PA. Legislature Refuses to Reveal the Size of Its "Surplus" Slush Fund

[JPZenger]

http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/editorial11/04-08-2012-Legislature--Editorial

"... the Pennsylvania Legislature has been building up its cash reserve ... In June 2010, it was $189 million. So, how much of Pennsylvania taxpayers' money did our legislators squirrel away last year? They just won't say. The Legislative Audit Advisory Commission .;.. hasn't issued a report for the fiscal year that ended nine months ago. It seems the eight-member board made up of two representatives, two senators and four appointed citizens hasn't been able to come up with a quorum in order to release their report, normally released in December.

It's quite understandable why our lawmakers are avoiding informing the public how much of its money is stacked in their cash closet. That money could go to better use, toward helping the poor or funding education, or repairing roads and bridges.

So, where is the outcry now? How likely is it that a committee that has not been able to gather five of its members for four months will be able to do so before the Legislature calls it quits this summer? How long will the public permit its elected representatives to keep the amount of taxpayer money they are holding a secret?

Remember all of this when budget-slashing in Harrisburg forces your local school taxes to go up. Again."

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Despite the Corbett administration's dire predictions of fiscal gloom to justify slashing funding of important programs, PA. tax revenues for this fiscal year are now up 3% from last year. Total PA. tax revenues have returned to pre-recession levels.

http://pennbpc.org/revenue-shortfall-fiscal-year-not-likely-be-dire-administration-predictions


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The PA. Lottery by the way has a $113 million surplus. That money could be used to reduce the severity of budget cuts for programs that serve senior citizens.

http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/2012/04/monday-morning-coffee-the-pa-lotterys-number-to-come-up-today.html

[glowing]

1. Obviously, when the Public knows, they will expect their money to go toward paying

for public needs like education, roads, medical services needs, perhaps even re-hires for govt positions that have been slashed and have caused a ton inconvenience for the people (like at the DMV and court houses and parks & rec depts).

The Pigs need to be thrown out before they spend all the tax payers money on their "friends' investments".

[knitter4democracy]

2. Some animals are more equal than others.

Talk to PA teachers--they're getting cutting in funding like you've never seen, and here it turns out there was money for education all along. That's disgusting but not surprising. Not really.