PA Gov announces more cuts to his proposed budget

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is updating his budget, and proposing more cuts to nearly every executive department’s spending plan.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is updating his budget, and proposing more cuts to nearly every executive department’s spending plan.

During an emergency cabinet meeting, Governor Rendell told administration officials he wants to cut $212 million in education spending.

His updated proposal trims $106 million from the Public Welfare budget, $3 million from parole and probation funding, and 43-million from the Department of Community and Economic Development, among other cuts.

But Rendell says no matter how many cuts are put in place, taxes still need to go up this year.

Rendell: I know a lot of people, unfortunately react ideologically and say ‘no taxes. No new taxes, ever. I’ll never vote for any new taxes.’ Well, how are we going to fulfill our constitutional requirement? I mean, I’ll be happy to ask the four, any of the four caucuses to submit a budget that balances, and I’ll be happy to take a look at it.

In all, Rendell trimmed $500 million from his initial budget.

But Republicans point out his updated spending plan is still more expensive than this year’s budget, and say the governor isn’t serious about curbing government expenses.