The following is part of a series of real-time responses to the empty rhetoric made by Secretary Tom Wolf during tonight’s Pennsylvania Chamber Gubernatorial debate with Governor Tom Corbett.

EDUCATION FUNDING: THE BILLION DOLLAR LIE

CLAIM:

Tom Corbett cut $1 billion from education.

RESPONSE:

Ed Rendell cut state spending on public schools and replaced it with one-time federal stimulus money.

From Fiscal Year 2008-09 to Fiscal Year 2010-11, state education funding was reduced from $9.14 billion to $8.58 billion. During that time, federal stimulus funds in the amount of $654.7 million in Fiscal Year 2009-10 and $1.04 billion in Fiscal Year 2010-11, were used to supplement education funding.

Tom Corbett replaced Ed Rendell’s cuts and has increased education funding every year he’s been in office to a historic high.

State education funding has increased in each budget from Fiscal Year 2011-12 to Fiscal Year 2014-15. The current level of $10.05 billion is the highest level for state education funding in history.

Pennsylvania Department of Education

FURTHER READING:

A Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial said the following regarding Tom Wolf’s education lie, calling it a, “blatant lie that Tom Corbett cut $1,000,000,000 from education.” – Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 8/30/14

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that “Corbett has increased the state’s annual funding for basic education” – The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/14/14

“State Spending on public education is at the highest level ever” – Commonwealth Foundation, 2/11/14

FURTHER VIEWING:

Tom Corbett for Governor Ad: “Mr. Big” and Sources

Tom Corbett for Governor Ad: “Statistics Class” and Sources

WFMZ: “The truth on state education funding under Governor Corbett as told by the media”

###