Pennsylvania State Senator Jane Orie Speaks Out Against Budget Impasse

Despite a previously reported budget surplus, the state of Pennsylvania has furloughed over 24,000 employees. Democratic governor Ed Rendell issued the following response regarding the situation on Sunday: "I have been meeting with both Republican and Democratic legislative leaders since this (Sunday) morning and it's fair to say there are just a few issues that need to be ironed out. We will resume talks early Monday. My hope is we can reach an agreement quickly."

Republican State Senator Jane Orie spoke exclusively to Associated Content on Monday, emailing the following response regarding the Pennsylvania budget impasse: "The Governor is holding the PA WORKERS HOSTAGE FOR HIS PERSONAL AGENDA!"

On her website, Senator Orie elaborated on her thoughts regarding the situation: "There is only one person who issued the furloughs and one person who can rescind them - and that is the governor. But he is using this furlough to create a manufactured crisis. Legal counsel has advised us there is no requirement under federal law to begin furloughs at this point. The surplus for last fiscal year was $650 million, and there is little prospect of a cash flow problem."

Senator Orie was referring to the surplus reported by Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Thomas W. Wolf for the fiscal year 2006-2007. Pennsylvania collected $2.6 billion, with a $240 million surplus, in the month of June alone.

Secretary of the Budget Michael Masch stated that the surplus does not make up for federal spending cuts: "Because federal funding cuts for next year are approaching $720 million, and $66.7 million of this year's surplus was allocated in Governor Rendell's budget proposal in February, the $649.6 million year-end surplus does not result in a balanced budget. Tough decisions still have to be made"

Although the state of Pennsylvania continues to collect sales taxes and revenues from its casinos, lottery, and liquor stores during the budget impasse, the state has closed its parks, welcome centers, and other "non-essential" state offices including driver licensing centers.

Sources:

http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/revenue/cwp/view.asp?A=208&Q=272205

http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?Q=465286&A=11

http://www.senatororie.com/main/news/070907-budget-statement.pdf