State legislators announced that the budget impasse had, well, passed (sort of). Still, though, the sides clearly aren’t together on many of the crucial details. One not-so-minor detail: Despite funding cuts for education, social services, and the performing arts, legislators will keep about $100 million in “Walking around money.” The Inquirer editorial board got it right, these guys are just looking out for Number 1.

Pennsylvania progressives got their candidate for Governor this week, as Joe Hoeffel announced his candidacy (on Facebook, how’s that for progressive?). In what is becoming a packed Democratic primary field with Dan Onorato, Jack Wagner, Tom Knox, and probably Chris Doherty, Hoeffel is the clear liberal in the race, and will need to ride left-wing support to gain the party’s nomination.

After Michael Scott, Mayor Chris Doherty sure seems like the most popular guy in Scranton. According to a Scranton Times report, the GOP mayoral nominee in Scranton, Bob Bolus, is ineligible for office because of a prior felony. So, Doherty, who got some GOP votes as a write-in, will be listed on the mayoral ballot as both the Democratic and GOP nominee.

This week, Gov. Rendell decided that he and President Obama are underappreciated by Pennsylvanians. When discussing green jobs in Pittsburgh, Rendell had this to say: “We have a president that gets it, a president who’s willing to invest significant dollars in promoting the green energy economy. And you’re very lucky that you have a governor who gets it, as well.” As if that wasn’t enough, Rendell then dropped this line – “There’s fear in Washington about raising the gas tax. We’re elected the biggest bunch of wusses I’ve ever seen in politics,” Rendell said. “They’re scared of their shadow, they’re scared to invest, they’re scared to spend – they’re terrified.”

Cabon County rednecks – House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Carbon and state Sen. Ray Musto, D-Carbon sent irritated letters to the editor of the Morning Call after MC columnist Paul Carpenter called some Carbon County residents “rednecks.” It’s great that their elected officials have their back, but those “rednecks” would prefer if McCall, Musto, and the rest of the state’s legislators would just hammer out those gosh darn budget details.

The American Spectator, an Arlington-based conservative magazine, misled readers late last week about a state lawmaker allegedly “blocking” an investigation into the much-maligned group ACORN. The article says State Government Committee Chairwoman Babette Josephs, an ACORN member, stalled House Resolution 426 in her committee, which the article said was tantamount to blocking an investigation by the attorney general into the group.Actually, The resolution “requests” the attorney general to look into the group, but the idea that the legislature can order formal investigations into anything is clearly not true. The idea Rep. Josephs is preventing justice in this instance is silly, but the article acts as though ACORN has now corrupted Pennsylvania’s entire system of government.

Tags: Up & Down

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pm and is filed under Miscellaneous, PA Reports, PoliticsPA Reports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.