A Titanic Pa. Budget Problem And Iceberg Looms

With the April take in hand, Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenues are $1.1 billion below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the state’s Department of Revenue.

The fiscal year ends June 30.

Secretary of Revenue C. Daniel Hassell said the state collected $2.9 billion in General Fund revenue in April, which was $390 million,or 11.8 percent, less than anticipated.

April, of course, is a major tax collection month.

Gov. Ed Rendell, in February, forecast a $525 million shortfall come FY end. Looks like some serious wishful thinking.

For those who think the problem is low taxes — LOL — Pennsylvania tax take in 2002, which was the year before Rendell took office, was $22 billion compared to $30 billion last year.

With two months remaining this year’s revenue is $22.8 billion.

Hat tips to CommonwealthFoundation.org and PaIndependent.Com

Metcalfe Bill Requires Agencies Verify Lawful Presence

State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) submitted a bill, May 5, that would give state and local in Pennsylvania powers akin to those held by Arizona authorities under that state’s recently passed law, and require that  “every agency or political subdivision of this Commonwealth shall verify the lawful presence in the United States of any natural person 18 years of age or older who has applied for Federal public benefits, State public benefits or local public benefits . . that are administered by an agency or a political subdivision of this Commonwealth” with some exceptions such as treatment of an emergency medical condition,  in-kind emergency disaster relief, immunizations and services such as soup kitchens and short-term shelter.

House Bill 2479, or the Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act, prohibits any political subdivision from adopting policy restricting enforcement of Federal immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by Federal law — are you reading Mayor Nutter — requires every law enforcement officer, whether state or local , who “has lawfully stopped, detained or arrested, for a violation of a law of this Commonwealth or any political subdivision” and who  should be reasonably suspected of being unlawfully present in the United States” to make “a complete, full and appropriate attempt shall be made to verify the person’s immigration status with the Federal Government.”

Another provision of the bill makes it a state law to knowingly employ an alien and creates a complaint form allowing any person to report a suspected violation to the district attorney of the county in which the employer conducts business.

The bill also makes it illegal for an unauthorized alien to “apply for work, solicit work in a public place or perform work as an employee or independent contractor” in the state.

The bill also allows police to impound vehicles of those suspected of being illegal aliens or transporting illegal aliens.

Metcalfe Bill Requires Agencies Verify Lawful Presence

Metcalfe Bill Requires Agencies Verify Lawful Presence