Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Democrats who just can’t lose are going to spend $650 million on transit – over half of the revenue they’ll collect from the gas tax increase. This is how it should be: After the governor signed the bill, his office released a list of “first round” projects that will get [...]
Lessons from Maryland: Half of Gas Tax Increase Will Go to Transit
May 17, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
We Need More Women PA Politics Bloggers
May 13, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
(Cross-posted from Keystone Politics) Just as I was gearing up to write about how we need more women in the political blogging game, Sue Kerr puts up a post saying the Pittsburgh Women’s Blogging Society is closing up shop. Sue thinks it’s ending on a high note, with more women blogging than when they started, and [...]
PMA Head Admits Drugged Out Hippies Not a Macroeconomic Issue in PA
May 1, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Some business dudes want to make it look like Tom Corbett’s not totally making up the drugemployment scourge, but when pressed they admit that failed drug tests are not a real cause of high unemployment in the Commonwealth. Can somebody find out what Corbett does think the issue is with four years of horrible job [...]
To Expand PA Restaurant Industry, Uncap Tavern Licenses
April 29, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
I like that Bob Casey thinks we should take the food service sector seriously, but this proposal is really too weak to satisfy: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey announced a bill today in Allentown to extend a tax advantage for small businesses that he said would particularly help restaurants build and expand. Casey’s bill would permanently [...]
Hail Brian Sims!
April 24, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Brian Sims, evidently rocking a sweet beard now, slammed Republicans yesterday for passing a bill out of the PA House that would ban women from buying private insurance plans that cover abortion on Pennsylvania’s new health insurance exchange: Republican-controlled legislatures in several states have passed or introduced bills that would prohibit state-run health insurance exchanges [...]
What Can PA Learn About Municipal Consolidation From New Jersey? An Interview with Gina Genovese
April 23, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
I’ve been trying to do my part to help popularize municipal consolidation and regional tax base issues statewide here on the blog, and one organization that’s taught me a lot about the politics and process questions is Courage to Connect NJ. They’ve been working on the ground on this issue since the New Jersey state [...]
Don’t Register as an Independent
April 22, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Today’s the last day for Pennsylvanians to register with a political party and vote in the primary on May 21st, which also makes this a good day to deliver my pitch on the foolishness of registering as an independent. There is no benefit to registering as an independent. Let me repeat that. There is no [...]