Governor Refuses Compromise And Common Sense

Governor Refuses Compromise And Common Sense
Duane Milne

By State Rep. Duane D. Milne

Do you and your neighbor agree on everything?

For even good neighbors, the answer of course is “no,” and that’s OK, because compromising over differences of opinion is the essence not only of civility in general but also the public policy process in particular.

In that spirit, I am calling on Gov. Wolf to live as a better neighbor with the state legislature and sign the approved state budget into law. The legislature-approved budget matches the governor’s original proposal with equal or better funding for 270 of the 401 (67%) line items that make up the budget. This legislature-approved budget is fair, reasonable and responsible on behalf of the 12.7 million citizens of our great Commonwealth.

Instead, Gov. Wolf opted to veto the major and historic pieces of legislation passed by the legislature in June. Worse, since then, this governor has refused compromise with the legislature, thereby rendering state government reeling on the verge of shutdown as we slide through August.

In this case, the governor is in the wrong simply to veto all this legislation across-the-board, because it all is not exactly as he, but one person, wants. No bill is the proverbial “perfect,” and all of you as one individual citizen probably would make a change in some respect if given the option. Nonetheless, at some point decisions must be made, and the policy and political reality is one of legislation that has been crafted deliberatively after much consideration and debate in Harrisburg.

The legislature-approved budget:

•    Caps at $30.18 billion, and checks the growth rate (from last year’s budget) below that of inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
•    Remains balanced and rejects reckless borrowing and government debt.
•    Turns down Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase, the largest ever for Pennsylvania, including an unprecedented expansion of the sales tax as well as pushing up the personal income tax; voted down unanimously, Democrats and Republicans alike, by the House.
•    Unmasks the governor’s property tax reduction claim as a phantom.

It also invests in education as it:
•    Allocates $11 billion to education, the highest amount ever in Pennsylvania state education dollars.
•    Equates to nearly 45% of spending being devoted to education (to include primary, secondary and higher education, as well as number of “small” slices not separately broken out on budget pie graph.
•    Positions Pennsylvania’s per student spending at $15,535, considered well above the national average of $11,764, according even to the union: the National Education Association.

This ;budget was assed by the legislature on June 30 and vetoed by Gov. Wolf July 1

The status of Pennsylvania’s state owned liquor stores was addressed with  House Bill 466 which

•    Approves reform by both House and Senate for first time since end of Prohibition.
•    Recognizes that running adult beverage sector fails definition of limited government.
•    Allows ample opportunity for private sector markets to offer these products.
•    Permits as well the direct shipment of wine, something long wanted by citizens.
•    Creates better convenience, choice and cost for consumers.

This bill was passed by the legislature June 29 and vetoed by Gov. Wolf July 2

The necessary pension reform was addressed with Senate Bill 1 which

•    Leverages $10 billion in savings for the taxpayers, and leads to new fiscal paths to prevent future pension crises.
•    Acknowledges that current employees and retirees have paid their pension contributions.
•    Applies bill provisions to new employees: enrolled into defined contribution/401-style plans rather than defined benefit plans.
•    Legislators, including even current ones if re-elected (thereby becoming “new” state employees), and their staffs also no longer would be entitled to defined benefit plans.
•    Plan demonstrates determination to demand fiscal prudence in fairness to the future of our kids and grandkids.

This was passed by the legislature June 30 and vetoed by Gov.  Wolf July 9.

While all of us strongly hold our points of view, no one can reasonably expect to get one’s own way completely in life, let alone politics. Policy outcomes on behalf of the citizens must somehow balance the extraordinary array of interests and opinions in our large and politically diverse state. In the final analysis, what is called for is agreement on one budget, one set of laws, and one path forward that permits our one state government to serve the millions of citizens whom comprise Pennsylvania.

Tell Governor Wolf it’s time to reach across the backyard fence and compromise: Call him at 717-787-2500 or email him here.

Rep. Milne represents the 167th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House. He is a professor of Political Science at West Chester University and has written academic papers on federalism and public sector management.[5] He also has worked as an organizational consultant and has gained international experience through business projects in countries throughout Asia, including China, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

Governor Refuses Compromise And Common Sense

Hat tip Tom C.

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