HARRISBURG, Pa. – A non-partisan policy and research group is challenging lawmakers to name the programs they'd cut to balance the budget.
The state is facing a structural deficit of almost $2 billion in the coming year. But the Republican majority in the General Assembly is insisting it will not raise taxes to pay the bills.
So Marc Stier, director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, has launched a social media campaign asking lawmakers to #NameTheCuts.
"If they're not going to raise revenues, they need to tell us what the cuts are going to be because they ought to give Pennsylvanians a choice,” he states. “Do they want to raise revenues or do they want to see cuts to whatever it is that they identify?"
Stier says the idea is to make Name The Cuts a trending topic on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
Within hours of launching the campaign on Wednesday, Stier says he already saw results.
"It's gone from us to our allies to people around the state who are saying, "Legislators, name the cuts,’” he relates. “’Tell us what you're going to do if you're not going to raise revenues.""
Stier says the tax increases the governor proposed would cost middle class Pennsylvanians about as much as a coffee and a pastry every week.
According to Stier, for years now the General Assembly has been using gimmicks to avoid raising taxes. But now he maintains lawmakers have run out of gimmicks.
"And so they are either going to have to raise revenues or we are facing this fiscal cliff that could have devastating consequences in cuts in education and human services all over the state," he stresses.
The new fiscal year begins on July 1.
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House lawmakers have passed a bill advocates said will be harmful to nonprofits in New York and nationwide.
House Resolution 9495 passed with a 219-184 vote after failing to get a two-thirds majority in the chamber last week. The bill gives the Treasury Secretary power to rescind tax-exempt status for nonprofits considered "terrorist supporting organizations." On its first vote, it had strong bipartisan support.
Jeff Ordower, U.S. Lead for the group 350 Action, said President-elect Donald Trump's rhetoric about "the enemy within" makes this bill's return troubling.
"They are trying to consolidate the number of tools in their toolbox," Ordower contended. "So they can move quickly to call some people the enemy within and shut down organizations that are supporting causes that are unpopular, supporting causes that are fighting corporate power, fighting structural racism."
Voting in favor of the bill were 15 Democrats, including Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. It could be due to its other provision giving tax breaks to Americans wrongfully imprisoned abroad or held hostage by terror groups. Ordower noted it is the result of a push by groups who want Israel and Gaza's status quo before Oct. 7 restored, which aid organizations could jeopardize.
Beyond public concern, some experts feel the bill's primary goal is helping President-elect Trump consolidate power within the Executive Branch. Ordower pointed out it is one of the many battles with the second Trump Administration about what defines a healthy and sustainable democracy.
"What we need in order to really have a good fight that defends civil society, that leads us towards and continues some of the ways that are flourishing democracy is to have lots and lots of groups that are able to push their agendas, and not just groups with particular ideologies or point of views doing that," Ordower stressed.
Ordower is surprised by lawmaker's persistence to pass this bill given wars occurring across the world, as well as ongoing economic, climate and immigration issues at home. Some 150 groups including the ACLU signed a letter to House lawmakers urging them to oppose the measure.
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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce outlined six key priorities for lawmakers ahead of the legislative session in January.
Rather than releasing detailed policy positions, the Chamber emphasized broad focus areas, including workforce, education, economic growth, infrastructure, quality of place and community health.
Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, House Minority Leader, responded to the Chamber's priorities, highlighting the need to address child care as a factor in economic development.
"We talk about economic development with things that impact economic development here in the state. Child care is really one of those," GiaQuinta contended.
The organization stressed the critical role of affordable child care in workforce development, citing a report estimating Indiana loses $4.2 billion annually, including $1.7 billion in tax revenue due to child care challenges. High costs force some parents out of the workforce, straining the state's economy.
Statehouse leaders acknowledged the issue but differ on solutions. Democrats argued child care deserves more state investment, while Republican leaders believe the private sector should play a larger role.
Todd Huston, R-Fishers, Speaker of the House, said businesses should not expect the state to solve their child care problems entirely.
"They've done a lot of different things to try to support families and young families. We will continue to do that," Huston stated. "But I think we also have to set a level of expectations that we're not going to; the state's not going to be funding all universal pre-K."
The Chamber plans to release detailed policy proposals in January, aiming to guide lawmakers toward strategies to strengthen Indiana's economy and workforce.
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North Dakota is no stranger to public pension debates. States face pressure to keep retirement systems well-funded and new data show most Americans place great value on such benefits for both government and private-sector workers.
According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, 86% of Americans believe all workers, not just those employed by state and local governments, should have a pension. There are similar approval levels when asked how important public pensions are in recruiting teachers and public safety workers.
Dan Doonan, executive director of the institute, suggested it is not too surprising to see the results.
"Pensions, along with other benefits, are part of creating that culture of careers and not jobs," Doonan explained.
Starting in January, North Dakota will close its main public pension plan for new hires, who will instead be offered a 401(k)-style benefit. The move followed debate over whether it was the right way to address a $1.9 billion unfunded liability. Backers argued it protects benefits for existing workers and taxpayers but skeptics contended it makes it harder to attract workers to the public sector.
Doonan noted the survey results overlap with the idea maintaining an experienced public-sector workforce is a good thing for community members and not just the employee and employer.
"In general, when public services are done well, they're often invisible, right?" Doonan emphasized. "We want good roads, we want safe communities, and I think Americans understand the role of having career public servants in terms of delivering those outcomes."
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said state and local governments employ about 20 million workers, which represents about 13% of the U.S. workforce.
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