From: Sen. Fumo
Date: 4/16/2002
Time: 10:33:10 AM
Remote Name: 172.23.151.14
The so-called Rendell initiatives on education in Pennsylvania will mean that Pennsylvania's income tax will have to be increased from its current level of 2.8 percent to at least 3.5 percent. Even then, this will not bring us back to the 50-50 ratio of state funding that we once had. Given that reality, it seems highly likely that massive changes will be made until there is a major crisis. As for John Street's call on Harrisburg to solve Philadelphia's problems, it will, as it always does, fall on deaf ears. What Philadelphia needs is an intelligent and creative and courageous leader with vision who can find ways to solve Philadelphia's problems within Philadelphia's borders. I suggest that, to date, John Street - although Ed Rendell said he would - has not fulfilled any of those qualifications. We must also note that during Ed Rendell's term as mayor, he absolutely refused to address any of Philadelphia's educational problems and what we are facing today is HIS LEGACY. John Street has only made things worse.