But this monument is a long way from Valley Forge. It's in Varennes - Varennes, France. And the money to clean it is not being requested by a lawmaker. It's Gov. Ridge who wants it.
Therein lies what could be one of the few obstacles the new Republican governor will face in winning approval for the fiscal 1996 budget he proposed to the Republican-controlled legislature on Tuesday.
School choice will be another.
*
Ridge has vowed to do away with "legislative initiatives" or WAMs, but doing so would take away one of the only methods rank-and-file lawmakers have at their disposal for worthwhile endeavors, whether it's buying equipment for a volunteer fire company or sprucing up a statue.
Rep. David O. King (R., Mercer) said he wanted to see WAMs remain - perhaps by strengthening accountability over them. "I don't feel a legislative initiative grant is bad public policy," he said.
On school choice, Ridge wants to spend $38.5 million to allow low-income
families in 167 school districts to send their children to private schools or public schools outside their districts.
Some lawmakers don't like the idea of giving state money to private or religious schools. Others don't like the idea of taking money from public schools. Still others don't like the mechanics of Ridge's plan.
"Even though it's less than $40 million, he fails to put it in all 501 districts," said King, who has opposed school choice in the past. "I feel strong enough about the issue that I want to talk to those who proposed it."
"That's what the next 100 and some days will be spent doing," King continued, "trying to work off the same page as the governor."
Ridge's $16.1 billion general fund spending plan, the principal component of an overall budget that totals $31.2 billion when federal money and other
