These days, most households have had to rethink and rework their budgets.
Jobs have been cut. Raises don't exist. Investments have lost value. Costs keep rising.
Pennsylvania's in the same boat.
Revenues are dropping and expenses keep rising.
Gov. Rendell wants a temporary hike in the state income tax to balance the budget.
Senate Republicans want to just whack away at the budget to make the numbers work -- so long as it doesn't affect the legislature.
Neither idea is going to help the average working Pennsylvanian.
Unlike state lawmakers, most folks don't have guaranteed raises.
We can't downsize the legislature, cut lawmakers' pay, make them contribute more toward their medical benefits or reduce their pensions.
Every working Pennsylvanian should be offended that none of those ideas are on the table.
Instead, it's all about tax hikes and budget cuts.
The Pittsburgh budget brouhaha isn't much better.
Interactions between the state oversight committee, city council and Mayor Ravenstahl resemble a kindergarten class run amok.
There is too much hand-wringing and too little serious discussion.
Residents are braced for tax hikes, service cuts -- or both. City employees -- like the police -- fear two more years without raises.
In the end, we know who's going to have to pay for those budgets.
Just look in the mirror.
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