Pet Projects Lap Up Funds

State Legislators awarding funds to pet projects flies in the faces of Pennsylvanians who want their state to eliminate a deficit before tapping revenue for pet projects.

Capitolwire (subscription) reports Rep. Dwight Evans’ response to why the legislature would not use protected grant monies to reduce the state’s $5 billion dollar deficit:

“We are, we’re trying to do it all, we’re trying to get it all done, all at once.”

However, Capitolwire reveals,”Evans and the House Democrats requested $55 million over two years. Amazingly, the Legislature’s smallest caucus, Senate Democrats, requested the most from the governor’s office, $59 million. House Republicans requested nearly $45 million.”

Chairman of the Democratic Committee on Appropriations in the PA House, Rep. Evans has personally siphoned money from Pennsylvania taxpayers to his favorite Philadelphia nonprofit, Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation (OARC).

According to OARC’s 2008 Form 990 published on GuideStar (registration), it received 75% of its income from the government that year–over $3 million. $1 million was also given to OARC in the “Urban Development” program to fund its June West Oak Lane Jazz Festival. The nonprofit booked Esperanza Spalding and Al Jarreau but saw a small turnout to the “free” event. Of course we know that this was not simply sponsored by “the government”–our tax dollars in the form of WAMs paid for this flop.

The 2010-11 budget includes more WAMs for politicians’ favorite organizations, (plus debt-financed RACP grants, including handouts for Specter Library and Murtha Center, which total $10 million each). Rendell, however, claims

“[The inclusion of WAMs] was insisted upon by the legislature. It was part of the arrangement…if I were king, they wouldn’t be there, but I’m not.”

The grants awarded to Rep. Evans’ pet project in 2009-2010 totaled $29,314,273. Below are selected grants OARC received.