A 4% Operating Budget Cut = Closing A Penn State Campus?

Excellent observations from Bob Howard:

What about Governor Corbett’s budget message?
I had the opportunity to attend Governor Corbett’s budget address during a joint session of the PA General Assembly in Harrisburg yesterday.

Summary:
Corbett followed through on his campaign promise to balance the budget without tax increases.

Summary Comments:
"Unlike the past eight years that earned a fiscal grade of F, this budget puts the taxpayers first and deserves a solid B for not increasing taxes, reducing expenditures, and putting the taxpayers' interests first," said Commonwealth Foundation President and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette. "But much more can be done to limit state government to its core functions and begin reducing Pennsylvania's ranking as the 10th highest tax burden in the nation."

What does it take to get an A+ from the Commonwealth Foundation? To earn an A+, the Commonwealth Foundation recommends the complete elimination of "corporate welfare" programs; a more fiscally conservative revenue projection; reducing welfare fraud and abuse; and better financial planning for the coming pension, retiree health care, and Medicaid funding crises.

If you are one of the Pennsylvania voters who voted for a balanced budget without a tax increase now it is your turn to support the cuts. Here is what you are up against.

Penn State President Spanier declared that “Abraham Lincoln is weeping today” and he whined another 55 minutes about how a $182 million cut would result in cutting programs, freezing salaries, laying off staff, and perhaps even closing one of its 24 campuses.

This might be a 50% cut in state funding but this cut represents about only 4% of Penn State’s $4 billion plus operating budget. I bet a lot of Pennsylvanians will feel differently when they realize we are only talking about 4% of Penn States operating budget.

I talked to one newly elected representative who responded that it appears Penn State has some decisions to make. Voters are tired of sending money to Penn State year after year while tuition climbs faster than inflation and the University adds studies that parents find offensive and don’t result in real world jobs. Private worker’s salaries have been stagnant while University salaries and spending have continued to climb. It is time for Penn State to join the real world.

Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg called the proposed cuts devastating, vowed to take his fight to Harrisburg and signaled a willingness to promote student advocacy efforts with lawmakers. NOTE: PITT IS THREATENING TO SEND STUDENTS TO HARRISBURG! ARE YOU PLANNING TO REACT AND SUPPORT WHAT YOU TOLD CORBETT YOU WANTED?

By the way I am a Penn State grad. Every time I get a call from Penn State I inform them that I gave by force when I paid my taxes. If they persist I tell them to call me back after an independent investigation of Mann’s environmental fraud at Penn State. If they persist again I donate to Grove City College to honor Grove City College’s commitment to education not compromised by Federal or State funding.


Bob Howard