Archive

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s auditor said that requiring the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to make $450 million annual payments to the state will take an ever increasing toll on taxpayers’ pocketbooks.

“If we don’t do something about … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania’s economy is seeing a slow but steady recovery, according to the latest fiscal analysis.

The Independent Fiscal Office released its revenue projections for the end of this fiscal year, painting a … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — As lawmakers negotiate how much they want to spend on road and bridge repairs throughout Pennsylvania, they’ve got a $450 million elephant in the room.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission annually subsidizes the … Read the rest

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG — The state budget is moving through the Pennsylvania Legislature, but questions linger about other top priorities this lawmaking season.  The state House approved a spending plan this week as behind-the-scenes negotiations on liquor privatization … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — After years of seeing Pennsylvania property taxes creep up, some lawmakers are saying enough is enough.

Before casting a “no” vote on this year’s state budget, Rep. Mark Painter, D-Montgomery… Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Next year’s state budget is one step closer to completion.

The House of Representatives Wednesday passed a $28.3 billion spending plan for next year with a 108-92 party line vote. But the … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — With 17 days left until the state budget deadline, Gov. Tom Corbett is in the home stretch trying to clinch one of his top priorities — liquor privatization.

But opponents aren’t letting that happen without … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — As business manager for the Mercer Area School District,  Mike Stabile has spent the last several years budgeting around a myriad of factors.

Among that list: a school board that won’t raise taxes, … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives divided itself in two during the first floor vote on the state budget Monday afternoon, it unanimously supported one bill that’s considered a victory for victims’ rights.

Victims … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — As a former York County  human services official,  Acting Department of Public Welfare Secretary Bev Mackereth, said she remembers feeling frustrated with the way the state funded its programs.

She recalled her … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – Conservative, honest, good. Politician, disappointed.

These are the top five words polled Pennsylvania voters used to describe Gov. Tom Corbett, an incumbent whose latest numbers suggest he doesn’t have strong favorability … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — The Corbett administration is locked in a disagreement with State Treasurer Rob McCord over several million dollars for website work.

The administration wants $3.4 million for Pennsylvania Interactive, NIC’s local subsidiary, which Treasurer … Read the rest

By Gary Joseph Wilson| PA Independent

HARRISBURG – If problems aren’t addressed, the real cost of teacher pensions may not fall on taxpayers or educators, but squarely onto the shoulders of young students.

The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Treasurer Rob McCord blocked millions of dollars in payments to Pennsylvania’s new provider for website design and management, calling the administration’s conduct in the arrangement outside of the law.

McCord and the officials … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is on the road to improvements to transportation infrastructure as well as higher driver’s fees after a 45-5 vote in the state Senate Wednesday.

The vote on Senate Bill 1, championed by Senate … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Mark Ridall has worked in the logging business for more than 30 years and has seen a rural, rugged industry transformed.

Based out of Wyoming County, he specializes in cutting premium hardwoods across … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Senate Democrats readied to weigh in on a month of budget negotiations Monday with a proposal they say is a “quite different” than that of their Republican counterparts released last week.

Though their … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — The Keystone state continues to reap in more tax revenue from casinos than any other the state in the nation, according to a new national survey.

The American Gaming Association released its … Read the rest

HARRISBURG — Top lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unveiled their proposed state budget Wednesday. Their $28.3 billion plan is markedly similar to <Gov. Tom Corbett’s. But Corbett’s also pushing for three major legislative initiatives to get passed … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Among the $578 million spending increase Pennsylvania’s House Republicans propose for next year’s state budget is a cool $4 million bump for lawmakers themselves.

The $28.3 billion proposal, released Tuesday, is about $100 million … Read the rest