This page was last updated on July 9, 2019.
Excess money should go to schools, infrastructure; Jim Hinton (JH); Beaver County Times; July 7, 2019.
I believe Mr. Hinton began his letter-writing in March 2009 with “We should keep an eye on Limbaugh.” Some subsequent letters were “America needs more leaders like John McCain,” “AP article got health care right,” “Put the blame where it belongs,” “Fox News shows its real priorities,” “Get facts straight before criticizing,” “Tax dollars can’t be used for abortion,” “Making money while hurting nation,” “Will marriage change Limbaugh?”, “Don’t know much about history,” and “Conservative media manufactures issues.”
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“State Rep. [Aaron] Bernstine, R-10, New Beaver, would like to return the $850 million budget excess this year to the taxpayers.”
[RWC] If the alleged surplus isn’t applied to paying down existing Commonwealth (not local government) debt, the excess should be returned to its owners, the Pennsylvania taxpayer.
“His GOP colleagues, Jim Marshall, R-14, Big Beaver, Josh Kail, R-15, Beaver, and Rob Matzie, D-16, Ambridge, don’t agree. Bernstine should pay closer attention. Pennsylvania school districts, our colleges and our libraries need some of that money. More money is also needed to fight opioids in our state.”
[RWC] No! Regardless of how much money we throw at “school districts, our colleges,” it’s never enough. We can’t reward this bad behavior.
“Putting some in a rainy-day fund makes more sense, too. The excess money is actually going back to taxpayers. The high gasoline taxes were raised by former Gov. Tom Corbett to repair our roads and bridges - money well spent and necessary. A good way to cut spending taxpayer money would be to cut the number of representatives in Harrisburg, especially representatives that don’t make good sense.”
[RWC] “Rainy-day fund” is government-speak for slush fund. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn tax revenues are intentionally underestimated to fund slush funds.
“The high gasoline taxes were raised by former Gov. Tom Corbett to repair our roads and bridges …” Actually, “The high gasoline taxes were raised by former Gov. Tom Corbett” AND the General Assembly.
Who are the “representatives that don’t make good sense?” Is JH referring to AB?
Finally, JH and I do agree on one thing; “cut the number of representatives in Harrisburg.”
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