The news came swiftly, clearly and pretty much what had been expected when Governor Tom Corbett announced his Fiscal Year 2011-12 Budget.
“I’m proposing something we haven’t had in a long time: a reality-based budget,’’ Corbett said. “To the people of Pennsylvania, the taxpayers who sent us here, I want to say something you haven’t heard often enough from this building: We get the picture. It’s your money.’’
“The electorate, its trust scraped to the bone by lies and half truths, isn’t going to stand for another broken promise,’’ Corbett said. “I said we’d cut. I’m not asking you to read my lips. I’m asking you to read my budget.’’ Specifically, the new, $27.3 billion budget focuses on improving four key elements: fiscal discipline, free enterprise, limited government and reform.
“Government will never be cost-free. But it must be freed from the culture of churning through cash that farmers and clerks and mill hands and nurses earned dollar-by-dollar. They know the value of their money better than we do,’’ Corbett said. “We need to be better stewards of their wealth.’’
The new budget cuts government spending by 3 percent, most of which is done by consolidating programs, targeting inefficiencies and reducing or eliminating discretionary financial grants. It maintains, and in some cases expands, programs to protect its people and provide services, including care for the commonwealth’s neediest citizens, supporting our State Police and military troops as well as making schools safer for our children.
Incentives will be offered to encourage growth and improvements in Pennsylvania’s business communities and education system.
Facing a $4.16 billion deficit, hard choices had to be made. Some programs supported by the state for years were cut.
We've included some of the documents released today, for your reference
Gov. Corbett's Budget Address
PRESS RELEASES
Streamlining the DCED
Putting Families First
Health and Public Welfare
Fiscal Responsibility, Balanced Budget
BUDGET DOCUMENTS
Budget Power Point Presentation
Budget-Short Version
Budget ALL
To listen to responses to the budget, click on the link below.
LISTEN TO RESPONSES
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