PA House Approves More Debt for Pork

Lost in the shuffle over the Pennsylvania state (operating) budget was a vote over the weekend over the state capital budget, which was approved by the Pennsylvania House.

The bill (HB 1418) authorizes $1.7 billion in additional borrowing for 2009-10 for projects. This is a $500 million increase over last year’s borrowing.

Part of this increase is a $125 million increase in the notorious Redevelopment Assistance Capital Projects – borrowing to give handouts for pork-barrel projects.

Click here for an analysis of Pennsylvania state debt.