We had a great session last night talking about the state budget and education funding with state Reps. Bill Adolph, R-165, of Springfield, and Margo Davidson, D-164, of Upper Darby, on our 'Live From the Newsroom' live-stream Internet broadcast.
If you missed it, you can catch the replay by clicking here.
Adolph seems at ease in his new role as the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. His fingerprints will be all over the spending plan that is eventually adopted. For that reason he will have a huge say in how much of the money Gov. Tom Corbett is proposing be cut from education can be restored.
One thing is clear after talking to both Adolph and Davidson last night. No one is especially enthused about that austere spending plan proposed by the governor, especially when it comes to education cuts.
Both the House GOP and the governor agree on a number, $27.3 billion, for the budget, but they get there via different routes. Adolph and his Republican brethren would rather take a look at some savings in the welfare budget; Davidson and the Dems have other ideas.
Adolph also seemed ready to indicate that the Legislature should have a spending plan in place by July 1, which is mandated by state law, and which never happened under eight years of Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell.
Speaking of education funds, make sure you pick up the Sunday Times and check DelcoTimes.com starting Sunday for a special weeklong series looking at school budgets across the county. We're calling it "Schools of Hard Knocks," and that's more appropriate this year than almost any I can remember.
You'll also have a chance early next week to take part in a live chat with the reporters who have been working on the series.
It's your chance to take part in the process. Don't miss it.
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