Archive
Lawmakers point to poor roads report amid PA transportation debate
By Gary Joseph Wilson | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania politicians seeking increased spending on roads and bridges point to a new report that outlines the unseen costs of the state’s crumbling infrastructure.
WATCHBLOG: State Rep accused of using online alias to attack constituents was lone vote against ‘online impersonation’ bill last session
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – In perhaps the most bizarre Pennsylvania political news of the day, Pittsburgh television station KDKA reported this morning that state Rep. Jesse White, D-Washington, seems to be publicly attacking some of … Read the rest
Unions say no changes needed as $47 billion unfunded liability grows
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – For the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the big picture is also the bottom line.
The nuts and bolts of pension reform are a complicated mix, which may prevent lawmakers … Read the rest
Commentary: PA redistricting more open than ever, but more transparency needed
By Eric Boehm| PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Redistricting in Pennsylvania — and anywhere else for that matter — is messy business.
But there is a chance that things will be a little better when the state’s power brokers get together to … Read the rest
Week in Review: The never-ending campaign season
By PA Independent Staff
HARRISBURG — Elections on Tuesday – and those that won’t happen until November or not until 2014 – made news this week, as mayors were picked, Pennsylvania’s chief justice was put in the spotlight, a gubernatorial … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: Corbett’s campaign gets rolling, but seems to have left one thing at the station
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – As we reported yesterday, Gov. Tom Corbett’s re-election campaign is quietly moving down the tracks with the Wednesday launch of a new website.
Last night, the campaign sent out its first … Read the rest
House committee to scrutinize campaign ads from nonprofits
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Nonprofit groups exploiting a loophole in Pennsylvania’s campaign finance laws will be subject to legislative scrutiny.
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, chairman of the House State Government Committee, said Thursday … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: Corbett slowly shifting into re-election mode
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRSIBURG – Now that his potential primary challenger is out of the ring, Gov. Tom Corbett is slowly shifting into re-election mode with the launch of his new campaign website and a campaign posture … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: Top three stories from an election most Pennsylvanians missed: Hoagies, booze and Lewis Butts’ rendition of “Wonderwall”
By Eric Boehm, Melissa Daniels | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Just because there were no high-profile state races during Tuesday’s primary election does not mean there weren’t a few good stories to come out of the election.
Here are the … Read the rest
WATCHBLOG: Democrats win special elections for House seats in York, Allegheny counties
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
CAMP HILL – Democrats retained two seats in the state House by winning a pair of special elections on Tuesday to fill vacant seats.
In York County, Kevin Schreiber defeated Republican candidate Bryan Tate… Read the rest
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