Sound Off: What Are Your Reactions to Gov. Corbett's Budget Address?

Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled a $27.3-billion proposed budget for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, March 8.

Corbett's budget plan calls for drastic cuts to many areas, including basic education, which is being reduced by approximately $500 million. Corbett also called for school districts to "to hold the line" even "if it means a pay freeze" for school employees.

State-related universities were also hit with substantial cuts. The University of Pittsburgh and Penn State University, for example, are seeing their state funding essentially halved.

Corbett also called for no taxing of the extraction of natural gas from Marcellus Shale areas in an effort to "make Pennsylvania the hub of this [natural-gas] boom."

Superintendent Dr. Lawrence C. Korchnak responded to Corbett's budget address.

"I am not surprised," Korchnak said. "However, I am deeply disappointed in how the budget affects education.

"I agree with a number of the governor's proposals: schools must become more efficient, increase the number of state police, retain several tax credits that benefit the economy. However, the budget will not be kind to the children of the Commonwealth.

"The governor spoke of core functions of government. His budget appears to ignore the fact that education is one of those core functions. To reduce spending on education while opposing a tax on the gas-drilling industry is unconscionable."

What are your thoughts?

You can read the full text of Corbett's budget address in the photo gallery near the top of this page.

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