Guest editorial: Why play games with everyone's state parks?

Where is the plan to reduce the size of the state govt. workforce? No, not the rank and file but the top-level administrators, managers, assistant-to-the-assistant type bureaucrats, the deputies, the consultants, and the like? Cutting down the size of Pennsylvania's government should be a vital part of the budget formulation task.

Excellent point by Henry. We don't need our massive, and expensive, legislature. Let's start cuts at the top.

Wasn't it Rob Kauffman who ran on the ideology that he would fight to reduce the size of PA government. I guess that idea was shelved when he realized that he wouldn't have the gravy train to ride anymore. Meaning, he wouldn't want to legislate himself out of his job.
Who can we appeal to to reduce the size of our government? The Supreme Court? We all know, just like Mr. Kauffman, that we need this reduction now(!), not 20 years from now. There is no need, whatsoever, in this day and age of technology that we need to be paying 243 members to be our representatives. Just about 67 should do the trick. We might go as high as 70, giving Pitt, Phila, and Harrisburg 2 each. Problem solved.
This is what is hurting Pennsylvania. Our government.

The overarching priority of government, like the Pennsylvania state government, is self-preservation.
Survive! Maintain the status quo. That's first, always. Next, when possible, GROW the size of govt.
Cut services to the taxpayers, but never eliminate programs that could trigger a staff reduction. Yes, the bloated bureaucracy of Pennsylvania's government should be drastically reduced. Do that first. If citizens expect their elected representatives to pass legislation that CUTS the size of government, it's a dream. Won't happen. Their first priority is self-aggrandizement.

If they want to save money, they can make our legislature a part-time legislature, just like they do in Maryland. They can also down-size the legislature. Corporations down-size their operations to be more profitable, but government never does it.

Other states are forcing employees to take pay cuts or are eliminating positions. That is what is happening in California.

Oh, yes, I forgot to mention TAX INCREASES. If you want parks, government services, university education, a school for veterans children[or relatives of veterans], it is going to cost a bit more to have them. State government must balance the budget. They can't run deficits and print money like our federal government.

Yes, Catherine, exactly. Just like Rob Kauffman. Reduction in state government was a platform that he ran on. But, after he was elected, you didn't hear a peep out of him about reducing the size of Pennsylvania's government. That's why I mentioned the Supreme Court. We all know 'our representatives' are not going to pass a law to ELIMINATE their jobs. That's why we need to go above their heads. We need to be able to have a referendum. Let's put this up for proposal to the citizens of Pa. and see what happens.

State parks will not be funded. Finding for libraries will be slashed. The DARE program will be eliminated. Funding for health care for illegal aliens will be increased. Transportation subsidies for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will rise. English as a second language programs, to make sure those healthy illegal aliens feel comfortable, will be increased. Funding for magnet schools and schools that cater to the brightest and best will be cut. This is the leadership of the Democrat party bringing us change. Ain't it wonderful?

Grumpy wrote:

State parks will not be funded. Finding for libraries will be slashed. The DARE program will be eliminated. Funding for health care for illegal aliens will be increased. Transportation subsidies for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will rise. English as a second language programs, to make sure those healthy illegal aliens feel comfortable, will be increased. Funding for magnet schools and schools that cater to the brightest and best will be cut. This is the leadership of the Democrat party bringing us change. Ain't it wonderful?

DARE SHOULD be eliminated. It doesn't work.

And it's not wonderful. It sucks. Thank you George W. Bush.

"But then, we are talking about the Pennsylvania Legislature". Evening Sun of Hanover, please remember that this proposal is coming out of the Republican controlled senate. In other words, this is a Republican proposal. However, it's still a good idea. Some of these parks are probably way under utilized. We're in the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression. Cuts must be made.

really unbelievable wrote:

Wasn't it Rob Kauffman who ran on the ideology that he would fight to reduce the size of PA government. I guess that idea was shelved when he realized that he wouldn't have the gravy train to ride anymore. Meaning, he wouldn't want to legislate himself out of his job.
Who can we appeal to to reduce the size of our government? The Supreme Court? We all know, just like Mr. Kauffman, that we need this reduction now(!), not 20 years from now. There is no need, whatsoever, in this day and age of technology that we need to be paying 243 members to be our representatives. Just about 67 should do the trick. We might go as high as 70, giving Pitt, Phila, and Harrisburg 2 each. Problem solved.
This is what is hurting Pennsylvania. Our government.

I guess you would rather have had jeff coy in there to go the extra mile for us?

really wrote:

<quoted text>
I guess you would rather have had jeff coy in there to go the extra mile for us?

Doesn't seem to be much difference there. A politician is a politician. We don't need half as many as we have, that was my point.

Dan the Man wrote:

<quoted text>
DARE SHOULD be eliminated. It doesn't work.
And it's not wonderful. It sucks. Thank you George W. Bush.

Because there is still drug use among high school students? Under that concept we should stop educating people because some get through without being able to read or do mathematics of any kind. But wait a minute that would end losing sports programs. Couldn't have that.

Grumpy wrote:

<quoted text>
Because there is still drug use among high school students? Under that concept we should stop educating people because some get through without being able to read or do mathematics of any kind. But wait a minute that would end losing sports programs. Couldn't have that.

Sounds like someone pis*ed in your wheaties this morning Grump or maybe the fact you were that last kid picked when it came time to play.

really unbelievable wrote:

Wasn't it Rob Kauffman who ran on the ideology that he would fight to reduce the size of PA government. I guess that idea was shelved when he realized that he wouldn't have the gravy train to ride anymore. Meaning, he wouldn't want to legislate himself out of his job.

REALLY UNBELIEVABLE - you are truly unbelivable. As an Independent I watch VERY carefully what the elected DO--I can only guess you don't like Kauffman's party.

Quick search reveals 10/15/07 State Reps.Rob Kauffman joined some of their reform-minded colleagues in the Capitol Rotunda to call for consideration of Discharge Resolution No. 1 on the House floor, which would address reduction of the state General Assembly.The discharge resolution, authored by Mustio, would bring to the forefront his House Bill 55, which is designed to trim the House of Representatives from the current 203 members to 161 and the Senate from 50 members to 40. The bill also calls for corresponding 20 percent reductions in both House and Senate operating budgets.

In addition to supporting these efforts, Kauffman was prime sponser of HB 867 which would reduce size of legislature. Unsuprisingly, Rock and Kauffman are outvoted and outnumbered in their support of these measures. I don't fault them for that. Actions speak louder than party- forgive me for questioning your motives.

sorry, I though the article was about closing state parks.

Grumpy wrote:

<quoted text>
Because there is still drug use among high school students? Under that concept we should stop educating people because some get through without being able to read or do mathematics of any kind. But wait a minute that would end losing sports programs. Couldn't have that.

There are programs that have success that can be measured. DARE is not one of them. In fact there is some evidence that DARE actually INCREASES drug use among teens. It is a giant, government funded boondoggle. Look it up.

Actually, I'll save you the time.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/youthvi...

And many studies on Headstart attest to that program's ineffectiveness as well. Want to make that one a target as well. I would guess not because Headstart just wastes money on minorities while DARE much more efficiently wastes money on virtually every kid in grade school.