By: Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Brockway) and Rep. Marty Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
As both lawmakers and fathers, we want our children – and all children – to
have every opportunity imaginable to succeed in school and in life. That is precisely why
our state budget must invest wisely in public education while at the same time being
responsible to the taxpayers who foot the bill.
In a recent editorial, area school superintendents complained of the lack of education
funding as a result of the budget impasse and what they consider to be inadequate state
funding for their schools overall. We share their frustration regarding the lack of a
final budget; however, we disagree with their views on the appropriate level of funding in
these challenging economic times.
The only way to give the school districts the additional $300 million they want is
through a significant tax increase, such as the income tax hike Gov. Ed Rendell has been
pushing over the last few months. (Never mind that only half of the money raised from the
tax hike would go to schools, and a third of that amount would end up in Philadelphia
schools). Some might say they are willing to make that sacrifice in the name of a good
education. Unfortunately, job creators won’t see it that way, so the kids we educate
today will have to leave the state to find jobs, further eroding the tax base and
prompting more tax hikes at the state and local levels.
Republican lawmakers have a plan to increase investments in our schools without
increasing taxes, yet the superintendents claim our plan actually cuts funding.
Apparently, the additional money doesn’t count because it comes from the federal
government’s economic stimulus program rather than from state funds.
The whole idea behind the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to help states
avoid tax increases by offsetting declining revenues and to invest in projects to create
jobs and get the economy growing again. In other words, STIMULUS funds were doled out
across the country to STIMULATE the economy, the ultimate goal being that when the
stimulus funds run out in two years, the economy has RECOVERED and state revenues will be
healthy again – healthy enough to replace the federal stimulus funds for education
without missing a beat.
If we increase state funding on top of the stimulus money, we are investing in new
programs that will have to be funded after the stimulus money runs out. Even if the
economy has recovered sufficiently to fund the educational programs we have today, it is
downright irresponsible to take on new financial obligations when your income is
declining.
Across our region and across the state, people are struggling to make ends meet. Their
hours have been cut and others have lost their jobs. They are making sacrifices, cutting
back and making do with what they have. We are not asking school districts to cut back.
Every school district will get MORE MONEY than they did last year, while most every other
function funded in whole or in part by the state is getting LESS.
Increased spending doesn’t always equal educational success for our kids, and it
sure doesn’t equal economic success for our future. The Republican budget proposal
provides adequate funding for our schools without placing undue burdens on our citizens
during a recession. It’s a responsible budget that makes sense for our present and
our future.
Rep. Martin T. Causer
67th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Sen. Joe Scarnati
25th District
Pennsylvania Senate
Causer Contact: Patricia A. Hippler
(717) 772-9846
Scarnati Contact: Tim Nyquist
(814) 726-7201
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