When the Pennsylvania House and Senate established a conference committee to resolve the state budget, the initial meetings were public.
That’s how the rules say they should be. After all, the budget is a public matter and decisions amounting to billions of dollars ought to be made out in the open.
But such notions mean little in Harrisburg, and soon the budget negotiations were moved behind closed doors. The reason: There was no progress on the budget because there was too much grandstanding.
Last week, after several secretive sessions, budget talks fell apart. And guess what? Both sides accused the other of grandstanding.
There also were claims of refusal to bargain in good faith tossed back and forth.
So what’s the truth here? Beats me; the meeting were secret. For all I know, they’re all lying.
Searching for a budget hero in Harrisburg is a fruitless endeavor. The failure of leadership at the state level is nothing less than astonishing. The politicians spout ideals and ideology, when they know full well that any budget is a work of compromise.
In this instance, too many of our legislators are so beholden to special interests and political stridency that they are frozen in place.
Looking over the budget mess in Harrisburg, I can’t help but think of the events that led to World War I.
This conflict was rooted in the incompetent leadership of the era. The supposed leaders didn’t know how to deal with a mounting crisis. So an assassination in Sarajevo was allowed to become the equivalent of a snowball rolling down a mountain. Eventually, no one could stop it and much of the world went to war.
There may not be bloodshed as a result of Pennsylvania’s budget crisis — or at least nothing compared to the millions lost in World War I. But there will be pain, lots and lots of absolutely unnecessary pain.
Take, for instance, what’s happening with Head Start in Lawrence County. As reported in Friday’s edition of the New Castle News, about 160 children will be denied access to Head Start programs here because Harrisburg failed to cough up cash for their programs.
These youngsters will be denied an important opportunity. Their parents likely will have to juggle their schedules — including their jobs — to deal with children who won’t be in school. And about 30 educators in the county are now either laid off or unemployed because their state representatives have let them down.
The root cause is a gang in Harrisburg that couldn’t perform its most fundamental and most regular task — creating a budget.
There have been plenty of excuses: A recession that forces tough decisions, intransigence on the opposite side of the political aisle, uncertainty over what the future may hold.
But in these times, we all have it rough. We all have to make decisions we don’t like. We all have to deal with adversity.
The difference is that we act. Or at least most of us do. We don’t have a choice.
Unfortunately, our legislators have the luxury of inaction — especially now that they’ve passed a partial budget that includes — surprise! — their own salaries.
Other people may be laid off, other people may be denied important services, but our lawmakers continue to draw a full salary and enjoy per diems and other perks. The same holds true with Gov. Ed Rendell.
I hope Pennsylvanians remember all of this come next year’s elections.
Columns
Related Photos
Discussion
DEAR READER: Fruitless search for Harrisburg leadership
- Columns
-
-
John K. Manna: Data shows importance of Philadelphia for Democrats
In the view of some political pundits, Pennsylvania is considered a swing state in the upcoming presidential election.
Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t. The Democratic candidate has carried the commonwealth the last five times, including 2000 and 2004 when Republican George W. Bush was elected. -
Mitchel Olszak: Another medical truth falls by the wayside
Everybody knows that if you want to lower your risk of a heart attack, it’s important to raise your HDL level. The term refers to high-density lipoprotein, also known as “good” cholesterol. It’s the opposite of low-density lipoprotein, the “bad” cholesterol that blocks coronary arteries and causes heart attacks.
-
Dave Ramsey: It’s my food and my roof!
“Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”
-
Mitchel Olszak: Politics of marriage makes lots of money
Excitement raged across the political spectrum last week when President Obama came out in support of gay marriage. I yawned. The news didn’t strike me as particularly dramatic.
-
Mitchel Olszak: GOP dispute is matter for the party, not the law
John Altman is someone I would describe as a good citizen. You may not always agree with him, but he is involved and active in the community in a variety of ways. A frequent candidate for New Castle City Council, Altman has never won elected office, but he keeps trying.
-
John K. Manna: County residents classify themselves in assorted ways
Here’s a fun fact about some Lawrence County residents. It’s a fact that I bet only a handful — a small hand at that — are aware of. And the fact is that 2,141 county residents have no affiliation.
-
Dave Ramsey: Short term or greater good?
“Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”
-
Mitchel Olszak: Lavish spending reflects badly on government
Boy, those federal employees sure now how to live it up. At least that’s the impression. Recent revelations about a 2010 conference conducted by the General Services Administration have made it a symbol for government excess and arrogance. The conference cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and included such expenses as magicians and commemorative medals.
-
Dave Ramsey: Frustration along the way?
“Dave Says" is a weekly column featuring financial advice from nationally syndicated radio host Dave Ramsey. His column is filled with timely, relevant questions and answers taken from actual letters and calls on Ramsey's radio program, “The Dave Ramsey Show.”
-
Lawrence Corvi: Marcellus Shale — a lot more good than bad
Lawrence and Mercer county business leaders recently learned more about how Marcellus Shale development is impacting our area. Most of the news seemed to be good, but those in attendance were reminded it’s still early in the game for one of the biggest stori
- More Columns Headlines
-
