PA Republicans Increase Prison Funding While Lying About Slashing Education Funding [VIDEO]

[Counterpoint PA]

This is a video from my new show, Counterpoint PA, the only grassroots progressive newscast exclusively about Pennsylvania politics.

In this video, I use graphs from a Pennsylvanian Budget and Policy Center policy brief to debunk the commonly heard conservative talking point that PA Republicans didn't really cut education, there were just temporary federal stimulus funds that went away, and show that at the very same time PA Republicans saw fit to not only replace all the stimulus funds for prisons with state funds when the stimulus ran out, but actually increased prison funding above even the stimulus levels, all the while blaming the stimulus for slashing education funding.

For a transcript, links to the sources used in this story, and to browse the new categorized video archive, go to http://counterpointpa.org.

Stay in touch on social media on Twitter @CounterpointPA and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CounterpointPA.

Stay tuned throughout this week for two more PA Headlines, including:

DOMA Repeal Sets Off Dramatic Stand-Off in the PA House; LGBT Equality Legislation Introduced

Proposed Gun Restrictions in the PA Legislature; Study Shows PA with Highest Lost/Stolen Firearms from Dealerships

As well as The Breakdown, which this week will feature an exclusive interview with Sue Lyons, author of the resolution calling for a moratorium on fracking recently formally adopted as the official position of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party about fracking and her resolution.

All that plus Counterpoint PA's special homage to Keith Olbermann, the Worst Pennsylvanians of the Week!

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Wow, a big kudos to you ! Hope the show grows !

I lived in Pittsburgh back in the Nineties, and have been pretty sickened to watch from afar what has happened under Repug rule. Corbett has to be one of the worst governors in the history of the country !

[Counterpoint PA]

2. I appreciate the support! :) n/t

[AnneD]

3. I remember when they were doing the same thing in Texas.....

I suggested that all children in the state be sentenced to 13 years of hard education, with additional time for good behavior. Of course kids would get shock release on evenings and weekends. They would get their release on completion of a vocation certification or degree.

This would have the dual function of cutting down on delenquinces and raising the education level. Being tough on crime would have wonderful implications. It is easier to increase the budget for crime than educations. Also we could tap into the Homeland Security budget. What a slush fund is that baby! Teachers would be categorized as police and receive more respect.

I really can't see a down side here.