Erie families do not need Harrisburg to rename their lake. They need lawmakers focused on the problems that affect their schools, taxes, and household budgets.
As Erie families pay for ever-increasing groceries, housing, utilities, healthcare, and property taxes, a long-serving lawmaker who is the lead Republican on the House Game and Fisheries Committee has proposed asking Washington to rename Lake Erie “Lake Pennsylvania.” This Republican proposal argues that Pennsylvania deserves greater recognition because of its contribution to the lake’s fishery and recreation.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania House Democrats have been passing laws that show up on Erie families’ budgets.
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, of Millcreek, D-3rd Dist.
The bipartisan state budget increased public education funding by more than $900 million, including $565 million in additional adequacy funding, $105 million more for basic education and $40 million more for special education. It also changed cyber-charter reimbursement in a way that will save traditional public schools about $175 million statewide.
Those investments have real-life returns in Erie.
As GoErie.com reported in May 2025, the Erie School District adopted its roughly $293 million 2025–26 budget without a property-tax increase. At that time, the superintendent specifically credited increases in state subsidies with giving the district the ability to hold the line on taxes. Renaming the Erie School District “Pennsylvania School District” would not have had the same effect.
More: Lake Pennsylvania? Erie leaders oppose changing another Great Lake name
Our work is not limited to the Erie School District. From 2022 through 2027, House Democrats have passed budgets that increased funding for the Fairview School District and the Millcreek Township School District by 52.1% and 30.9%, respectively. Notably, every school district has received a funding increase since House Democrats regained the majority in 2022. No school in Erie has received less than a $1.4 million increase to ease homeowners’ burdens. Renaming Erie County “Pennsylvania County” would not have made this relief possible. Actual legislative priorities do.
Admirals, elected officials and more to attend Perry Monument event
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Perry Monument was built in 1926 on Crystal Point to commemorate this significant battle during the War of 1812 and honor Oliver Hazard Perry. (GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS)
Support for those hit by rising costs does not stop at schools. House Democrats also supported the new Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, which provides nearly $200 million in tax relief and makes qualifying workers and families eligible for hundreds of dollars in state tax relief. The budget invests in child care workers, apprenticeships, job training, and economic development while raising no state taxes.
The contrast is straightforward. House Democrats’ actions changed tax bills, school budgets, and investments in Erie’s classrooms and workforce. Compare this action with Republicans in Washington renaming lakes and gutting Medicaid, combined with a Republican in Pennsylvania proposing that the federal government change the name of Lake Erie on the map.
The sun sets over Lake Erie off Presque Isle State Park’s Beach 1, where hundreds of people gathered July 27, 2024, for Discover Presque Isle activities including fire dancers, live music and a bonfire.
Lake Erie’s name does not determine whether an Erie family can afford its property taxes or whether Erie students have adequately funded classrooms. Those outcomes depend on policy choices and public dollars.
The contrast is clear: House Democrats vote on policies to benefit their local communities. Republicans in Washington rename bodies of water. When residents evaluate their representatives, they have every reason to examine which kind of work their lawmakers are doing in Harrisburg.
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, of Millcreek Township, is a Democrat representing Pennsylvania’s 3rd Legislative District, which covers Millcreek and Fairview townships. He is chairman of the state House Majority Policy Committee and has served in the House since 2013.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: A new name for Lake Erie won’t lower your tax bill | Opinion