When it comes to his dealings with Republicans in the legislature, Ed Rendell has tried reasonable. He had tried schmooze. He has tried (always, Eddie, always) deal making.
This year, he tried something new -- at least for Harrisburg.
He tried his Crazy Eddie routine.
And it worked.
Faced with a Senate Republican caucus infused with anti-pay grab, anti-tax, anti-just about everything senators, Rendell let loose with a state budget proposal that was, to say the least, ambitious and expansionist.
Like Leo Bloom in The Producers, the governor wanted everything he ever dreamed of -- and asked the stunned Republicans to make it happen. Sell the turnpike. Increase the sales tax. Spend millions for laptops for schools. Tax excess oil company profits. Create a $500 million Jonas Salk fund for bio-tech development. A statewide smoking ban. Money for full-day kindergarten. Oh, and don't forget $800 million for the Pennsylvania Convention Center, for a new hockey arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins. And at the last minute, an $100 million tax break for film companies that make movies in Pa.
It was crazy -- especially to ask for new and higher taxes when the state was ending the year with a $650 million surplus. Go figure.
The governor who was re-elected (with 61 percent of the vote) to do something had to confront a legislature elected to do nothing. No pay grabs. No new taxes. No more wasteful government programs. No. No. No.
No wonder there was no budget agreement when the June 30th deadline came and went.
And no wonder Rendell had to live up to his threat to begin a phased shut down of state government (It had plenty of money, but without a budget signed into law, the state lacked the authority to spend it.)
In the end, there was a compromise. As Rendell put it, both sides blinked.
At the same time, the governor got most of what he asked for -- except for the tax increases.
And Republicans took credit for beating back a crazy governor who not only wanted everything but kept asking for more and more and more.
So, after five years in Harrisburg, it can be said that Rendell has found a way to deal with the legislature.
The way to be happy with half a loaf is to ask for a 100-pound loaf.
- Tom Ferrick
Comments (2)
Wow...just a few comments here,,, on the rating of worst mayers,,,Rizzo is the worst and that is wrong because we had more police presence and manners...Goode is the worst,,,the Move Fiasto.
I need to post a question out there,,,in a trial ,,,if they find a jury member lied about anything relating to the case ,,,there is a mistrial declared,,,I am finding out that a Superme court justice is found to have monterey interests in the casino matter,,should this be
a factor in the casinos being brought back to the supereme court or just be at a federal level..
now one of the casinios owners is investgated by an independent investigation that he does have bad connections whereas he lied and say he did not,,,should that be a factor
city employees were at a Sugarhouse meeting and they are not supposed to be part of this and that is crooked especility since someonne got hurt there...
I know Philly is supposed to be crooked but we are trying to get our city back but in any other state,,,,the casionos would have lost their right to have their locations with citiaens in great numbers being upset...
It is interesting what one can get away with,,,
Posted by sue farrell | September 14, 2007 6:02 PM
Posted on September 14, 2007 18:02
Wow...just a few comments here,,, on the rating of worst mayers,,,Rizzo is the worst and that is wrong because we had more police presence and manners...Goode is the worst,,,the Move Fiasto.
I need to post a question out there,,,in a trial ,,,if they find a jury member lied about anything relating to the case ,,,there is a mistrial declared,,,I am finding out that a Superme court justice is found to have monterey interests in the casino matter,,should this be
a factor in the casinos being brought back to the supereme court or just be at a federal level..
now one of the casinios owners is investgated by an independent investigation that he does have bad connections whereas he lied and say he did not,,,should that be a factor
city employees were at a Sugarhouse meeting and they are not supposed to be part of this and that is crooked especility since someonne got hurt there...
I know Philly is supposed to be crooked but we are trying to get our city back but in any other state,,,,the casionos would have lost their right to have their locations with citiaens in great numbers being upset...
It is interesting what one can get away with,,,
Posted by sue farrell | September 14, 2007 6:02 PM
Posted on September 14, 2007 18:02