Archive
Corbett administration pushes back against Medicaid expansion savings
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — The administration of Gov. Tom Corbett says a report on Medicaid expansion by the state’s Independent Fiscal Office improperly claims as much as $515 million as savings, revenue or underestimated costs to … Read the rest
Corrected: Who wants to be mayor of PA’s broken capital city, and what difference does it make?
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
This story has been corrected to identify Dan Miller as Harrisburg’s controller.
HARRISBURG – It is hard to believe anyone would want to run the city of Harrisburg.
To say the Pennsylvania capital, … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: Sen. Costa opposes any potential liquor-for-transportation deal (Updated)
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, said Monday the legislature should tackle a transportation infrastructure spending proposal without regard for other major issues that are circulating around the state budget discussion.… Read the rest
Who’s funding Pennsylvanians for Accountability? National union gave $180,000 last October
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — A nonprofit running ads attacking Gov. Tom Corbett received at least $180,000 last year from a powerful national labor union.
Pennsylvanians for Accountability, a Pittsburgh-based “social welfare nonprofit” is exploiting a … Read the rest
Political nonprofit skirting PA election law targeted four GOP lawmakers last November.
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — A new political nonprofit claims to be holding Gov. Tom Corbett accountable on behalf of Pennsylvanians.
But the group comes up short on the accountability scale, itself.
The Pittsburgh-based nonprofit is called Pennsylvanians … Read the rest
Democrats pushing Gov. Corbett on Medicaid expansion
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Democratic leaders in the General Assembly say Gov. Tom Corbett has delayed long enough on a decision about expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania.
And if the governor won’t make a decision, they … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: House sees Gov’s $28.4 billion budget as “ceiling”; no plans to include pension savings
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – House Appropriations Committee chairman Bill Adolph, R-Delaware, said Wednesday that the House will not add more spending to Gov. Tom Corbett’s $28.4 billion spending plan, and will not count potential … Read the rest
Groups on right and left oppose Common Core standards in PA
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – They don’t always agree on education policy, but when they do, it’s to oppose an unfunded mandate on school districts.
The implementation of the so-called Common Core standards in Pennsylvania public schools … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: Despite decline in violent crime, shootings by Philly cops way up in 2012
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – In 2012, three suspects fired guns at Philadelphia police officers.
But during the same year, Philly cops shot at 52 people. And 15 of those suspects died after their violent encounters with … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: Audit finds $1 million in assets unaccounted for by Liquor Control Board
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – An audit of the state liquor control board reveals that the state agency responsible for selling and regulating the consumption of wine and liquor overstated its assets by more than $1 million … Read the rest
Better transparency, clearer rules would help PA redistricting process in 2021
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – In the aftermath of a legal battle over redrawing Pennsylvania’s state House and state Senate district maps, one key player believes the commission charged with redistricting the state every 10 years can … Read the rest
PA Week in Review: Budget-making in a broke city
By PA Independent
HARRISBURG — In a capital city teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and the first city in the nation to be charged by the federal Securities and Exchange Commission with misleading investors, the Pennsylvania state government is … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: No additional challenges to state redistricting map from Holt
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Piano-teacher-turned-redistricting-activist Amanda Holt said Friday she will not take up further legal action against the state House and state Senate maps approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a unanimous decision this … Read the rest
PA Lawmakers, unions, business make for a complex political brew
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – In April 2010, there was a party in Newtown, Bucks County — a political fundraiser, like dozens or perhaps hundreds of similar events held across the state that election cycle.
But this … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: New legislative districts – who is moving where?
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Yesterday, the state Supreme Court unanimously approved new state House and Senate districts that will be in place for the 2014 election cycle.
The new maps are drawn to reflect population … Read the rest
Supreme Court: PA House, Senate districts to stand
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Finally, Pennsylvania will have new legislative districts.
In a unanimous decision announced Wednesday, the state Supreme Court upheld a redistricting plan drawn by a commission of legislative leaders and ordered it to … Read the rest
On PA pensions, plenty of ideas but none catching fire with lawmakers (Video)
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — There is little disagreement that Pennsylvania’s $47 billion-and-growing public pension debt represents a serious threat to the financial future of the state, its school districts and taxpayers.
But there is little in the … Read the rest
Corporate tax overhaul passes PA House for second time
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – The state House on Monday voted to overhaul Pennsylvania’s corporate tax code, sending to the state Senate one of Gov. Tom Corbett’s top priorities for this year’s legislative session.
The bill … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: House to tee up budget proposal next week
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – After a “positive” meeting between Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday, the state House is ready to take the next step in the budget process early next week.
House … Read the rest
Week in Review: Not the best of times for Gov. Tom Corbett
HARRISBURG — It was not a great week for Gov. Tom Corbett.
The state’s unemployment rate is stubbornly high (and Corbett did a poor job explaining why on a radio program), while tax revenue is well below where Corbett needs … Read the rest
