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JPZenger

(6,819 posts)
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 09:08 PM Feb 2012

Good Analysis of Corbett's Pennsylvania 2012-13 Budget Cuts by a Think Tank

http://pennbpc.org/2012-13-state-budget

Great analysis of Corbett's proposed budget by the PA. Budget and Policy Center think-tank

Highlights:

The Dept. of Public Welfare is proposed to see a cut of "$629 million: $319 million in reductions to General Assistance, $168 million in cuts to Human Service Development Fund programs and $59 million in provider reimbursements."

The budget assumes continued cuts in the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax rate, which will drain close to $250 million in revenue.

The budget lets stand $840 million in cuts to school districts that were made last year, "which had a disproportionate impact on poorer school districts and have left at least a dozen in extreme financial distress."

The Accountability Block Grant Program would be eliminated, which is a $100 million reduction from last year. Those grants were mainly used to fund full-day kindergarten and reduce class sizes.

Public libraries would be cut by another 5%, on top of several years of previous severe cuts.

If the college cuts would be approved, the total 2 year funding cut would be 34% for state-owned universities, 51%for Penn State, 44% for Pitt and 43% for Temple.

The Dept. of Environmental Protection would have its funding cut by 43% from the 2007-8 budget.

The Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (which includes state parks) general fund would have its funding cut by 55% from the 2007-8 budget.

The following photo of Mr. and Mrs. Corbett is definitely not photo-shopped (it is from Halloween).i



"I vant to suck your school funding"












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Good Analysis of Corbett's Pennsylvania 2012-13 Budget Cuts by a Think Tank (Original Post) JPZenger Feb 2012 OP
Yikes. And yikes. Curmudgeoness Feb 2012 #1
The vampire costume is right on. Corbett certainly is sucking the very life out of Pennsylvania. blue neen Feb 2012 #2
One of these days I'm going to figure out what the logic was PRETZEL Feb 2012 #3
Diverting millions of revenues from important purposes JPZenger Feb 2012 #4
Cartoon of the year JPZenger Feb 2012 #5

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
1. Yikes. And yikes.
Wed Feb 8, 2012, 09:24 PM
Feb 2012

I love how every cut I hear about is to programs that are there to help the poor, the needy, and the helpless.

Are there huge cuts to the price tag of the legislature? The governor?

I thought so.

blue neen

(12,306 posts)
2. The vampire costume is right on. Corbett certainly is sucking the very life out of Pennsylvania.
Thu Feb 9, 2012, 01:21 AM
Feb 2012

He's ruining our state...very, very rapidly.

PRETZEL

(3,245 posts)
3. One of these days I'm going to figure out what the logic was
Thu Feb 9, 2012, 11:03 AM
Feb 2012

and the budget priorities this asshat has.

First off, jackass, the reason why the number of public assistance recipients is rising is because the goddamn unemployment rate in PA is rising. Do you even know who your Secreatary of Labor is and do you even talk to him.

Secondly dumbass, do you know that as a percentage of population, PA is second only to Florida in the population 65 and older. Skippy, look, these are the people who have Medicaire now and the rate of growth is increasing. These are the people who need services, rely greatly on the help of their children and other family members. How about pushing for caregiver reforms that make it easier for families to survive without having to lose their life savings. And then, when that happens (oh, btw, it's happening at a pretty rapid rate) then these are the ones who need to be streamlined into the Medicaid/Medicare dual eligibility programs.

Finally, dipshit, can't you figure out that if you provide a opportunity for our children to be properly educated without having us parents having to shell out more for tuition AND increasing property taxes because you decided that local governments don't really need state help, then maybe you'll create a situation where as our children learn those skills that will allow them to get half decent starting jobs, these companies could actually grow and provide more jobs.

JPZenger

(6,819 posts)
4. Diverting millions of revenues from important purposes
Thu Feb 9, 2012, 04:00 PM
Feb 2012

Based upon info from conserveland.org

The Legislature over the years has dedicated certain revenues to certain purposes. Corbett would "divert" these funding streams to pay for a $250 million business tax cut.

The Corbett budget would eliminate all state grants for local parks, trails and land preservation. This same "Keystone conservation Fund" that would be eliminated also funds improvements to state parks and state forests. It is funded by a portion of real estate transfer taxes, but the money would now be diverted.

"Since 1993, the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund has helped communities achieve tremendous and lasting conservation, recreational and economic benefits for the people of the Commonwealth. The Keystone Fund has supported thousands of community park development projects including athletic fields, community centers, playgrounds and pools. Hundreds of miles of recreational trails have been built with Keystone funding. Tens of thousands of acres of community open space, wildlife habitat, state forests and parks are forever protected and available for public enjoyment because of the Keystone Fund."

The legislature a number of years ago increased cigarette taxes to pay for permanent preservation of farmland. The Governor would permanently divert this money to other purposes.

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