Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Nuff said! Discuss all things Pennsylvania. http://www.democraticunderground.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:01 Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:01 Is our Governor a sheltered arrogant bigot, or a sheltered arrogant bigot who just ain't real smart? As one person wrote, "He has twice the self-esteem that he should be entitled to." This is Corbett's latest version of Binders full of women.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/05/22/2048091... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743800 Wed, 22 May 2013 12:40:31 53% to 39% for Jack Wagner.

I'm surprised that it was such a big margin! Congratulations to Bill Peduto!


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/polls-open-for-primary-election-688496/... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743792 Tue, 21 May 2013 22:04:41 http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/lottery_privatization_pursuit.html#incart_river

There are plenty of parts of PA. state government that may be broken, and deserve fixin'. However, the PA. Lottery is not one of them.

Attyn. Gen. Kane is still saying that she will not sign off... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743784 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:15:33 http://www.alternet.org/education/handy-reference-guide-who-donating-corporate-style-education-reform?page=0%2C1

The way some of them throw around the green stuff, you'd think corporate style education reformers were made of money. Oh, wait. Some of them are. As Big Money plays a bigger and bigg... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743782 Mon, 20 May 2013 13:46:34 PA.'s pension system is underfunded, mainly because Governor Ridge signed a law that increased pensions for legislators and allowed the state to avoid paying into the pension system for years. Meanwhile, state employees and teachers always paid 7% of their salaries into the system each year, withou... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743780 Mon, 20 May 2013 12:01:48 http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/millersville_university_tom_co.html#incart_m-rpt-2

[blockquote] No one booed. But the graduates of Millersville University didn't exactly cheer Gov. Tom Corbett either Saturday.

. . . a major cause of contention on campus since Corbett was an... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743777 Sun, 19 May 2013 20:15:51 http://articles.philly.com/2013-05-15/news/39258122_1_open-records-public-charter-schools-ken-kilpatrick

Excerpt:

"Pennsylvania's 180 charter schools routinely ignore the state's Right-To-Know Law even though as publicly funded institutions they are bound to comply with it, the chief of the st... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743771 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:32:04 Unpopular PA. Education Secretary Tomalis has been replaced. Don't worry too much about him - Corbett appointed him to be an aide to the Governor at the exact same salary.

Most people involved in public education hated Tomalis for being an arrogant dick. However, he may have been replaced bec... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743770 Thu, 16 May 2013 09:27:17 HARRISBURG, May 13 – State Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, today released documents relating to a purported no-cost contract awarded by Gov. Tom Corbett to NICUSA Inc., that show the administration had previously agreed to pay the company millions of dollars just days after the contract was awa... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743765 Wed, 15 May 2013 15:46:01 http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2013/05/silberline-county.html

A group of teabaggers has taken control of the Lehigh County Commissioners, and one of them is trying again to be elected as County Executive. This is a group that hates government so much that they almost killed the use of... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743764 Wed, 15 May 2013 13:36:36 http://pennbpc.org/HB-440-Addback-Analysis

To provide political cover for their votes to enact another round of corporate tax cuts, the PA. Legislature is telling everyone that they finally are going to close the Delaware tax loophole. The Delaware Loophole has been successfully closed by many o... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743763 Wed, 15 May 2013 13:10:26 It never hurts to plan ahead. Joe Sestak sent out an email saying he is forming an exploratory committee to run for the US Senate. This would be in 2016 against Toomey. I guess this means he is off the long list of candidates running for Governor.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphoto... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743759 Tue, 14 May 2013 12:49:33 http://www.alternet.org/education/who-profiting-charters-big-bucks-behind-charter-school-secrecy-financial-scandal-and?akid=10424.1119989.vBamH9&rd=1&src=newsletter838568&t=7&paging=off

Everyone sees the front end of the business. This article looks at the huge profits behind the scenes, from bu... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743758 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:49:06 http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20130511_ap_aspagasproductionsoarsexpertsdebatetaxes.html

AP Article

Almost all states that have a large natural gas industry (including Corbett's beloved model state of Texas) have an extraction tax. One was proposed in PA. for many years by Dem... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743753 Sun, 12 May 2013 18:25:51 http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20130510_Owners_have_big_plans_for_Marcus_Hook_refinery.html

Because natural gas prices have fallen, the industry is looking for ways to export it from PA to other countries A multi-billion facility is being built along the Chesapeake Bay in Marylan... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743741 Fri, 10 May 2013 22:20:50 In 1954, candidate Leader was the second-youngest person to be elected governor of Pennsylvania.

He was unable to run for a second term because of a one-term limitation under the Pennsylvania constitution at the time.

An interesting point of trivia is that, from February 6, 2005, through his d... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743737 Thu, 09 May 2013 20:32:28 http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/206688681.html

By Phil. Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown

Excerpt:

"The district's "ask" is $120 million from Harrisburg and $60 million from the city to prevent the elimination of art, music, sports, school nurses, guidance counselors, assi... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743729 Thu, 09 May 2013 10:38:22 [div class="excerpt"]A majority of voters, 58 percent, believe Pennsylvania is on the wrong track, and Gov. Tom Corbett's job approval rating remains low among the electorate, according to the latest Franklin & Marshall College Poll.

The poll, conducted of registered voters between April 30 and M... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743728 Thu, 09 May 2013 10:27:52 http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/key_pieces_of_the_hershey_trus.html

A series of reforms have been agreed upon by the Milton Hershey School Trust, in a binding agreement with PA. Attorney General Kane. The Hershey School Trust owns the controlling interest in the Hershey (Choco... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743721 Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:13 http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2013/05/ag-kane-judges-must-abide-by-mandatory.html

Our illustrious Chief Justice of the Supreme Court wants to run for another term. The only problem is that he will violate the voter-approved Pennsylvania State Constitution, which for several decades h... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743715 Wed, 08 May 2013 10:27:39 Polls show Peduto 38, Wagner 36
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/peduto-closes-gap-on-wagner-in-pittsburgh-mayors-race-poll-shows-685561/

Negative ad? OK, the ad says something negative about the opponent, but I differentiate between something that's basically true, ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743711 Tue, 07 May 2013 23:47:12 http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/orie-melvin-must-write-apology-letters-to-pennsylvania-judges-on-photos-of-herself-686635/... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743706 Tue, 07 May 2013 17:24:48 That's Ask Me Anything.

http://www.reddit.com/r/pittsburgh/comments/1dvaim/my_names_bill_peduto_and_im_running_for_mayor_ama/

I'd like to see some more discussion of Pittsburgh's mayoral race. I recall somebody saying they like Jack Wagner. I like Peduto, but I can be open-minded and civil. ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743705 Tue, 07 May 2013 17:22:16 They discuss the question: What Can We Do to Get Corbett Re-elected?

http://forum.pafoa.org/pennsylvania-10/217200-what-can-we-do-help-keep-corbett-office-page-7.html

Excerpt:

From Supermember Phillygunguy (at first, I thought it was satirical, but then I realized it was not)

"Here's th... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743701 Tue, 07 May 2013 11:19:37 http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/tom-corbett-pennsylvania-approval-rating-050213

Excerpt:

"If you want to see a politician with the gallows in his eyes, take a look at Tom Corbett of Pennsylvania, whose re-election prospects at the moment look like an offer for a free introductory case of... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743694 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:02:37 A number of non-partisan voters guides can be found online for various parts of PA. for the primary election. Many are prepared by local League of Women's Voters chapters.

Here is a voters guide for the Harrisburg area.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/2013_primary_election_... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743693 Mon, 06 May 2013 09:15:29 http://www.timesonline.com/news/energy/what-boom-industry-pundits-claim-thousands-of-jobs-will-be/article_8ec3ff50-6e38-516a-b7a1-d7b758801d20.html

Excellent article. Excerpts:

The state lost 5,800 jobs last year, ranking 49th in the nation for job creation. The latest government data shows ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743685 Sun, 05 May 2013 15:54:09 http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-allentown-maher-district-court-20130502,0,3421792,full.story

Joseph Maher is an attorney who is a perennial Republican candidate in Lehigh County. His latest race is to become a Magisterial District Judge in Allentown. However, in order to hold the office, the... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743680 Sun, 05 May 2013 08:16:50 http://www.mcall.com/news/local/white/mc-bw-gov-tom-corbett-jobless-drug-20130503,0,2893926,full.column

By Allentown Morning Call Columnist Bill White. He imagines that Clarence the Angel (who is trying to earn his wings) is sent down to Earth to look at Corbett's life, after Corbett becomes dis... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743678 Sun, 05 May 2013 07:53:27 [b]Market for Western Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale land changing[/b]

By Timothy Puko
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Published: Saturday, May 4, 2013, 12:01 a.m.

There was a time not too long ago when oil and gas companies would gobble up whatever land they could buy in the Marcellus shale.

... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743676 Sat, 04 May 2013 10:02:00 http://atr.rollcall.com/corbett-nosedive-scares-house-gop-in-pennsylvania/

"Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett’s tumble in the polls has made Republicans nervous about four pivotal Philadelphia-area House districts.

Local GOP operatives fear this 2014 scenario: Corbett drags down the ticket for per... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743661 Thu, 02 May 2013 16:20:08 There is certainly logic at the state and federal level in reducing corporation tax rates, if they are combined with the closing of loopholes, so that everyone pays their fair share. On paper, corporations in PA. have high tax rates, but very very few actually pay those rates.

Corbett is proposi... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743659 Thu, 02 May 2013 09:28:49 http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/04/30/1939341/governor-poor-jobs-numbers-unemployed-people-on-drugs/

(Link includes video)

One Term Tommy has been trying to explain why his love of fracking and his hatred of public education has not resulted in reduced unemployment in Pennsylvania. Inst... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743645 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:55:44 http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20130430_Hite_heads_to_Council_to_plead_district_s_budget_request.html

All sports and activities likely to be eliminated. A third severe round of layoffs will also be needed.

"Without the money, Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said, schools could be forced... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743643 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:05:36 http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-penn-state-applications-down-20130426,0,2146744.story

"As of Monday, Penn State received 53,872 applications from prospective students who want to be part of the university's freshman class in the 2013-2014 academic year.... Last year at this time, that numbe... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743640 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:37:22 Great work by John Cole of the Times-Tribune of NE PA.

http://media.cagle.com/20/2013/01/27/126193_600.jpg

http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/johncole/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/032511coletoon.jpg

http://media.cagle.com/20/2012/06/13/113386_600.jpg

http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/johnco... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743639 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:53:23 http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-pa-bloom-pocono-mountain-charter-20130424,0,614100.story

Excerpt:

"The former head of an embattled Monroe County charter school broke state ethics and conflict-of-interest rules by funneling more than $1.5 million in taxpayer money to himself, his family, his... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743636 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:37:41 http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-corbett-food-stamp-20130427,0,5938458.story

"Corbett's asset test finds little abuse in $2.6 billion food stamp program

....The burial plot question is part of a nearly year-old procedure known as an asset test. Gov. Tom Corbett's admini... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743628 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:05:24 Paul Carpenter's column / The Allentown Morning Call:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/carpenter/mc-pc-jim-thorpe-body-20130423,0,6112182.column

Snip> "The town of Jim Thorpe, formerly Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk, was the only place willing to honor Thorpe after he died flat broke in Calif... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743617 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:06:45 http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_23101248/york-city-schools-recovery-ideas-evaluated-nearly-identical

The future of the York City School District in York PA has been narrowed down to 2 options. One option involves turning all of the public schools into charter schools and laying off all of the employ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10743612 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:03:20