Don’t bank on legality of I-80 tolls
Altoona Mirror advises lawmakers not to pass a plan that spends money from I-80 tolls, since getting I-80 tolls are questionable at best. From our News Release: “It…
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Spending Increases = Cuts
Rep. Tim Solobay issues the first press release calling spending increases “cuts” (though several House Democrats did so in the floor debate): “The Senate removed millions from education” –…
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Rendell’s Compromise: $3.7 billion in new spending
Gov. Rendell has been recently quoted naming all his “concessions” during budget negotiations. Even with “concessions” the Governor is still demanding $3.7 billion more in new taxes, fees/tolls, and debt…
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Stealth Lawmaking Lives
From Democracy Rising….Stealth Lawmaking Lives: House Suspends Rules, Commits $1.65 BillionThis week the PA House proved why changing the rules doesn’t…
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Budget Updates
Some stories on the state budget negotiations:Patriot NewsPost-GazetteInquirer/APAP on tolling I-80, quoting PennDot study from two years ago: “Based on the long…
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Senate votes to ban lame duck session
The state Senate voted to pass a Constitutional amendment, authored by Sen. Regola that would ban the “lame duck” session. One small step for reform.
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Higher Debt and tolls coming soon
Marc Levy of the AP reports that the Turnpike Commission’s Mike Long’s Vince Fumo’s “Senate compromise” plan to toll I-80, issue $4 billion in new debt, and increase Turnpike…
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Taxes on the Poor
NCPA report looks at how certain taxes disproportionately fall on low income holder – specifically taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and the most regressive of all, lottery/gambling. Funny how those…
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State looking at 6,000 retirees
Patriot News on the unusually high number of state workers set to retire this year. Perfect opportunity to reform the pension system.
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