3.1% and all hell breaks loose

Since Governor Tom Corbett let it fly with his $27.3 billion budget yesterday, it's been a nonstop bitch fest on WILK talk radio. The newly unveiled budget marks a 3.1 percent decrease from last year's budget, but the gripe seems to be that only the truly needy will be feeling the pain of that decrease.

Personally, as Amerika transitions from super power status to third world status, I think the sting of the overdue and necessary budgetary bloodletting should be felt equally by all involved. For instance, that 3.1% cutback should be an across-the-board cutback...no exceptions. That's that. Easy to follow. Fair is fair.

Tree-hugging aside, I think Pennsylvania could still become Corbett's "Texas of natural gas" if the gas drilling companies were made to pay a minuscule 3.1% extraction tax. If not more.

All I know is, the searing pain of an economic pullback should not be inflicted only on the folks on the very bottom rung of the economic ladder.

Here's what our very own state representative from Wilkes-Barre had to offer...

Pashinski reacts to governor's budget address

HARRISBURG, March 8 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, today released the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Corbett's 2011-12 budget address to the state legislature:

"Governor Corbett stated that the solution to recover from the recession is 'all embracing,' so then he should keep his word and make sure everyone has skin in the game," Pashinski said. "This means everyone pays their fair share, including big corporations. If the governor expects to freeze the working families' salaries and benefits, then the big corporations must hold the line on increases as well. When it comes to Marcellus Shale gas, the governor wants Pennsylvania to be like Texas, then so be it. Texas has an extraction tax, and so should we. Don't balance the budget on the backs of hardworking families and the vulnerable alone. If we are all in this together, then we all have to feel the pain and pay our fair share."

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Here, here.

G'nite

P.S.--Pre-school tutoring? Are we crazy?