Upping the budget ante

If state lawmakers buy into Gov. Tom Corbett's budget proposal, they will ensure that the burden they imposed on students in last year's budget will follow those young people out of college and out of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Corbett's $27.1 billion budget proposal ensures higher tuition for hundreds of thousands of students and less money to help them deal with it due to a 6 percent decrease for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.

The budget includes a 4 percent decrease for community colleges, 20 percent decrease for the 14 state-owned universities (including Mansfield University locally), 28 percent decrease for Penn State University and 30 percent decreases for Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh.

In typical fashion, the governor looked at the state's contribution to higher education only as a cost, rather than the investment it is in creating a well-trained work force to drive future economic development.

The governor declared that he wants to empanel yet another commission, this time on higher education - most likely to devise ways to further cut state contributions.

The proposal also would cut PennDOT spending by 20 percent, even though one of Mr. Corbett's commissions has advocated substantial spending on roads and bridges.

Since Pennsylvania depends so heavily on transportation as a key to economic development, cutting PennDOT further harms economic development.

The governor proposed going ahead with the phase-out of a business tax, the capital stock and franchise tax, which would reduce state tax revenue by about $250 million. Mr. Corbett said nothing about tax reform that could close tax loopholes, more fairly distribute the state tax burden, reduce business tax rates across the board and generate more revenue.

Lawmakers should be aware that gratuitous tax breaks for businesses that are not creating jobs, while driving up costs for students and failing to reform taxes and invest in infrastructure and economic development, imperils the commonwealth's future.

The Legislature should craft a budget that prepares the commonwealth for the future rather than sacrifices it.