Thursday, June 23, 2011

Next !

Now that things have quieted down in federal court, at least for a little while, it's time to turn our attention to the south, and the state capitol of Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania's new fiscal year begins July 1, and there's no budget agreement.  No budget = an inability to spend money.

Governor Corbett, house, and senate leaders were talking yesterday, and they'll do more of the same today.

Corbett wants some pretty deep cuts, especially to education.  There's resistance in the general assembly.  Those people, as always, are in the self preservation mode and are not known for taking tough stands on difficult issues.

No one wants to see kids hurt.  Can the education system be more efficient?  Absolutely.  We're also at the limit when it comes to taxes.   Most people can't afford another increase.

I'm sure there will be some sort of compromise, one that allows everyone involved to walk away claiming victory. I'm not sure if all that can be accomplished before the deadline.

And, this year, like every other, people will mutter that there has to be a better way.

While I'm on the subject of Harrisburg, the city itself is in big trouble.  There are a few plans being kicked about.  One involves bankruptcy.  The other calls for a state take over.  Still another calls for some state involvement, short of an all-out take over.

Citizens are paying the piper for years of mismanagement.  There a new mayor, currently in her first term, and that doesn't seem to have helped.

Harrisburg is a beautiful city.  Its citizens deserve better than what their government has delivered.  Because it's the state capitol, we all have a stake in this.