For Immediate Release
October 22, 2009
Contact: Nathan Flood
717-787-4420
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OP-ED: Budget Process is in Dire Need of Changes

By Senator Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster and Chester Counties) 

One of the lessons we learned during this year’s budget impasse is that the budget process is fatally flawed. The impasse put many of our citizens in harm’s way, and we cannot allow our social services and non-profit organizations to be faced with the prospect of receiving no state funding while elected officials continue to hash out their differences months after the budget deadline. Any process that puts politics above people requires a drastic overhaul.

I introduced legislation last month that would hold legislators accountable for failing to pass a budget on time. Senate Bill 1068 would set dates by which the House and Senate must pass a balanced budget. If one or both chambers fail to meet these deadlines, then every member of that body would be forced to forfeit all pay, per diems and expense reimbursements for travel, lodging and meals for every day that a budget is not passed. My bill would not allow legislators to collect pay retroactively after the budget is passed. If a deadline is missed, my legislation would also require all legislators to remain in the Capitol Building until the budget is passed.  

Leaders from both parties agree that the measures in place to ensure timely budget passage are inadequate, and we must take action to prevent another impasse from hurting individuals in need. While several of my colleagues in the Senate have signed on as cosponsors to Senate Bill 1068, some members of the General Assembly are not satisfied with my solution. I am hopeful that the legislators who do not favor this proposal will offer an alternative. Senate Bill 1068 is one solution, but it does not have to be the solution. However, I am steadfast in my belief that doing nothing to address the broken budget process is not an option.  

Nearly all of the citizens I have spoken with who have expressed outrage over the budget process have been very receptive to this solution. Several have asked how they can help. The best way all Pennsylvanians can ensure timely budgets is to call their legislators to demand action. We will not solve this problem without broad bipartisan support, and that starts with the citizens voicing their opinions to their Senators and Representatives. I urge all Pennsylvanians to contact their legislators to demand action to fix the budget process. 

We have suffered through seven straight years of late budgets, and we will need strong and vocal support of all citizens to ensure that this year’s budget impasse will be the last.