Calls for requirement to pass state budget

Although voters last year threw out many members of America's second highest paid state legislature, our state government continues to be a waste of taxpayer dollars!

Of course they blame each other, but Governor Rendell and the legislators of both parties - yes, everybody's "it's-not-my-fault" local guy - deserve equal blame for failure to complete their most basic assignment - the timely passage of a budget to operate state services.

Adding insult to injury, their priorities are all out of whack.

Thus Monday (July 9), with temperatures across the state hovering around 100, all 117 state parks, museums and historic sites closed - no parking, swimming, boating, concessions, fishing, hiking, camping - campers already set up were evicted. In the midst of travel season, all 15 state welcome centers closed along with the 71 PennDOT license centers, and state road work was curtailed.

However, since only services deemed by the esteemed as "nonessential" closed, still functioning along with the obvious state police, health services, prisons, etc., was every state liquor store!

And a judge ordered that the slot parlors stay open.

So with 24,000 state employees furloughed and most of the positive things we pay taxes for closed, a state with a $650 billion surplus continued to rake in money from state stores and slots parlors.

Ever hear the expression "more money than brains?!"

I'm not big on constitutional amendments - gay marriage, flag burning, etc. - but how about an amendment requiring the governor and legislators to resign if they don't pass a budget by deadline, with special elections 30 days later for a new government.

How quickly would they figure out how to get along?

Paul Politis Greencastle