PoliticsPA.com recently interviewed two state representatives - Rep. Tom Killion (R, Delaware County) and Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D, Chester County) - regarding their thoughts about the state budget and the negotiations that preceded it.

What's your opinion of the final budget the Governor signed?

 

My personal opinion of the 2007-08 budget is that it missed the mark.  While we are spending an additional $1.38 billion we still saw substantial cuts to critical and successful programs, such as, State Police were cut by $7.3 million and Employment Services for youth and adults - specifically work and basic skills training programs, literacy programs and GED prep programs were cut by $10.2 million (almost a 50 percent cut).

 

What program or element is the highlight of the budget in your mind?

 

I think the biggest highlight of this budget is that there are no new or increased taxes.  Coming into the negotiations the governor was pushing for 7 tax increases and the House and Senate Republicans were able to block all of them.  At the same time we were able to add an additional $150 million to the state's rainy day fund which will help prevent future tax increases as well. That being said, spending wise, I am particularly pleased with the number of healthcare programs that we were able to restore funding to specifically, Bio-Tech Research, Regional Cancer Institutes, Drug and Alcohol addiction programs, and antiviral research, all of which will help keep Pennsylvania's Doctors in the Commonwealth.

 

How much will spending actually increase? By the Governor's number or a higher amount?

 

While it is easy to manipulate this number to say practically whatever you want, I think it is fair to say that under this budget spending will increase about 4.4 percent.

 

What was the most frustrating part of the budget negotiations?

 

A budget "crisis" was created. It did not exist.  We have a $600 million budget surplus.  There was absolutely no reason to go beyond the June 30th deadline and furlough State employees for one day.  The Governor, with the assistance of the House Democrats, linked the Governor's non-budget initiatives to the budget process.  These initiatives are certainly worth discussing, but it was unconscionable that they were added to the budget negotiations and resulted in a 17 day delay.

 

Why in your opinion did the negotiations last two weeks past the deadline?

 

See last question.

 

Whatís your opinion of the final budget the Governor signed?

 

Overall, I think itís a good budget. We accomplished a lot without raising taxes. However, we have a lot of work left to do on health care, energy independence and property tax relief.

 

What program or element is the highlight of the budget in your mind?

 

I believe that education is our number one priority. As such, the budget provided for some wonderful investments in early childhood education and technology for high school students. These are innovative and forward-thinking programs. 

 

How much will spending actually increase? By the Governor's number or a higher amount?

 

As we all know, numbers can be crunched in various ways to tell different stories. The fact is, this is a budget that held the line on spending, solved our state's transportation crisis, made new investments in education and did not require a tax increase. Thatís the bottom line.

 

What was the most frustrating part of the budget negotiations?

 

This process tends to be too much about winning and losing. As a small business owner, former council member, and a mom, I know first-hand what Pennsylvania families face on a daily basis; they're worrying about health care, property taxes, their kid's school. They aren't worrying about who came out of the budget looking better...and thatís a lesson Iíll never forget. First we need to find common ground, and then seek common-sense solutions so we can all be winners.

 

 Why in your opinion did the negotiations last two weeks past the deadline?

 

We were committed to addressing big issues and we weren't leaving Harrisburg until the Senate agreed to meet us half-way. I was committed to moving health care forward, to making Pennsylvania more energy independent, to making investments in early education, and most important, to addressing a transportation funding gap that has been ignored for more than a decade. With so much at stake, it took a little longer than usual. But ultimately, our state will be stronger because of it.