Spending In Pennsylvania Has Increased 40% In The Last Three Years!!!

On a campaign stop today Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett highlighted one of the huge problems with Ed Rendell and the Democrats in control of the Pennsylvania purse strings- wasteful spending. The following excerpts come from pittsburghlive.com.

Corbett said the biggest obstacles facing better government in the state are out-of-control spending and public corruption.

In the past three years, state spending has increased more than 40 percent without any attempts by lawmakers to rein in or cut spending, he said.

"We're spending our money," he said, "but we're spending our children's money, we're spending our grandchildren's money, and in effect, I believe we're spending our great-grandchildren's money."

He said public approval for Rendell and the Legislature is at an "all-time low." Corbett's said his criticism covers both Democrat and Republican leaders.

Corbett said the state operates a fleet of 17,000 vehicles and has a support staff of more than 3,000. He said voters should watch the budget process to see whether lawmakers make any cuts. He said some high-level staffers earn more than Rendell.

"See if they reduce their staff," he said.

"I can do more as governor setting an example of how things should be done than investigating what needs to be done," he added.

Can Joe the Plumber claim his income went up 40% in the last three years? Todd Eachus can steer the ship but someone should clue in him that he ran out of gas.

Why haven't the power Democrats in Luzerne County denounced the crime spree exposed by the FBI? Why are they hiding? Why do they refuse to be leaders and face the music for their party? What steps are they taking to make sure integrity is restored among their candidates and elected officials? The lack of sound is almost deafening. Yet the morning local talk show host Kevin Lynn still bashes the Republicans. Clean your own house Kevin before complaining about the neighbors!

Can Pennsylvanians Afford More Democratic Control?

The latest proposal to raise the state personal income tax from its present level of 3.07% to 3.57% should have Pennsylvania citizens up in arms. Don't be fooled into believing our state government NEEDS to be the size it is. Our elected officials WANT it to be the size it is.

In this article written by Robert Swift for the Scranton Times he charts the rise in Pennsylvania's income tax rate since 1971.

Fluctuations in the state personal income tax rate since 1971.

2004-present 3.07%

1993 2.8 percent

1992 2.95 percent

1991 2.6 percent

1987 2.1 percent

1984 2.4 percent

1978 2.2 percent

1971 2.3 percent

In my previous post I talked about Governor Thornburgh having the highest amount of people on the PACE program. Democrat Robert P. Casey was Governor from 1987 to 1995. Look at the increases that happened during his term. Along comes Democrat Ed Rendell in 2002 and look at the next increase in the income tax rate. Todd Eachus who was elected in 1996 and Ed Rendell support another increase to 3.57%. A seventy percent jump in the income tax rate is totally unacceptable.

Ed Rendell hired 110 people during his announced hiring freeze. He should be held accountable for that action in this economic crisis that Todd Eachus called the largest State deficit since the Great Depression.

If this story was about George Bush people would be calling for his resignation. But somehow in Pennsylvania what Democrats do is accepted as par for the course. With the mess in Luzerne County continuing to develop under Democratic Control when is the "revolution" going to occur to rid our midst of Democrats who believe absolute power means absolute control. It is time the voters exercised their right as the fourth branch of government to reign in the stinkin thinkin that is pickin our pockets.

Luzerne County Democratic Committee and Mark Ciavarella

Maybe the Luzerne County Democratic Committee can explain these donations from former Judge Mark Ciavarella to their party during his retention campaign. Sitting judges should not be making political donations according to the judicial cannons.

http://www.campaignfinance.state.pa.us/ExpenseSearchResults.aspx?RequestID=23626&SortOrder=0&StartRow=1&RowsPerPage=50

LUZERNE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
PLYMOUTH, PA 18651 10/31/2005 $500.00
Description: DONATION
Filer/Payer: CIAVARELLA, MARK JUDGE RETENTION COM
Report: 2005 Cycle 6

LUZERNE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
PLYMOUTH, PA 18651 4/19/2005 $6,000.00
Description: DONATION
Filer/Payer: CIAVARELLA, MARK JUDGE RETENTION COM
Report: 2005 Cycle 5

LUZERNE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
PLYMOUTH, PA 18651 9/30/2005 $6,000.00
Description: DONATION
Filer/Payer: CIAVARELLA, MARK JUDGE RETENTION COM
Report: 2005 Cycle 5

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/207/chapter33/s7.html

(1) A judge or a candidate for election to judicial office should not:

(c) solicit funds for or pay an assessment or make a contribution to a political organization or candidate

The 2005 2nd Tuesday Pre Election report found here lists one of the $6,000.00 donations The 30 dayPost Primary report lists the other $6,000.00 donation from 4/19/2005. Jerry Mondlak signed both reports. A phone number listed on the report is 570-655-0838.