Still MORE on the state budget!

Remember back there in the last blog entry when I was talking about how Senate Republicans seem to be taking the budget fight to the public?

Now it appears that a couple of locals from the House are getting into the act. Not that I have a problem with it. This is the kind of thing where the public should have some input.

Here are a couple of news items I got today:

1) State Rep. Ron Miller, R-Jacobus, will discuss the state budget and field viewers' questions Tuesday night on the Pennsylvania Cable Network's call-in program. Miller is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where he is chairman of the subcommittee on education. He is also co-chairman of the House Republican Policy Task Force on Education.

Miller will appear with state Rep. Kathy Manderino, D-Philadelphia, from 7 to 8 p.m. Check local listings, or view the program at www.pcntv.com.

2) Residents from throughout the state's 47th legislative district are invited to take part in a tele-town hall meeting on Thursday hosted by state Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-Hellam Township.

At approximately 5:45 p.m., a majority of households in the distrtict will receive a call inviting them to take part in a telephone discussion of legislative issues. Listeners may discuss any topic of their choosing.

"Obviously, the budget is on the minds of many Pennsylvanians," Gillespie said. "I am anxious to delibertae the subject with my constituents and get their thoughts and feelings on this enormous problem of how to close an approximate $3 billion spending gap."

Residents must be registered with Gillespie's office in order to receive a call and take part in the tele-town hall meeting. To receive a call, contact his office at 840-4711.