More Tricks to Balance the PA Budget?

Rumors are circulating the state capitol that Pennsylvania lawmakers will take money out of the Tobacco Settlement Fund to balance this year’s state budget.

This is not only a one-time fix, but a very tricky one at that, as they promise not to cut any of the programs currently funded by the Tobacco Settlement Fund.  The scheme being proposed is to use this year’s Tobacco funds to fill the budget shortfall, then use next year’s Tobacco money to pay this year’s program cost (and next year’s Tobacco programs will be paid by the following year’s Settlement money, etc.).

This would violate tenet three of the taxpayer’s budget , by using another shell game to balance the budget. 

Click here for more information on the PA State Budget.