By Randy LoBasso

– On Thursday morning, Philadelphia’s delegation to the Pennsylvania Senate spoke about their budget proposals for the next fiscal year, calling for a $300 million increase in education funding.

Just 23 percent of voters believe Gov. Tom Corbett deserves a second term, but they still need to take on another budget he signs, which the governor plans to outline next week during his address.

“Senate Democrats think that the more than $1 billion that’s been cut since the governor took office is unacceptable,” Ben Waxman, press secretary for State sen. Vincent Hughes, noted earlier this week. Hughes was joined by Sens. Shirley Kitchen, Christina Targtaglione, LeAnna Washington, and Larry Farnese in the media room at the School District of Philadelphia.

Democratic politicians on the other side of the state, in Pittsburgh, gave a similar address this morning, calling for Corbett to focus on education, Medicaid expansion, human services, jobs, and a minimum wage increase.

After a disastrous conclusion to last year’s budget session—which included passing, then repealing, Medicaid expansion—Pennsylvania’s Democrats hope to pounce on Corbett’s dismal approval ratings and his obvious need to restore some cuts if he wants any shot at re-election in November.

How do the Dems hope to get the cash? Democrats outlined a plan that includes reforming property tax laws; more aggressive tax collections; taxing smokeless tobacco; and, the biggest chunk of cash, expanding Medicaid to the commonwealth. Expanding the government healthcare program per Obamacare outlines, according to some estimates, would save the state between $822 and $1.6 billion in uncompensated costs and could produce a $400 million savings in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2014.

Gov. Corbett will be giving his budget address on Tuesday, February 4, though has already hinted at what he may be shoving in there. He noted he’d like to increase the pre-K funding by $10 million, though hasn’t said much else. Some news sources around the state have already noted that the administration is hinting at a deal, which would include something like lottery or liquor privatization, in exchange for increased education dollars.

Source: http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/2014/01/30/philly-democrats-preempt-corbett-budget-by-outlining-priorities/