We need fresh thinking and less self preservation

I spent most of my day discussing either the Senate’s budget or the Marriage Amendment. I met this morning with the board of Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, largely composed of county commissioners, to discuss the budget. They aren’t happy about cuts to programs that they are mandated to provide and I understand that. Although I am glad that we passed a budget with a reasonable bottom line, we didn’t implement any reform. There are some adjustments being made within departments but not the major changes to how the business of government is done. We are expecting, in some cases, local government to do the same work with less money and tying their hands so that they can’t make things more efficient on their end. I will do what I can to rectify that. There is so much that needs done to help the people of Pennsylvania. We need fresh thinking and less self preservation.

- John