Rodney Dangerfield Jack Benny — Who was Rodney Dangerfield? He was a cowboy character used by Jack Benny on his radio show in the early 1940s. There was a different one? Well, Rodney Dangerfield was the stage name of comedian Jack Roy who was born Jacob Rodney Cohen but that one got no respect.
Day: February 23, 2016
West Chester Swim Coach Makes $420,172
West Chester Swim Coach Makes $420,172 by Sen. Scott Wagner
Good news was delivered last week – John Hanger, Governor Wolf’s Policy Chief resigned on Friday.
John Hanger resigning is good for Pennsylvania. John Hanger was not a nice guy and it was either his way or the highway. It was very clear that John Hanger’s personal beliefs had become a large part of Governor Wolf’s agenda.
Even better news – John Hanger is moving to Massachusetts to join his wife.
Second Subject – PA Senate Appropriations Committee hearings began yesterday (Feb. 22) and go on for the next six weeks.
Governor Wolf has an unfinished budget from last year and delivered his 2016 – 2017 budget address two weeks ago.
Governor Wolf is again asking Pennsylvanians to pay more taxes while continuing to use the “more money for students” line.
I reported in an email blast several weeks ago that the PA Auditor General completed an audit on the Pittsburgh School District and found $129 million that was not being reported.
The first budget hearing that took place yesterday was with staste Budget Secretary Randy Albright.
I asked Secretary Albright if he was aware of the Auditor General’s report on the Pittsburgh School District and was if he was aware of the missing $129 million. He replied that he was not aware of the missing $129 million.
I responded that his answer was unacceptable.
My question is this: How could the PA Budget Secretary who represents the Governor’s Office appear in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee to ask for more money and not be aware of the $129 million that our own PA Auditor General found in a public school district audit?
Within the next month the Auditor General will be issuing the results of an audit that was recently performed on the Philadelphia School District. I predict the findings will reveal massive financial mismanagement in the Philadelphia School District.
Patriot News reporter Jan Murphy published a story, Feb. 16, titled – “$100,000 Club – Search the database of PA state government top 2015 earners.”
The story noted that in 2013 there were 4,822 people who earned $100,000 per year or more in state government. In 2014 the number grew to 6,356 people earning over $100,000 per year or more. It grew again to 7,692 people in 2015 earning $100,000 or more.
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee I will be participating in budget hearings with agencies that are all looking for increased funding. At the same time, Governor Wolf is again looking for Pennsylvanians to pay more in taxes. With that in mind and after reading Jan Murphy’s story I have to ask myself this question….when is enough money enough?
Ms. Murphy asks a great question in her story: “Take a guess at which person in all of state government made more money last year: The Governor, A Supreme Court Justice, A Legislator, A Professor, or a swimming coach.”
“There’s little chance the swimming coach would be the one you’d pick.”
The swimming coach at West Chester University had earnings of $420,172 last year.
I believe that Pennsylvania is in the beginning stages of a recession.
Many elderly homeowners living on fixed incomes cannot afford their school – property taxes and are faced with selling their homes.
Many businesses linked to the energy industry are laying off employees in droves because of historic low gas and oil prices.
Still Governor Wolf wants more money from the people I just mentioned?
The answer is simple for me – Absolutely Not – it is time for Pennsylvania Government to immediately go on a diet – and that means now.
To be Crystal Clear – I will NOT be voting for any tax increases for the 2016-17 budget and I fully intend to educate and lobby my Republican colleagues to also vote for zero tax increases.
Since I joined the PA State Senate in April of 2014 I have seen firsthand, examples of waste, fraud, abuse and financial mismanagement. It is time to clean house and restructure the mess in Harrisburg and get our financial act together.
Stay tuned – I will be asking many questions during the Senate Appropriations Hearings – one of my questions for each agency head will be – “You need to figure out how to live on less funding from Harrisburg – are you capable of doing that?
Sen. Wagner represents the 28th District in the Pennsylvania Senate.