Category: Another Viewpoint, Commentary/Editorial || By Marc Gergely and Bill Kortz

(The following is a submitted commentary. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the board of directors of Tube City Community Media Inc. The authors are Democratic state representatives from White Oak and Dravosburg, respectively.)

By Marc Gergely and Bill Kortz

Gov. Tom Corbett presented his blueprint for spending for the next fiscal year last week. While he made some good points, and we knew to expect a tough budget, there is reason for grave concern.

Education is being hit hard all across Pennsylvania. A proposed cut of $1.5 billion would devastate our system of learning. Basic education, which is considered pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, is slated to be cut by $814 million.

Our local school districts will be hit hard --- projected funding cuts range from 8 percent to as high as 9.7 percent. Sadly, local property taxes would have to be increased to make up for Gov. Corbett's cuts. This is nothing more than a tax shift to our constituents, who have been hit hard enough in this economy. These draconian cuts are too drastic and must be changed.

Higher education was smacked with a 50 percent decrease in spending, and PHEAA's funding was slashed by $29.6 million. Tuition at higher education institutions will go through the roof under his plan --- those that survive the massive cuts, that is.

The University of Pittsburgh would lose $80 million, plus another $33 million in medical and research funding and Penn State's $186 million cut could threaten the McKeesport campus. Students at Slippery Rock, Indiana, Clarion, California and all 14 state-owned universities should expect a big tuition hike.

What Gov. Corbett proposes for education is a complete step backwards. In short, it is unrealistic and totally unacceptable.

Further, Gov. Corbett failed to address Pennsylvania's dire transportation needs. This $3 billion problem facing roads, bridges and transit wasn't even acknowledged in his budget proposal. Six thousand of Pennsylvania's 32,000 bridges are structurally deficient. We also have 10,000 miles of road crumbling. The Port Authority is cutting service on 29 routes this month and laying off hundreds of workers.

The governor made these severe cuts all while giving a pass to Big Business. He failed to address the business tax loopholes that could have mitigated drastic cuts to education, such as the On-Line Retailers sales tax, which could generate up to $300 million each year in revenue, and the Delaware loophole, which could bring in $600 million each year to Pennsylvania.

On Feb. 24, Gov. Corbett gave businesses a $200 million tax break --- and a mere five days later, he allowed 41,000 working class adults to be cut off from adultBasic health care coverage. That sends the wrong message to the people of Pennsylvania.

Corbett also gave a pass to Marcellus Shale gas players, an industry that gave him more than $1 million in campaign contributions. Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not have a severance tax.

Meanwhile, Corbett proposed a $7 million funding cut for the state Department of Environmental Protection. Already we have seen the impacts on our roads and water sources from natural gas drillers. The people of Pennsylvania must not be forced to pay for the cleanup required from this industry.

Gov. Corbett's message is a terrible one --- that businesses take priority over people. Corporate welfare comes first and students, working class families and retirees come second.

This proposal is drastically out of balance, shifting a significant tax burden to local school boards across the Commonwealth. We call on Reps. Rick Saccone, George Dunbar and Eli Evankovich to join us to amend this flawed budget to stop these cuts to our schools and protect the interests of the Mon Valley and beyond.

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The preceding was a guest commentary. Responsible replies are welcome.

Tube City Community Media is committed to printing viewpoints from residents of the McKeesport area and surrounding municipalities. Commentaries are accepted at the discretion of the editor and may be edited for content or length.

To submit a commentary for consideration, please write to P.O. Box 94, McKeesport 15134, or email jtogyer -at - gmail -dot- com. Include contact information and your real name. A pen name may be substituted with approval of the editor.

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