Wolf’s last budget calls for more spending on education; Touts budget surplus

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf delivers his budget address for the 2022-23 fiscal year to a joint session of the Pennsylvania House and Senate in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Airdate: Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Gov. Tom Wolf’s final state budget proposal calls for $43.7 billion in spending — an increase of around $6 billion over the current fiscal year.

In his annual budget address Tuesday, Wolf touted a budget surplus from higher than forecast tax collections and money from the federal government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republicans have pushed back calling the spending unsustainable and say the state will have a billion dollar budget deficit by next year if spending isn’t limited.

Wolf has proposed increases in spending on education every year he’s been in office and his latest proposal calls for $1.25 billion for K-12 schools and $200 million for special education programs.

WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief Sam Dunklau appears on Wednesday’s Smart Talk to provide analysis of the governor budget plan.