Penn State was ordered to pay a fine of $60 million over five years because of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. The money is earmarked for an endowment to pay for child sex abuse prevention programs.
Since Penn State is a large, taxpayer-supported university, it follows that Pennsylvanians should be the primary beneficiary of such programs.
Not so, according to the NCAA, the athletic trade association that imposed the fine. The NCAA believes child abuse is a national problem that requires a national response.
But if that's the case — and it is — why not have colleges and universities around the country pitch in comparable amounts? Sixty-million hardly seems enough to combat child sex abuse on a national scale.
Unless it can amass other sources of funding, the NCAA would have a "national response" in name only, using relatively meager Penn State funds to pay for it.
We favor legislation proposed by State Sen. Jake Corman, who would keep the $60 million in Pennsylvania for the benefit of state residents.
Corman, chairman of the state Senate Appropriations Committee, holds the view that the money should stay in Pennsylvania.
Corman's proposal only seems fair, since the scandal that prompted the fine occurred at a Pennsylvania university that is supported by Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Gov. Tom Corbett is on board with the proposal, saying it was easy for him to support legislation on the NCAA's financial sanction.
Corbett also criticized the severity of the overall NCAA punishment.
"The NCAA, as an athletic trade association, overstepped its authority by forcing Penn State to endure harsh, unjustified and unprecedented punishment," he said.
In addition to the $60 million fine, Penn State sanctions include a four-year postseason ban and major scholarship reductions. The school also had to vacate victories from 1998-2011.
Corman expects to file a lawsuit this week to prevent the NCAA from disbursing the money outside of Pennsylvania before his legislation can go into effect.
Penn State already has paid the first $12 million installment of the fine, but the Corman proposal would retroactively cover that money, as well.
Still, it's important that the state Legislature act swiftly on this reasonable proposal.
