Senator Bob Casey held an economic roundtable at Martin Guitar according to an article in the Express-Times (read it here).
In the article it states, “He [Casey] touted the local impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Of the $787 billion provided by the act, $16 billion went to Pennsylvania. More than $23 million went to Northampton County school districts and $50 million went to county transportation and infrastructure improvements.”
I’m somewhat surprised that Casey would “tout” the money PA received when it is 2% of the total. For one of the larger states in the country it would seem we should have received a larger share.
I also don’t understand how sending $23M to our school districts assists with economic recovery.
3 comments:
I am pleasantly surprised we got 2% (or 1/50th of the total). The northern and west cost states always, and I do mean always, receive far less money per capita and per tax dollar than other areas. If we did get our fair share (-ish, 1/50th of the total), it would be a major step towards tax equity we have never seen in the past.
As far as $23 million to schools, that will pay for more teachers, better equipment, and hopefully better results. The US has been falling farther and farther behind in terms of math and verbal skills. If we wish to compete in a world economy, we are going to need a populace you can not only perform simple computations, but also who value education and knowledge. Hopefully, these funds will 'stimulate' our competitiveness in the coming decades.
Actually knowing the percentage that's being received tells you nothing until you know the percentage of the pie that came from Pennsylvania. And if we did get more than our "share", I don't know why the taxpayers of other states should be subsidizing our children. Or what value is added to money by sending it through Washington first...
I would whole heartedly agree that a populace that values education and knowledge is the key to our education woes. Just how money does that though, I do not know.
I did not say we got more than our fair share, nor that we even got our fair share based on a per capita or a tax dollar contributed basis. I made the point that we always lose out on those equations. The last figure I read was around 68 cents on the dollar and places like Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Mississippi would get around $1.20 for every dollar contributed.
To see us get 1/50th of the pie is quite a change in the equity of distribution. Not perfect, but a step in the right direction.
I do agree money does not always beget results; however, if I had to pick one place where we need to improve performance and results, it would be in the education of the next generation. (Although, even more important than money in accomplishing that goal, would be to have more parental involvement, followed by community involvement, and accountability within the school)
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