Good Tuesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Well, yesterday was supposed to have been the day that the state House returned to work to pass a Philly-only increase to the state’s cigarette tax, thus providing the city’s schools with a badly needed cash infusion.

But as most followers of the state’s political scene are aware, that didn’t happen. But Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday appeared to offer city schoolkids some hope, saying he was willing to advance the district millions of dollars in aid to ensure schools open on time next month, The Inquirer reports.

“This is about putting children of Philadelphia first,” spokesman Jay Pagni told the newspaper. “The governor is prepared, if need be, to advance funding once the final request is made of him.”

But there was some skepticism in Philadelphia: “The problem with this is, it’s not new money,” said Mayor Nutter’s spokesman, Mark McDonald. “What the School District needs is new additional funds.”

Meanwhile, two busloads of schoolkids descended on the Capitol on Monday, where lawmakers most decidedly weren’t present. But that didn’t keep them from rallying.

WHYY-FM reports:

“Gretchen Cowell, mom to two kids educated in Philly schools, says she took off work for this rally in a mostly empty Capitol building.

“The Legislature is taking an extended, monthlong vacation, and as far as I can tell, I mean, they both passed the cigarette tax, but it wasn’t exactly the same, so they had to conference and work on it,” she said. “They’re not willing to do that until after the school year starts, and it’s a big mess.”

Newspapers across the state, from The Post-Gazette to The Times-Tribune of Scranton to, yes, even this one, have editorialized on the legislative inaction.

Herewith, the crux of our argument:

“Legislators have put down their ping pong paddles and have left town for six weeks. It’s as if they’re saying, “Chill out, kids – we’ll get around to it when we get around to it. You had your summer off. Now it’s our turn.”

Instead of coming back to work and hashing out their differences, legislators have skipped town.

It is irresponsible and indefensible to hold the children of Philadelphia hostage in these kinds of internecine political battles, then waltz off on a six-week break.

Pennsylvania taxpayers are forced to spend $280 million a year for the so-called “work” of the Legislature. In this case, it’s shamefully clear that the people of Pennsylvania are not getting their money’s worth.”

The Patriot News – August 5, 2014 – Read article online