CAPITAL TIMES, August 26, 1991
"People" lacking in
today's state politics
It seems like every time I open the newspaper there's some
new political problem running amok in Harrisburg. First
there was the 35-day budget impasse. Then the trivial fact that
a state legislator may have cast the deciding vote in favor of the
budget in Harrisburg while waiting for a plane in Pittsburgh.
NOW, on top of everything else, Mayor Stephen Reed seems to
have stashed away $7 million dollars in city money to be spent
at his discretion.
Where did "elected by the people, for the people"
disappear to? Can anyone tell me? I'd personally like to ask
Democratic Rep. Richard Hayden if he has any idea WHY he
can afford to take his family on a vacation to Hawaii. Ok,
maybe his wife's Ivana Trump's divorce attorney, but more
than likely it had a little something to do with taxpayers'
money.
Forget the fact that there were state employees who
couldn't afford to pay their rent or buy their families food.
Forget the fact that a woman with a station wagon full of
children parked in the driveway of the governor's mansion
to protest her husband not receiving pay for his work.
Forget the daily rallies at the capital by angry state workers
against Casey. But don't forget that Hayden, who
e\ecVrcm\ca\Yy rigged Yds machine to vote "yes" to any
legislation on August 4, was elected by the people AND for
the people. Why then should he be excused from his duties?
Because of illness? Sure. Death in the family? Sure. But a
non-refundable airline ticket to Hawaii? Give me just a small
break.
Here's another high point in Harrisburg politics. Mayor
Stephen Reed "obtained" $7 million of the city's money from
last year’s sale of Harrisburg city's water system to the
Harrisburg Authority, and stashed it in an account without
City Council’s knowledge. While Reed says that he's already
spent nearly $5 million of it on city projects, council
members are up in arms because the spending took place
without their knowledge or approval.
What's a few million here and there? Especially if it's
$150,000 to purchase an Astroturf field and dasher boards to
surround it for the Harrisburg Heat soccer team. Catch a
clue Mayor Reed. Hershey had a team and they failed
miserably. Do you really think people are going to be drawn
to the Harrisburg team because they play in the Farm Show
Arena? If the games are played at night I think fans will see
that as more of a deterrent than a plus. I know after having a
tire slashed and numerous key scratches added to my car
while parked on Derry Street last year, I now think twice
before venturing into the capital city after sundown.
But there is a bright spot in all of this...while it took
Pennsylvania legislators 35 days to agree upon a budget,
that's not a record. As of this writing, the state of
Connecticut has gone more than 54 days without a spending
plan. Maybe they could settle it if half their legislators
planned trips to Hawaii....
EDITORIALS
Karen Tt. Putt
'Editor-in-chief
A newspaper for the student body
Capital Times
Editor in Chief... Karen M. Putt
News Editor...T.J. Brightman
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