Kenneth Elder's Blog

The View From Philly

In budget statement, Rendell makes an emotional appeal

In a truly inspiring letter last week, Gov. Ed Rendell explained his reasons for raising taxes and outlined his plan to fix Pennsylvania’s budget. But the letter did not merely make its appeal with cold, hard facts and numbers. It also appealed to the emotions of Pennsylvania’s citizens as legislators make tough decisions that will deeply impact their futures.

Rendell reaffirmed that he will not allow service providing for basic needs of the commonwealth’s families and individuals to be slashed from the budget. “What I will not allow,” he said, “are politically expedient decisions that gut essential health and safety protections, put people out of work, or shortchange the future of our children.”

The letter then went on to outline Rendell’s budget plan.

Rendell’s plan includes delaying the planned business tax cuts that were supposed to take effect this year. Rendell makes it clear that this does not imply an increased tax on businesses in Pennsylvania, but just a delay in further tax cuts.

According to Rendell’s plan, the state will raise its income tax from 3.07 percent to 3.57 percent. “Even with this increase,” Rendell said, “Pennsylvania will have the third lowest personal income tax rate in the nation.”

Rendell’s plan also includes phasing out the state income tax beginning again in 2012, as well as laws that will roll back the state income tax to 3.07 percent in 2012.

“I believe these steps are essential.” Rendell said. “We are constitutionally required to have a balanced budget. We can’t deficit spend like the federal government. And we simply cannot achieve a balanced budget without additional revenue.”

Rendell made it clear where blame should be placed, and acknowledges the difficulty inherent to taxing Pennsylvanians when the recession is not their fault. “The citizens of Pennsylvania didn’t cause this problem,” he says, “a bunch of greedy Wall Street millionaires did. So it pains me to have to ask you to sacrifice and be part of the solution.”

Rendell also reminded Pennsylvanians that cutting spending on education will ultimately raise local property taxes. In his letter, the governor mentioned that he has already been told by key figures in districts across the state that they would be forced to raise property taxes in order to fund their schools.

Finally, Rendell called on his colleagues and fellow legislators to “demonstrate the political courage to put the next generation before the next election.”

This letter seems like Rendell’s attempt at making a valiant last stand for Pennsylvania. He is not up for re-election and has nothing to lose and all of Pennsylvania to stand for, which is made clear in his letter. If you haven’t already read it, read it here. This letter shows us what politics is all about — a dedication to people — and it deserves our admiration.