The LuLac Edition #1233, July 11th, 2010

PHOTO INDEX: GOVERNOR SUGAR DADDY AND AN AD TO MAKE OUR POINT.

STATEWIDE SUGAR DADDY

Let’s see the governor is cutting out some pretty essential services for the middle class. Libraries were cut as well as social workers who man social programs and he has trimmed down money for state parks. Middle class people use libraries. Some to look for jobs. Communities use libraries. Some towns try to raise their own money for library development. White Haven has been raising money for years to put a library together. Been to most of their fundraisers. Social programs are used for people that can’t find high price psychiatrists. And state parks are used by people who can’t afford to go on vacation. Yep, dammit Big Ed tells us sacrifices have to be made and it might as well be the little people. In the meantime the Sugar Daddy Governor is handing out 10 million bucks to a policy center for the late John Murtha and 10 million for an Arlen Specter Library in Philadelphia. Loved both of those guys but can’t they raise their own money? I mean if the people in White Haven have to wait years to come up with the money, why can’t the Murtha and Specter people do the same? And I’m not the only one feeling this “unlove” for the gubernatorial sugar daddy. Two of my fellow bloggers said pretty much the same thing.
From John Micek's blog: http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/

... the $20 million included in an economic development borrowing bill approved by lawmakers last week that will construct a library named after retiring U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter and a policy center named for the late U.S. Rep. John Murtha, saying they'll create badly needed construction jobs.
During an appearance at an elementary school in Cumberland County, where he signed the 2010-2011 state budget into law, the Democratic governor also pushed back at criticism that funding the projects sent the wrong message in a year in which the state is trimming funding for parks, preschool programs and libraries.
A $600 million borrowing bill lawmakers approved Saturday gives Rendell the authority to hand-pick roughly $600 million in economic development projects. Lawmakers are expected to pass a bill this fall with their own funding list.
The legislation includes $10 million for the Arlen Specter Library on the campus of Philadelphia University and $10 million for the construction of the John P. Murtha Policy Center. The move raised eyebrows among Republicans and fiscal conservatives who questioned the need for them in a tight budget year.
"They are both great projects," Rendell said after the budget-signing event at Elmwood Elementary School. The governor said the university badly needs the library space the Specter project will provide and claimed that the Murtha project will serve as a "technology center" once it's completed.

And from Tom Borthwick's blog: http://nepartisan.com/

This year’s state budget includes $10 million for a Specter Library and $10 million for a Public Policy Center named for deceased Congressman John Murtha. I’m all for honoring servants of the country and commonwealth, but when libraries are seeing huge budget cuts, for $10 million to be set aside for a library honoring a man who hasn’t yet finished doing his job just doesn’t make sense to me. Honor these people when there’s money in the budget. Don’t cut libraries statewide so you can build one in Philadelphia.