Recognizing the difference between Washington and Harrisburg is difficult sometimes. For example, take budgets.
As long as there are two major political parties there will be at least two budgets competing for attention and adoption at the seat of our Federal power. Extreme groups can run the count to three, four or more.
Not so in Harrisburg, has not been for four decades at least.
The difference will be more pronounced this year and next. Tom Corbett, a Republican, is the new governor and his party also controls the House and Senate. Corbett’s budget has no competing proposals from the opposition party.
His “work of financial art” (which incidentally when coupled with supporting charts and data from the various departments is said to measure 16-feet thick) may get minor challenges from special interest groups or even newspapers needing to fill space.
Democrats are “out to lunch,” probably not to return until 2013 at the earliest. Their governor could not run for re-election and his term ended Jan. 18. This date is the same as when Democrats decided they had little or no responsibility for what happens next. Being in the minority in Harrisburg is one of the great spots to earn a living on this planet.
Don’t get mad at them. Republicans “mostly” acted the same way during the eight years Ed Rendell occupied the governor’s mansion. The operative word here is “mostly.” Because the Senate has been under Republican control for about two decades, they felt some obligation to curb some spending by Rendell, not enough to lose votes at their next re-election, however.
Down to the wire, or running 100 days late like 2009-2010 fiscal, ultimately the Senate Republicans, generally leadership, would provide enough votes to get a budget back to Rendell for his signature.
Rendell, not fond of rank-and-file lawmakers of any party -- in a contradiction that never made any sense -- always made certain local legislators were front and center for check presentations, ribbon cuttings and the like. More than once Democrats fumed when a Republican legislator they were trying to defeat would not only stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Rendell, but smile as the governor praised him or her.
More than likely that Republican legislator had voted against financing the program at hand or against the entire Democrat-driven budget. Didn’t matter.
Corbett may run his local check presentations the same way, although it is too early to know. He may not be presenting that many.
People of the party not in power in Harrisburg put their feet on their desks. Their attitude is “why should I risk defeat at the next election by voting for tax increases? Let the Governor’s people take the risk.” In addition, who wants to wade through 16-feet of binders, reports, etc. when it won’t help at re-election?
The ideal position for a law-maker in the minority is to be able to vote for popular programs, but against the taxes to pay for them. Will Corbett be as foolish as Rendell and let them get away with that type of posturing?
Corbett could have problems in his own party. His budget cuts hit hardest at public education, health care for the poor and higher education. Some Republicans, mostly leaders, are worried about not getting tickets to Penn State and Pitt football games. Some of the rank-and-file are already back home telling school boards that they “will see that some of (their) cuts are restored.”
If you are waiting for well-conceived counter-proposals on the state budget from the Democrats, don’t hold your breath.
Also, given the mood of a much divided electorate, don’t look for too many town hall meetings this summer from any state legislators. They will be accessible at their offices, parades or fairs -- places where it is less likely the media will be present to report their responses to tough questions.
We pay for the largest, full-time legislature in the nation but that's no guarantee we get our money’s worth.
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