Time to deliver a budget
The Pennsylvania budget process starts when the governor sends the Legislature a budget, normally in late January. The Legislature will hold hearings, review the proposal, make amendments, add, subtract, compromise with the governor, and then we have a state budget.
Many people seem to forget that the Legislature has had a proposed 2015-16 budget since January 2015. Next, it is forgotten that the Republican-controlled Legislature completely rejected the governor’s budget and wrote its own. That is not the way the system is supposed to work.
But let’s be clear – both the Republicans and the Democrats need to forget their party’s objectives, compromise and get this done. It is ridiculous that the 2016-17 budget process between the governor and the Legislature is due to start soon and the 2015-16 budget is still being “worked on.” Both sides need to stop saying they are “doing the people’s business” and actually do it.
If none of the parties involved were being paid, I am sure this budget would have been completed long ago. A bill has been submitted to achieve that very goal, but that has a snowball’s chance of being approved. Too bad we the people can’t get that question on the ballot and we can decide on it.
Gary Ford
Washington