State Spending
The new state budget includes an annual spending increase of 5.8% much to the consternation of many conservatives in Harrisburg. This cadre of anti-community investment politicos think any government spending is evil and adhere to the Grover Norquist philosophy (no, not the part where he cozied up to Jack Abramoff's corruption) that government should be reduced to such a small size it can be drowned in a bathtub. They think government is bad and should be eliminated. These folks think we don't need safe food, water, neighborhoods, public safety, or a safety net for the poor. Libraries, public schools, roads and bridges, programs to protect children, all the things government does on a daily basis are evil to these people.
I believe government can and should be a positive force for good in people's lives. Good government invests in communities and is run competently and effectively. This new budget is an investment in communities. Three hundred new State Troopers are sorely needed because so many local communities refuse to fund their own police departments. Living in an area largely covered only by the PSP shows how bad this philosophy continues to be. There is virtually no traffic enforcement so drivers have no regard for the rules of the road. What Troopers there are are poorly trained and incompetent. A few are downright dangerous. This is an area that needs attention on the state level and this budget will do so.
Health care continues to be the driving force for budget increases at all levels of government and businesses. As the number of the uninsured climbs past 46 million the financial burden on those who are in the system rises to compensate for the shortfall. Basically, those paying are paying more to cover those not covered. Health care costs are also the single most contested issue in labor contracts. Double digit increases are driving government budget increases along with skyrocketing energy costs. Until national solutions are enacted government spending cannot be limited to the levels some lawmakers want to see. Ironically these are the same lawmakers blocking programs like alternative and renewable energy development and universal, single payer health care.
It's time to enact these programs but I doubt these legislators will put their votes where their mouths are.
I believe government can and should be a positive force for good in people's lives. Good government invests in communities and is run competently and effectively. This new budget is an investment in communities. Three hundred new State Troopers are sorely needed because so many local communities refuse to fund their own police departments. Living in an area largely covered only by the PSP shows how bad this philosophy continues to be. There is virtually no traffic enforcement so drivers have no regard for the rules of the road. What Troopers there are are poorly trained and incompetent. A few are downright dangerous. This is an area that needs attention on the state level and this budget will do so.
Health care continues to be the driving force for budget increases at all levels of government and businesses. As the number of the uninsured climbs past 46 million the financial burden on those who are in the system rises to compensate for the shortfall. Basically, those paying are paying more to cover those not covered. Health care costs are also the single most contested issue in labor contracts. Double digit increases are driving government budget increases along with skyrocketing energy costs. Until national solutions are enacted government spending cannot be limited to the levels some lawmakers want to see. Ironically these are the same lawmakers blocking programs like alternative and renewable energy development and universal, single payer health care.
It's time to enact these programs but I doubt these legislators will put their votes where their mouths are.
posted by PA progressive @ Monday, July 03, 2006
<< Home