Trib: Dems nominate former Lebo commissioner for House vacancy

Former Mt. Lebanon Commissioner Dan Miller will be the Democratic nominee for the state House seat formerly held by Matt Smith, who was elected earlier this year to the Pennsylvania Senate. Miller, an assistant county solicitor and volunteer firefighter, was the sole Democrat to submit his name for consideration by Democratic Committee members from the 42nd District Sunday night in Mt. Lebanon. Read the full article:

• www.triblive.com/news/allegheny/3133394-74/commissioner-lebanon-democratic (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Pennsylvania Schools Not Quite In Panic Over Budget

About 40 percent of school districts will be forced to weather the state budget impasse without help from their surplus money, according to an agency representing school financial officers.

"Because of the economy, districts who didn't want to use that money last year had to in order to balance their budgets," said Jay Himes, director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials. "Crisis hasn't set in yet. The real panic mode will be at the end of this month."

Wealthier districts that receive less from the state, such as Mt. Lebanon, won't feel much impact. Mt. Lebanon relies predominantly on local tax revenue, according to Jan Klein, business director for the district. Klein said officials will pull from investment plans if needed, rather than seek loans, to make up any difference.

Link: www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_638727.html

Local Lawmakers: It's Time To Cut Spending

"We've got to reduce our spending, especially if this trend continues on the same track or gets worse in the spring," said Pennsylvania Sen. John Pippy (R-Moon). "Our overall economy is down. Spending is down, buying is down. Sales tax is down, and with job losses our state revenues are down. This is the second year of the downturn in our economy.

"I commend the governor on the tough cuts he's made so far, but we need to look to further reductions because a tax increase isn't something I would consider. I would also oppose any increase in the state's fuel tax. We've weathered this better than many of the larger states in the union. And I am happy we pushed to maintain the rainy day fund, so that it has grown to $750 million. It helps, but we have to look further at duplications in programming and make those cuts too," Pippy said.

Pennsylvania Rep Matt Smith (D-Mt. Lebanon) said he opposes tax increases in this economy and advocates elimination of most if not all of the $200 million accumulated in the legislative surplus.

The "rainy day" and "legislative" surplus funds are not the same. The legislative surplus has an additional $200 million, and has accumulated over a 10 to-15-year period, Smith said.

Link: www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/12-31-PA-budget-sidebar

Another Look at the 20% Legislative Cut

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer Brian O'Neill has posted a new article regarding the proposed 20% cut in costs for the Pennsylvania legislature that is being pushed by State Representative Matt Smith (who represents Mt. Lebanon) and State Representative Randy Vulakovich from the north hills.

Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/08059/861063-155.stm