In William Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar," Mark Antony said, "The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones."

Every member of the Pennsylvania Legislature has championed some worthwhile cause, but their legacy will be the damage they inflict on the commonwealth due to their inability to pass a responsible budget, unless they act soon.

A bipartisan group of elected officials has decided that it is more important to seek advantage in the 2010 election than to resolve the commonwealth's finances. So far they have proven themselves to be more interested in protecting their own incumbency by patronizing hot-headed, anti-tax agitators than in passing a responsible budget that addresses the well being of all Pennsylvanians.

These politicians claim to be making difficult choices, and that they are sympathetic to the impact these cuts will have.

Don't believe it.

With important initiatives that affect the lives of millions of constituents hanging in the balance, large elements of the Legislature have simply chosen to zero-out funding for higher-education assistance, obstetric and neonatal care, employment services and legal aid, among other things.

The refusal to ask citizens to invest in the initiatives that improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians is the political embodiment of selfishness and cowardice. It is far easier to slash the budget in the name of protecting taxpayers than it is to make a legitimate argument that voters should contribute to the well-being of all Pennsylvanians. Not one single legislator has had the courage to champion the services that will notbe provided if this impasse isn't resolved.

Ask voters if they want their taxes increased and of course they'll say no. Ask voters if they support funding senior centers, disability programs or child care for working families and you're likely to get a different answer.

Legislators should embrace the opportunity to have a more nuanced discussion with the voters about what they get for their tax dollars and what is really at stake with these budget cuts. Instead they're engaging in pure demagoguery, pretending to fight the menacing shadow of big government when they're actually undermining the quality of life for many of our most vulnerable citizens.

Severe cuts to the state budget translate instantly into higher unemployment as workers lose their jobs. Families spend less money at the grocery, businesses curtail their expenditures with vendors and the state's unemployment rolls swell further. Government spending certainly isn't the only component of a healthy economy, but slashing government spending during a recession simply compounds economic problems.

A responsible budget would recognize the precipitous decrease in revenue and still balance fiscal reality with the needs of Pennsylvanians. Simply hacking away expenditures without considering new revenue or the impact of the cuts -- the route currently being pursued -- is not responsible.

Legislators need to recognize that there are real consequences to their inflexibility and inaction. As this stalemate continues, food pantries will close, job-training programs will be canceled and opportunities to improve neighborhoods will be eliminated.

The Pennsylvania Legislature needs to pull itself together and produce a responsible budget: a budget that will not shame their legacy for years to come, but one that effectively addresses Pennsylvania's needs today.