit to reach nearly $2 billion later this year.
With the national economy in free-fall and nearly every state facing a deficit, it is no surprise that we find ourselves in this position. Unlike the federal government, however, Pennsylvania cannot run a deficit and must balance the budget by either raising taxes or cutting spending. But before we make a single Pennsylvanian feel the pain of a program cut or a tax hike, the legislature must tighten its own belt. Here’s how:
First, legislative leaders have amassed a surplus of your tax dollars totaling more than $200 million. That’s money that could be used for education, health care and social services. Instead, it is sitting in accounts controlled only by legislative leaders in Harrisburg. We must spend down the surplus and ensure in future years that it cannot grow to such an extraordinary level. I have been calling for a return of that surplus for two years. Now is the time to get it done.
Second, as co-chairman of the Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform, I helped to craft a 12-point plan to eliminate waste in the legislature and save taxpayers money. Many of the commission’s recommendations were just plain common sense. For example, there are four television studios and four printing presses in and around the Capitol – one for each legislative caucus. We can consolidate the studios and printing presses into one operation, shared by Democrats and Republicans, representatives and senators, thereby saving taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Unfortunately, this is only one example of wasteful spending. Fortunately, all of our recommendations can be easily enacted, ending the cycle of waste and instituting a policy of common sense and fiscal responsibility.
Third, the legislature has appropriated more than $330 million for its annual operations, making ours the second-costliest state legislature in the nation. I have pushed for a 10 percent cut in the legislative budget and some of my colleagues have gone even further in calling for a 20 percent cut. While we can negotiate the size of the cut, we have passed the point of debating whether it is necessary. We need to follow the example of countless Pennsylvanians affected by the current crisis and tighten our belt, too.
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I am heartened to hear leaders in Harrisburg like Gov. Rendell and House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans declare nothing off limits when it comes to addressing the mounting budget deficit. Tough times necessitate tough decisions, and I believe that the legislature must trim its own budget before asking Pennsylvanians to pay more taxes or forfeit programs they depend on. Acting now on these ideas will help remedy our budget crisis and, at the same time, is another step toward reforming our legislature so that we can better serve our constituents.
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