Representin'

Five Reasons Why We Heard Crickets During Gov. Corbett’s Budget Speech

'The lack of enthusiasm was bipartisan in that both Democrats and Republicans were clearly reluctant to embrace Corbett’s agenda, and when you break down the numbers of his plan, it isn’t difficult to see why,' state Rep. Jesse White writes.

Last week, Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his proposed 2013-14 state budget in a speech to a joint session of the state House and Senate in Harrisburg. This was my seventh budget speech, and the response was by far the most unenthusiastic I’ve ever seen—there were times you could hear a pin drop in the House chamber as the governor delivered his speech. The lack of enthusiasm was bipartisan in that both Democrats and Republicans were clearly reluctant to embrace Corbett’s agenda, and when you break down the numbers of his plan, it isn’t difficult to see why. Here are five of the many reasons the budget proposal is a bad plan for Pennsylvania. Lottery Privatization Is a Disaster There is just nothing to like about Governor Corbett’s plan to …

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Conference Call Scheduled Today, Rally for Public Education is Sunday in East Liberty

Gov. Tom Corbett spoke Tuesday about his proposed budget. A phone conference will be offered today.

There are two efforts under way this week regarding public education—one to discuss and the other to protest the proposed education budget that Gov. Tom Corbett announced during his annual budget address Tuesday. The first of those efforts is a telephone conference call being held by the Education Policy and Leadership Center in Harrisburg to discuss the budget issues today—Wednesday, Feb. 6—at 11 a.m. The second is the Rally for Public Education, set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. The rally is organized by Yinzercation, the Pittsburgh-area grassroots movement of volunteer parents, students, teachers and community members fighting for public schools. Budget Conference Call The …

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Corbett's Education Cuts 'Devastating'

Letter writer urges elected officials to tax corporations, too.

I am writing to urge you not to support Gov. Corbett’s budget as proposed with its devastating and disproportionate cuts in education. I believe education always is valuable to the individuals, the families, the cities, states and the country. Without education, we will not be able to compete with the other countries. Our children will not be able to better themselves or gain solid employment. The advantages that the United States has had, our country’s fortitude and ingenuity are as a result of—not in spite of—the education we provide our children. I urge legislators to find another way to bring costs in line, if that indeed is the problem. If the U.S. Supreme Court has determined (in the ruling of People v. Citizens United) that …

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T.E.A.C.H. Co-Founder Takes on Corbett's Budget

'There's money to be made shortchanging kids' educations,' letter writer says.

For the second straight year, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed massive education budget cuts. For the second straight year, Corbett has proposed massive cuts to colleges, universities and K-12 public schools. For the second straight year, Corbett has proposed the state do less for its citizens and more for big business. Why? It’s all about profits. There’s money to be made shortchanging kids’ educations. States throughout the country spend the majority of their budgets on schools. On average, states spend about 40 percent of their tax revenues on K-12 and colleges, according to The National Association of State Budget Officers. That’s some $400 billion every year. Pennsylvania comes in somewhat below the national average with …

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Legislators React to New State Budget

What does your state legislator think of Gov. Tom Corbett's 2012-13 budget proposal? Find out here.

Gov. Tom Corbett released his 2012-13 state budget that immediately drew either applause or gnashing of teeth depending on which side of the aisle legislators reside. The governor released his $27.14 billion budget proposal Tuesday that would keep spending in line with last year’s budget that slashed a billion dollars from public education and welfare programs. However, public universities such as Pitt and Penn State face even larger reductions in funding from the state this year. The budget does not include any tax or fee increases, but also does not address transportation issues that include crumbling infrastructure and mass transit funding problems. Corbett, a Republican who was elected in 2010, is unlikely to have much trouble pushing …

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State Budget Cuts Slice Local Education

Educators, community leaders testify to effects of education budget reductions.

The speakers came from different places, different jobs, different perspectives on the educational system, but the warning was universal—schools are suffering under nearly $930 million in state education funding cuts made this year, and the poorest schools are bearing the heaviest burdens. A dozen school administrators, teachers, parents and representatives of nonprofit groups shared their perspectives at Friday's Pennsylvania State House Democratic Policy Committee hearings in Green Tree.  State Reps. Matt Smith, Dan Deasy and Chelsa Wagner, all D-Allegheny, co-chaired the event, which included Democratic state Reps. Robert Matzie, Joe Markosek, Chris Sainato, Dan Frankel, Paul Costa and Kevin Murphy. Since 1974, when the state paid for …

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