Pennsylvania is 38th in Higher Educational Spending Per Student - Before Corbett's Cuts

http://www.sheeo.org/finance/shef/SHEF_FY10.pdf

The above report compares higher educational funding between the states.

It shows that Pennsylvania as of FY 2010 was 38th in average state spending per full time equivalent higher education student. This was before Corbett's proposed $650 million cut.

The study also shows that in constant dollars, Pennsylvania's state funding for higher education per full time equivalent student decreased by 14% between FY 2005 and FY 2010. The spending generally remained constant, but was eaten up by inflation and by a large increase in the number of students (particularly in community colleges).

From GOV.ED RENDELL (His name was always capitalized, and featured at least once in every paragraph) telling us state workers what a fine job we were doing and how much we were valued.
Unfortunately, there was also a link that led to a PA site not for public employees, but for businesses thinking of relocating/startimg up here in PA that mentioned prominently how little PA State workers were paid compared to other states, how little our benefits cost the state taxpayers and how our social services (Department of Public Welfare) did very much work on a budget that was #49 of the 50 states, higher only than that of Alabama.
This is what Corbett is cutting-Underpaid workers, many in dangerous and thankless jobs. PA loves to use termination with loss of pension and benefits as a constant threat to all its employees, especially us non-management types...As our Supervisor of Nursing told me when I was an AFSCME Steward,"Getting beat up is part of your job..."

Corbett is cutting staff in state mental hospitals drastically, too, and I have no doubt the result will be increased and more serious injuries to staff and patients...but hey, it's politics, right Tom?
K&R
Mark