The problem with Harrisburg

Today's story by Dena Pauling, headlined "Schools bet on state money," offers great insight into the politics of Harrisburg and shows beautifully what's wrong at the Capitol.

This essentially happens every year, so it's not new and different. But it shows a system that is fed by politics and politics alone and does not represent the taxpayer, or the school districts in this case.

Why do I say that?

Consider that Gov. Ed Rendell issued his school funding plan with the budget proposal in February. The Senate Republicans, including Sen. Jake Corman, took one look at it and declared it dead. They fired off a letter advising school districts not to count on the extra money Rendell slated for them.

And then what happened? Nothing, while school boards here and all over the state had to complete their budgets.

This week, the Republicans marched out and passed their plan in the Senate, showing it as a clear alternative to Rendell's. The comparison is striking, as presented today by Pauling, and some school districts more than others need one over the other to make their budget work.

But they won't know which one will apply until legislators get around to passing the budget. So they wait.

Perhaps the Senate plan is better, and I doubt any reader in these parts would approve of Rendell's heavy spending toward Philly schools. But my point in highlighting the politics and problems of Harrisburg is that the Senate should have voted on this in April.

Why now? Why not then, other than to play politics and hardball?

The losers in all of this are the local school districts and you, the taxpayer. When it's finally settled the state will again pass on to the locals the tough decisions, on raising taxes or cutting spending. Legislators -- senators in this case -- will be out of it.

This is the problem with Harrisburg, in a nutshell, presented in today's story. And Corman and other Senate leaders should know it and should be able, with their seniority, to push for reform in this process.