Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party called out state Rep. Martin Causer on Friday, accusing him of lying to his constituents about education funding.
“That’s absolutely not true,” Causer, R-Turtlepoint, told The Era. “I am standing up for my rural schools and my rural constituents.”
In a prepared statement, Mike Mikus, senior communications advisor for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said, “Causer is doing a disservice to his constituents by recklessly peddling Scott Wagner’s lies about Governor (Tom) Wolf’s education record, especially considering he voted in favor of Harrisburg Republicans’ $1 billion cut to education in 2011.”
Wagner is running against Wolf in the gubernatorial race in November.
Mikus continued, “Gov. Wolf fully restored those cuts, including investing nearly $6 million into schools in Rep. Causer’s district.”
That, Causer said, is not true.
“This governor has been there for four budgets, the first three he refused to sign,” Causer said. “All those had money for public schools. (Wolf) wants to take credit for more money in public schools when he didn’t even sign the budgets,” Causer said. “I find it ironic that he’s taking credit for budgets he didn’t sign.”
Mikus cited several news sources that said a school funding formula Wolf supports does not strip money from rural schools. However, Causer and at least one local school district disagree.
“At a public event in Philadelphia on June 29, Gov. Wolf plainly stated he wanted all basic education funding dollars from the state to go through a new funding formula,” Causer said. “If he gets what he wants, rural schools like those I represent will see major cuts in state funding. It would cripple our schools and our students.”
Otto-Eldred School District posted a similar opinion on its Facebook page on July 2: “This was not the purpose of the Fair Funding Formula. Making this change would result in over $3 million less for Otto-Eldred.”
Causer said the impact of the funding change would be immediate and could shutter rural schools.
“There are 500 districts in Pennsylvania. If the policy were to change, more than 300 would lose funding,” he said. “Rural school districts would suffer the most. A school like Austin (Area School District) would have to close. Most of the school districts in McKean County would have to close.
“A policy change like that has a real impact,” Causer said.
Addressing Mikus’ statement, Causer said he had raised concerns about the potential impact on rural schools before Wagner challenged Wolf on the matter.
“It’s all political rhetoric,” he said.
However, Causer noted, “The issue is what the issue is. We deserve fair funding for our schools. If they want to attack me, that’s fine, but I’m going to continue to call (Wolf) out on it. .. I’m going to stand up for all my constituents.”
Causer added that other rural legislators are taking Wolf to task on the Fair Funding Formula as well.
“It is clear our governor simply does not understand or recognize the impact his policies have on rural Pennsylvania,” he said.
An email seeking comment from Maryanne Cole, the Democratic candidate for the 67th District seat in the November election, was not immediately returned late Friday night.
