Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, fresh off of attempting to raise taxes on hard-working people, has struck a deal with lawmakers to spend $298 million on building projects. But because this new spending is financed by borrowing, Rendell's plan will actually cost taxpayers $963 million over the next 20 years. So why is Rendell spending the money? To refurbish schools in West Philadelphia? To repair bridges on Route 22 in the Lehigh Valley? Or maybe build better roads in Warren County? No. The expenditures include:
- $15 million for the Tasty Baking facility redevelopment
- $10 million for hotel and mixed land use development in Philadelphia
- $10 million for Fortune 100 company headquarters in Upper Saucon
- $8 million for a conversion center for "green" projects in the Hill District
- $7.5 million for commercial/retail development in Norristown
- $7.5 million for roadside development in Montgomery and Bucks Counties
- $5 million for retail development in Upper Darby
- $5 million for a hotel near California University of Pennsylvania
- $3 million for a hotel in St. Mary's
- $3 million for a recreational facility at King's College
- $4.5 million for the renovation of the former Dixie Cup Corporation manufacturing facility
- $5 million for "mixed use development" in Towanda
The entire bill is filled with similar vague allowances, pouring money into things like "acquisition, infrastructure, and other costs," which make it nearly impossible to track where the money is going. Making matters more confusing, the bill also includes $302 million for any projects that the legislature might submit to the governor (or the next) for approval. Pork-barrel spending and earmarks are the scourge of Congress, so what makes this any different? Also, more than half of the money is going to Philadelphia, where Rendell served as mayor from 1991 to 1999. It looks like the same politics as usual in the Keystone State where even the Governor isn't above funneling taxpayers' money to his hometown.