Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s 2005 budget proposal includes borrowing $800 million through a bond issue, a move Pennsylvania Libertarians say would jeopardize the state’s future liberty.

“Any bond issue would needlessly expand the size and scope of our state government and mortgage our children’s future,” said Tim Crowley, Western Vice Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.

The LP’s state convention in Harrisburg will include a Freedom Rally on March 20, as Libertarians go to the Capitol building “to underscore the Libertarian movement towards limited government and open market solutions,” Crowley said.

“If passed, this bond issue would finance a $200 million subsidy of select individuals in Pennsylvania under the guise of preserving open space and farmland,” said Russ Diamond, the LP candidate for the state House, 101st District.

“Current Department of Agriculture farmland preservation programs are little more than a method for farmers to blackmail local officials who may be concerned with urban sprawl,” he said, noting that farmers would be better served if they were released “from price controls and other government mandates that prevent them from trading in a truly free market.”

Several privately funded organizations — such as the Nature Conservancy — offer similar preservation objectives without governmental bullying of taxpayers. The proposed bond would be repaid by increasing trash disposal fees and other fees across the state.

The governor’s proposal earmarks $170 million of the bond money for “revitalizing communities,” yet another misuse of taxpayer funds, the LP says.

“Libertarians believe revitalization is best funded at the local level by those with a true incentive to make their hometowns a better place to work, live and recreate,” stated Ray Ondrusek, the LP’s state House candidate for the 102nd district.

“Under any statewide program this $170 million will become ‘walking around money’ for career politicians to reward cronies and punish opponents. Borrowing against the earning power of future generations to lavish today’s campaign contributors with special favors is a classic scheme of tax and spend bureaucrats.”

Gov. Rendell is also proposing that up to $2 billion in state bonds and loans be provided for economic development, including boosting the state’s tourism industry.

Even some incumbent politicians are questioning the immense borrowing and spending programs Rendell has proposed.

The governor claims the budget package will inject $2 billion into the state’s economy, but it would do so by taking the money away from taxpayers — the continuing fatal flaw in “tax and spend” or “borrow and spend” government programs.

Pennsylvania’s annual budget currently includes debt service of more than $750 million, and payments on the proposed $2 billion “economic stimulus” bond would add an estimated $91 million to that debt service in the 2005-06 fiscal year.