Op-Ed: Senator Joe Scarnati
While I believe that much has been accomplished over the past couple of years, there was an issue of great concern that needed to be corrected. Quite frankly, and more specifically, this issue needed resolved. Happily, and justifiably so, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rendered a decision that I have been requesting for some time. This past week they ruled that the state constitution does not forbid a governor from employing and paying our state employees during a budget impasse.
This decision validates something that I have stated time and time again during the budget process. Unfortunately, for the past two years this governor has used these types of threats and tactics to garner additional pressure from state employees. While I am not satisfied with the timing of the completion of the final 2009-2010 budget, there was no need to jeopardize the livelihood of Pennsylvania families during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. It was simply a failure of the Governor’s recognition that the working families of Pennsylvania live paycheck to paycheck, and should not be pawns in his attempt to leverage support for any of his initiatives.
Although disappointed with the timing of the budget, I am pleased that the Governor finally came around to seeing the merit in allowing the citizens of the Commonwealth to keep more of the money they earn. From the beginning, Senate Republicans would not budge in our core mission of completing a budget with no broad-based tax increase, a budget that spent less than last year, and one that is sustainable in the future. The goals were accomplished, but not without the Governor allowing his emotion to interfere with sound judgment. As we were protecting the taxpayer, regrettably, the Governor continued to use state employees as hostages during the budget standoff. It was unnecessary and certainly clear that it was done at the discretion of the Governor, not required by the constitution.
With that said, not only am I, but the state employees of the Commonwealth, are encouraged by the recent decision of the Supreme Court. I am hopeful that threats and rhetoric will not be a part of the next budget cycle; however, given the history and lack of compassion from the Governor, I am not confident.
This decision validates something that I have stated time and time again during the budget process. Unfortunately, for the past two years this governor has used these types of threats and tactics to garner additional pressure from state employees. While I am not satisfied with the timing of the completion of the final 2009-2010 budget, there was no need to jeopardize the livelihood of Pennsylvania families during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. It was simply a failure of the Governor’s recognition that the working families of Pennsylvania live paycheck to paycheck, and should not be pawns in his attempt to leverage support for any of his initiatives.
Although disappointed with the timing of the budget, I am pleased that the Governor finally came around to seeing the merit in allowing the citizens of the Commonwealth to keep more of the money they earn. From the beginning, Senate Republicans would not budge in our core mission of completing a budget with no broad-based tax increase, a budget that spent less than last year, and one that is sustainable in the future. The goals were accomplished, but not without the Governor allowing his emotion to interfere with sound judgment. As we were protecting the taxpayer, regrettably, the Governor continued to use state employees as hostages during the budget standoff. It was unnecessary and certainly clear that it was done at the discretion of the Governor, not required by the constitution.
With that said, not only am I, but the state employees of the Commonwealth, are encouraged by the recent decision of the Supreme Court. I am hopeful that threats and rhetoric will not be a part of the next budget cycle; however, given the history and lack of compassion from the Governor, I am not confident.
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