Op-ed by Senator Patty Kim
Op-ed by Senator Patty Kim
The famous proverb “when elephants fight, the grass suffers” means the weak get hurt in conflict between the powerful. It is an apt way to assess the ongoing state budget impasse and the partisan gridlock that has affected our political system. Finger pointing and blame is not a constructive way to resolve the issue, and there are far too many everyday Pennsylvanians that will suffer as a result.
As lawmakers, we have one constitutionally-mandated task to perform every year: pass a balanced budget by June 30. Regrettably, missing that deadline by weeks or months in Harrisburg has become standard practice. The normalization of this behavior amounts to legislative malpractice, and ignores the sad reality that budgetary delays lead to serious and often life-changing human consequences.
State budget impasses are a political problem created by lawmakers. School, county and local budgets are strained because of partisan games of brinksmanship, and it is real people who bear the cost. Until a state budget is approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor, the state cannot release funds to schools, counties, and other state-subsidized services that each of us rely on. Counties and school districts across the state must now consider expensive borrowing options or drain essential reserves to meet cash flow needs in absence of state payments. Taxpayers will have to cover the interest on any loans to continue operations until state funding starts flowing again. For taxpayers, this is unacceptable.
The state budget gridlock also destabilizes social services and weakens community safety nets. Child welfare caseworkers, mental health crisis workers and aging services workers are unable to provide essential services. For our most vulnerable, our seniors, and our children, this is unacceptable.
Our food banks and charitable food networks that our community depend on are suffering. For our families, this is unacceptable.
Our school districts are delaying hiring, postponing repairs, scaling back technology upgrades and limiting program enhancements. Delays in state payments to our educators undermines our schools’ ability to provide students with the high-quality education and support they deserve. For students, their parents, and our educators, this is unacceptable.
I have shown up to the office each and every day since the budget was announced in February and have watched proposal after proposal thrown away in the name of political points. Enough “grass” has been trampled. It’s time to finish the job.