Kudos to state Sens. Mike Folmer and John Eichelberger for having the courage to vote against Ed Rendell's bloated 2007-08 budget. Folmer and Eichelberger were the only members of the Senate to cast "No" votes on the $27.5 billion spending plan.
Despite all the talk by Senate Republicans, who contol the chamber by a solid 29-21 margin, of standing up to Rendell and his "Spend it like there's no tomorrow" attitude, only Folmer and Eichelberger stood up when it counted.
Folmer and Eichelberger ran on a reform platform in 2006 and promised to hold the line on taxes and spending. (Folmer and Eichelberger also have the distinction of knocking off Senate giants David "Chip" Brightbill and Bob Jubelirer, phony Republicans who helped usher in the massive tax-and-spend Rendell era from 2003-2006.)
Folmer and Eichelberger stuck to their guns while the rest of the GOP Caucus waived the white flag of surrender under pressure by Gen. Ed Spendell.
You have to wonder what sort of backroom deals were made by Rendell to get 27 Repulicans to vote for his outrageous budget.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Dimitri Vasilleros has a terrific column today on Folmer and Eichelberger.
You can read it at: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/vassilaros/s_518111.html
No comments:
Post a Comment