With a newly signed Pennsylvania State budget that cuts 1,000 state jobs, does little to address the growing needs of the Commonwealth’s crumbling bridges and roads and contains significant funding cuts for many worthwhile programs and services (including libraries) it’s hard to believe that $10 million dollars was allocated to fund a John Murtha public-policy center in Johnstown and another $10 million to fund the Arlen Specter library in Philadelphia.

                Murtha, a Democratic U.S. Congressman for 19 terms, died last February.  Specter, a Democratic/Republican U.S. Senator for 46 years, lost his bid for reelection in May.  Both individuals had their supporters and their detractors and plenty of highlights and lowlights in their political careers.  But should taxpayers fund these tributes - especially in these tough economic times?

How many other line items in the 2010 budget should be facing the same question.  Why did it take until July 4, four days after the budget was passed, for the information on these two projects to surface to the public? 

                According to official statements, the money comes from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) and requires matching funds.  The money is available for projects that carry “significant potential” for improved economic growth.  RACP began a decade ago with a debt limit of $400 million but has grown to $4.05 billion today!  That includes $600 million that’s being added this year.  The money is borrowed from the regular sale of state bonds to private investors and taxpayers will be financing these projects for decades.

                There’s no published figure for how many jobs need to be created with this $20 million or whether those jobs must be permanent.  There’s no published figure for the economic impact these projects must have in the Johnstown and Philadelphia areas in order to be approved.  The only real figure we have so far is that it will cost taxpayers across the entire state $20 million dollars!

                Since July 4, we’ve heard that the Specter library project has been scaled back.  It doesn’t matter – it’s still being paid for with taxpayer’s money.  And, if the project fails to fit the mold of creating (and keeping) jobs as well as positively impacting the economy of the state, then it must be paid with private dollars.

                There are many projects on this year’s list for RACP funding and many of them are worthy, but politicians need to get their priorities straight.

                Rules and guidelines for allocating the funds must be clear and followed by all, and funding for tributes to long-time politicians should be paid for private dollars.