Pocono News Section

Governor Ed Rendell Visits Lewisburg

Governor Ed Rendell Visits Lewisburg - Monday, April 19, 2010 at 04:11AM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday April 19 2010
LEWISBURG, UNION COUNTY -- Governor Ed Rendell made a rare visit to Union County Monday. Rendell spent the afternoon touring Lewisburg. He talked about budgets, economic development, and brought a sizable gift along with him.

At a luncheon with local officials, the governor outlined a plan to increase spending on education. The additional funding would come from new taxes on things like gas drilling and big tobacco. Rendell said, "We've got to continue to invest in our physical infrastructure and our intellectual infrastructure so we can grow and remain viable economically."

After that, the governor went on a walking tour of downtown Lewisburg, including the Bucknell University bookstore currently under construction. The governor applauded the relationship between the college and community.

He also touched on the budget. And while the governor believes he has a sound fiscal plan for Pennsylvania for the upcoming year and beyond, he expects another drawn out budget battle in the coming months.

Rendell's budget proposal passed in the state House of Representatives a few weeks ago and now heads to the Senate. He noted, "They should act as soon as possible, because if there are any disagreements, that'll give us plenty of time to work them out."

Governor Rendell rounded out his day in Lewisburg with a stop at Evangelical Community Hospital. There, he announced $4.6 million in state funding for the hospital's new cardiovascular and surgical center project.

Rendell says the state government can't completely cut spending, even in the face of a projected $800 million deficit. He says it just has to spend more wisely. Rendell explained, "If there ever comes a day in America where government ceases to spend any more money, where government ceases to borrow to invest in growth, this country's finished."

Rendell says several new funding sources will also be necessary to recover the loss of revenue that was expected from the tolling of Interstate 80.