Archive

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania has long been synonymous with railroads.

Though it probably has confused many a tourist, there is good reason why train stations in New York City and Baltimore bear the moniker “Penn Station.”  The … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s Department of Education is toughening its standards for policing wayward teachers, who are seemingly growing in number.

Every year, hundreds of educators are accused of misconduct, from helping students cheat to … Read the rest

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania will spend nearly $5.5 billion on subsidies to school districts this year, but an education reform group says in a new report that the distribution of those funds is out of … Read the rest

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG — Budget hearings continued this week, with reports from state departments on their funding requests for next year. But instead of the annual allocations, much of the discussion has focused on the major proposals Gov. … Read the rest

By Eric Boehm │ PA Independent

HARRISBURG – They don’t need no stinkin’ transparency.

The heads of Pennsylvania’s four largest taxpayer-funded universities told members of the state Senate on Thursday they see no reason for their institutions to fall completely under … Read the rest

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – A pension reform plan that adds to the state’s long-term debts should not be called reform, according to Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord.

McCord on Tuesday blasted a public pension overhaul being … Read the rest

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG — Lawmakers are beginning to get their hands dirty examining Gov. Tom Corbett’s $28.4 billion budget proposal for next year.

Pennsylvania department leaders were grilled by state lawmakers this week as budget hearings began. They’ll … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said one of the biggest surprises he’s had in his first month on the job was the outdated technology he found office-wide.

“We had dial-up Internet as … Read the rest

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG – A majority of Pennsylvania residents favor privatizing the state liquor stores, but this week it was another privatization effort that stole the headlines.

Newly minted Attorney General Kathleen Kane blocked a contract that would … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Christine Horner remembers — 5:23 p.m. on a Thursday, May 23, 2006. She was driving on a main road in Chester County, in a brand-new SUV she bought a few months … Read the rest

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett delivered his budget address this week, pitching an overall increase in spending to go along with pension reforms and a hike in the state’s gasoline tax to pay for reconstruction of … Read the rest

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – The budget proposal outlined by Gov. Tom Corbett on Tuesday calls for the repeal of a 2007 state law that has driven the Pennsylvania Turnpike deep into debt and forced five consecutive … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Long gone are the days when state budgets had cushy rainy day funds to plump up annual spending plans.

In this day and age, state budget conversations often include references to the … Read the rest

By PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett is scheduled to give his budget address Tuesday morning, and details are leaking and speculation abounds.

It’s the last week before the annual budget scrum really gets under way.

New effort to … Read the rest

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — People convicted of a crime can no longer get unemployment benefits, or so says Pennsylvania law.

But until recently the state had no sure way to stop payments from getting to inmates … Read the rest

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Three cheers for transparency.

A national organization has recognized Pennsylvania for having one of the most transparent state governments in the country.

Sunshine Review, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing transparency and … Read the rest

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG – New session, but old fights.

Both parts of the General Assembly were in session this week in Pennsylvania, and many of the issues look familiar as unfinished business from 2012 (or, in some cases, … Read the rest

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – One of Pennsylvania’s two pension funds is facing $14 billion in unfunded debt, but that didn’t stop one top executive from claiming an 8-percent pay raise this week.

The board for the … Read the rest

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – A Philadelphia man who was arrested for using his phone to videotape police officers is taking the city to court over alleged violations of the First Amendment.

According to the lawsuit, … Read the rest

By PA Independent Staff

HARRISBURG – The Corbett Administration finalized a contract to privatize the management of the state lottery this week, but bigger issues are on the horizon – including a long-awaited transportation funding plan and a renewed effort … Read the rest