Posted on 01/02/2004 1:12:08 PM PST by freepatriot32
The new budget approved by Pennsylvania politicians is a victory for bigger government and special interests -- but a setback for ordinary taxpayers, the state LP has charged.
"The message is clear from both parties: Government needs to grow," said LP State Chair Ken Krawchuk. "And you, the taxpayer, need to feed [politicians'] insatiable hunger for power and control."
Governor Ed Rendell signed the $21.3 billion budget on December 23. The spending plan calls for a 10% increase in the state income tax, a new $500 million tax on cell phone companies, and higher taxes on cigarettes.
Krawchuk, who was also the LP's gubernatorial candidate in 2000, said the higher taxes and costly government programs will hurt state residents.
"Two years ago as the LP candidate for governor, I proposed a rollback of state spending over a four year period to accommodate the inevitable shortfall in revenue and to avoid a budget crisis," he said. "Sadly, the two major parties chose crisis and higher taxes.
"This will only lead to a decrease in business activity, an increase in joblessness, and more reasons to leave Pennsylvania."
The new budget is also saturated with spending for powerful lobbying groups, said Krawchuk, including subsidies for medical malpractice, expanded prescription drug coverage for seniors, and more educational spending.
"Chalk one up for the insurance industry," he said. "Chalk up a Daily Double for senior citizens. Score another big win for the state teacher's union. The true beneficiaries of this budget are special interest groups."
In fact, said Krawchuk, there is only one good thing about the budget: "It's becoming increasingly clear that the Libertarian Party is the only answer to reverse the socialistic nature of our current politicians."
That's how 'pressuring' is done when they ignore you otherwise. Unfortunately, if the Libertarians were going to be a 'real' third party, they'd have been one by now: thirty-plus years since they were founded and they still [have a childish accident] if one of their candidates wins dog-catcher in Podunk.
To all lurkers, had to do the above. The Libertarians on FR, will try to equalize my typo on a political board as just as equal to a Libertarian party stafffer(JMO, smoking a bong) not knowing that there was no Gubernatorial election in Pennsylvania in the year 2000.
Three times is a charm.
Yeah, you are being nit picky. He said 2000 and he also said 2 years ago and 2 years ago was right (calendar wise). But if this is your best shot, go ahead and take it. But please, while you do that, explain why the @$#% the REPUBLICAN controlled House and Senate passed a tax increase and a budget increase.
I am compromising in my offer in post #16. I want small constitutional government, but for now I'm willing to settle for someone who will simply keep it at its current massive, bloated, unconstitutional, intrusive and outragously expenisive size. That's hardly principled, some would call it a sell out.
I can't go compromise any further than that because to vote for someone who would increase the size of government would literally be counterproductive to my goals.
Uh Mister Malcontent of all Malcontents read the article again. Mr. Krawchuk stated that he was a LP Gubernatorial candidate in PA for the year of 2000. But what the hey, your malcontent kool-aid drinking has to be defended no matter what.
Dane, if you are going to criticize other people for mispeaking or making typos, you should at least run a spell checker and watch your punctuation.
Uh dude you should read my replies after #20, before you get that itchy keyboard finger.
We Republicans owe exactly this to ourselves, and our children. Moreover; we owe it to the country to stop treating conservatism as something to be ashamed of.
Despite the democrat-like, herd following insults of many that roam as Republicans; your Libertarian counsel is respected, and your support coveted.
So what you are saying is that I should excuse this writer as the New York Times editors excused Jayson Blair?
Sheesh you third partiers shouldn't act like the NYT editorial board when a mistake is made.
Also, would you of rather had a demo General Assembly, rubber stamping Rendell's 50% tax increase?
That's what my kids ask whenever I start to discuss music.
well the one thing it did get me is a sence of cleanliness instead of a dirty whoreish sleazy feeling that i kept getting around every election time since 1988. when i went straight republican ticket plus donated money to the national commitee every year from 88 until 2001 and lets see what victorys i got in that time well in 89 george the 1st signed gun control laws hmmm and i thought small gov republicans were pro 2 amendment no problem that was probably just a fluke so along comes 1990 when he mumbled so badly i misread his lips then of course he went into bagdad ands topped because wel lthe U N would get mad if he didnt but no problem he was goingto have the cia back a coup tyo get saddam out of power oh wait that wouldnt be pc enough so he just let them all get slaughtered then fiegned suprise that a dictator would be so horrible to his own people like that then suprise suprise he didnt get reelected and im sure he stil lwonders why none of his conservative base voted for him in 1992 so we hada couple of years of all demo control at the federal level withs ome minor tax increases so along come the next election and the republican national commitee decides hell bob dole is getting oso old hes turningto dust better run him before he strokes out and dies so ithought ok not my cup of tea but what the hell kay sarra sarra i always say so he quits the senate and on his last day there he stands up and says his proudest acclomplishments was the food stamp act that pretty much enslaved 25 percent of the population to the federal goverment didnt seem to me to be areal small goverment re-publican but he could sorta play oner on tv when it suited his purposes so he went down in flames then along coms the revolution and the contract with america and boy gingrich was goingot kick ass and take names the nea and almost all of the alphebet suop burocrats would be out on their ears by noon the next day and the other 9 issues would be passed by congress by that thursday well its been 8 years and exactly none of those contract clauses have passed even with a republican majority in both houses and the white house hmmmm so tell me something what exactly did you get for voting republican all these years and not libertarian ? this last local election in november wad the first election that i went straight libertarian and iwill be voting straight libertarian again because i dont need johnny asscroft protecting me from tommy chong and concrete breasts on statures in washington dc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.