tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31764731168916623392024-03-19T00:08:16.154-04:00Commonwealth Common SenseMike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-31740296168224972432017-01-20T15:16:00.002-05:002017-01-20T15:35:48.925-05:00Here's my list of top 10 things to look forward to in a Trump Administration<div class="MsoNormal">
I have always considered myself an eternal optimist; and maybe
a bit sarcastic, too. I even won an award from the Optimist Club when I was in
junior high school. It's just the way I am. So I couldn't resist contemplating
what might be good about a Trump Administration.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here's my list of top 10 things to look forward to in a
Trump Administration<o:p></o:p></div>
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10. <b>No one will make
fun of me for saying anything incoherent or stupid for the next 4 years because
no matter what I say, it will sound more coherent than the big guy</b>. I mean,
think about it: you know...I can't...well folks...you know what I'm talkin'
about...sad, isn't it...look...lets face it...the liberal media...well, I dont
have to tell you...they can't...well Twitter...I mean I've got yuge hands...and
so spectacular...am I right...right, so fabulous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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9. <b>Roads and infrastructure
will improve greatly.</b> The little bit that has leaked out about Trump's
infrastructure "plan" is that it relies on private sector investment
which, in turn, only works if the private sector can get a return on their
investment through a toll, raised sewer rate or a parking fee. The problem for
those who voted for Trump thinking they were going to get the spoils is that
proposition only works in heavily populated areas (blue states) like places
where Trump wants improved infrastructure next to his investment properties. The
great thing for me is that I live in one of those areas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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8. <b>I won't need to
heat my house anymore.</b> With Chinese hoax fake news, climate change accelerated
to a break-neck pace. All I'll need is a coal-fired air conditioning unit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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7. <b>I can finally stop
sending my hard earned tax dollars to the red states</b>. The majority of the
states that did not vote for Donald Trump pay more into the federal treasury
than they receive back from the federal government in terms of grants and
subsidies. The majority of the states that did vote for Trump currently receive
more back from the federal government than they pay in. Trump has said
that he is going to significantly lower taxes and cut subsidies. That has to
calculate into me paying less and the red states getting less.<o:p></o:p></div>
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6. <b>Trump says he's “gonna
get tough on trade imbalances with China</b>”. No China trade means no Walmart
which equals the return of all the small family-sustaining, “mom and pop,” Main
Street businesses that were wiped out by Walmart.<o:p></o:p></div>
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5. <b>No more having to
get up early in the morning wake my kids and get them off to liberal public
school</b>. I'll be able to keep them home where they belong, on the internet,
and learn them good myself with a government voucher. Thank God I won't have to
pay school taxes anymore. And the government will even buy me the
computer! That way, after the kids go to bed I can surf the Internet for
interesting things like cats and roosters and chicken parts for free.
Heck, the kids will even be around to sign for packages when I'm not
home. What a time saver!<o:p></o:p></div>
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4. <b>The air I breathe
and the water I drink will be clean again.</b> Not because we have done
anything to actually clean it up, but Trump will have eliminated any regulation
or definition that declares it unfit. Those damn regulations have been killing
jobs and profits across the nation for far too long--gone. As long as we're all
employed at minimum wage jobs, who cares if we're drinking tainted water and
breathing sulfur dioxide fumes. It will now all be considered clean. Easy --the air I breathe and the water I
drink will all be clean again; done. So much for the liberal, mumbo-jumbo
scare tactics supported by the media. I drink beer and have an air conditioner
in my window; who needs a babbling brook and a lame yoga instructor telling me
to breathe in the fresh air anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3. <b>No more health
insurance premiums until or unless I get sick</b>. Trump said he is going to
repeal Obamacare but keep the parts that the people like. The most liked aspect
of Obamacare is the provision that prevented insurance companies from denying
coverage because of a pre-existing condition. The least-liked portion of
Obamacare is that it requires everyone to buy insurance. Therefore, if the
requirement to buy insurance is eliminated under Trumpcare but the provision to
ensure that insurance companies cover me even if I have a pre-existing
condition remains under Trumpcare, that means that I can wait until I get sick
to buy insurance. And since one of the other complaints about Obamacare was
that premiums were going up, I can rest assured that under Trumpcare the
insurance that I buy on the day I get sick will cost less. Win! Win! Win!<o:p></o:p></div>
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2. <b>ISIS will be
eliminated in the next 100 days</b>. Trump has said that he will eliminate ISIS
"fast... really fast". France has arguably been one of the most
vulnerable targets of ISIS in recent years. Trump can't eliminate ISIS
unless he eliminates the organization worldwide. That means France will become
a much safer place. Which means that thousands of Americans can enjoy the
beaches in the south of France while they live in exile for the next four years.<o:p></o:p></div>
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1. I <b>will never need
to look at another picture of Donald Trump again for the next 4 years</b>. Why
so, you ask? Because Trump has ordered that the media refrain from
displaying unflattering images of him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Case closed.<o:p></o:p></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-55125178684546940232015-07-01T11:21:00.002-04:002015-07-01T11:32:14.749-04:00The 2015/16 Budget Season is almost over, well… not really<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The 2015/16 Budget Season is almost
over, well… not really. The June 30 deadline has passed and Republicans in the
House and Senate have shown that they have a plan (or at least a rigid
ideology) and they are sticking to it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
For the past four years, Republicans
who controlled the legislature in both the House and Senate, along with a
Republican Governor, passed one irresponsible budget after another. As a
result, Pennsylvania plummeted from seventh in job creation to 50<sup>th</sup>,
dead last, the structural deficit grew, education funding was slashed, the
state’s bond rating was downgraded multiple times, more than 20,000 teachers and
school staff were laid off and are still out of jobs, student test scores
dropped, a reasonable tax on the severance of Marcellus shale gas never
materialized and local property taxes skyrocketed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
When the results of the Republican’s
policies were crystalized in last year’s gubernatorial election, even
Republican legislators looked for someone to blame for the abysmal state of affairs.
Gov. Corbett became the face of the failures that Republican legislators had
promoted and voted for in lock step. Even Republican legislators claimed
Corbett was to blame and they were spared the wrath of the voters. You would
think they might have sensed the public’s dissatisfaction with their failed
policies. But now they are continuing down the same path; lowballing the
state’s deficit, over-projecting future revenues, looking for one-time revenue
sources and accounting gimmicks, digging their heels in on ideological issues,
and refusing to address the budgetary issues that Pennsylvanians want
addressed. The status quo that got us to
where we are today is alive and well in the Republican caucus but Pennsylvania
cannot afford to continue down the road to ruin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Gimmicks won’t put teachers and
school support staff like nurses and counselors back in our schools. Avoiding a
Marcellus shale severance tax at all costs won’t improve the scholastic climate
for all Pennsylvania children and pretending that you can eliminate local
property taxes without replacing the revenue won’t provide property tax relief for
homeowners throughout the state. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After years of budget cuts and
accounting gimmicks, even former Corbett Budget Secretary Charles Zogby conceded
that the Legislature and Gov. Wolf would need to generate more revenue for this
year’s budget to balance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Holding the budget process hostage by
falsely claiming they need pension “reform” to balance the budget is little
more than a bait and switch scam. Act 120 of 2010 “reformed” the pension system
by capping and reducing benefits, increasing employee contributions,
eliminating early withdraws and more. That has already saved millions and the revised
plan is 100 percent solvent and costs three percent of payroll to maintain. It is the unfunded liability in the old system
that is the cost driver and Republican proposals do little or nothing to fix
that. Some of their 401 (k) proposals actually make the problem worse. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Republican plans to sell off one of
the state’s most valuable assets, our liquor stores, provide questionable
one-time fixes but come with future revenue losses and the increased social
costs that occurred in other states that privatized. Even those who do support
those ideological issues, but are serious about budget realities, understand
that they are one-time funding sources that provide no long-term answers to the
state’s budget problems. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
The people of Pennsylvania elected
Governor Wolf to serve because they wanted change. They want to see a real
difference in how Pennsylvania conducts its business. Gov. Tom Wolf has taken
an innovative approach that would improve the way the state conducts its
business and, in turn, refocus efforts on schools that teach, jobs that pay,
and government that works. He has proposed restoring education funding,
implementing a fair Marcellus shale tax and providing property tax relief for
homeowners. Unfortunately, Republicans continue to perpetuate the status quo
and continue to stifle legislative efforts that would move Pennsylvania forward
and provide meaningful solutions to our problems. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The people of Pennsylvania did not
reelect Tom Corbett. They also did no reelect his policies and agenda, but you
would be hard pressed to tell that if you look at what the Republican
legislature promoted as a budget this year. This session is shaping up to be like
a second term of Corbett without Corbett around. Maybe the real problem is the
Republican dominated House and Senate. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Gov. Wolf understands that the
people of Pennsylvania elected him because they didn’t want another four years
of those same failed ideas and policies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="line-height: 200%;">Looks like it could be a long hot
summer… </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-21580360123365363242015-06-26T18:27:00.002-04:002015-06-26T18:35:55.984-04:00“Republicans say they will go at it alone on budget”<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I would have never seen that coming…oh, wait…I did. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/democrat-predicts-drawn-out-budget-battle-1.1860480"><img border="0" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBEoUWq15FOKC7RCYh2XfGT-HFFqzT-1CzVJJd3FXIFb9pwMVFu2nyuNTFihGIVx_H52-bkteejvxFB0mtsFKdwL9cQ7eW7VcwRqpPst-LpTljTzgAJ7I4-Yd8dOHsQxrvDqGcJj07Qx9/s400/TimesTribHL.png" width="400" /></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(<a href="http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/democrat-predicts-drawn-out-budget-battle-1.1860480" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/democrat-predicts-drawn-out-budget-battle-1.1860480</a>) </div>
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</div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;">Governor Wolf gave his budget address on March 3. Immediately after,
Republicans took to the microphones decrying the fact that the new governor was
proposing to do something different than they had done in consort with former
Governor Tom Corbett in the prior four years.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pennsylvania was facing a projected $2 billion structural deficit and
Republicans felt confident that the governor would be forced to renege on his
campaign pledges to restore funding for basic education and start turning the
ship that was heading for the abyss. Surely, the governor would have to hunker
down and look for gimmicks and one-time fixes just to get by and make it
through another year while he waited for the economy to turn itself around. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
While the structural deficit projection for this year has dropped to
about $1.5 billion, if it is addressed by gimmicks and one-time fixes again as
legislative Republicans propose, we are staring at a $2 billion structural
deficit again next year. You can only transfer
balances between credit cards and put off paying bills so long until the gig is
up. We already know the consequences of these maneuvers…state bond rating
downgrades, job losses, higher local property taxes and lower student
performance. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Instead, Wolf is demanding that the legislature take action with proposed
meaningful solutions to address the deficit and reinvest in education, restore
former cuts to human services, provide a fair tax structure to encourage
business growth and jobs, and deliver on property tax relief for homeowners.
After four years of Republicans gimmicks and their current stance of perpetually
neglecting the issues instead of facing them, one could speculate that they are
ideologically opposed to the notion of fiscal responsibility. Proposing their
own budget that ignores the fiscal crisis, points to the fact that they are
more focused on philosophical wins for the fringe of their party than they are
on producing a fiscally sound budget that prioritizes Pennsylvania’s citizens.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If the Republicans in the House and Senate want to debate ideology and pontificate
about union busting, the perils of a living wage, the pitfalls of people
actually having access to affordable healthcare, executive orders and booze in
convenience stores, they have the power to call session days all summer long. But
for them to refuse to deal with the fiscal issues of the state until their
ideological needs are met is simply irresponsible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It could prove to be a long summer. <o:p></o:p></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-80846424037969141062015-06-04T12:26:00.001-04:002015-06-04T12:27:32.470-04:00Gas industry should pay fair share in Pa.<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Segoe UI', PAHouse-Segoe, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The natural gas industry’s drilling of Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale provides economic benefits to the state including job opportunities and a reliable domestic energy source. That has been true in every state where the industry exists. A recent study by the American Petroleum Institute stated that the natural gas industry is responsible for $34.7 billion to the state economy and Pennsylvania’s shale gas production has increased exponentially over the past few years. Yet Pennsylvania is the only major gas producing state that does not charge a severance tax.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Segoe UI', PAHouse-Segoe, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;">The industry generously profits from the Commonwealth’s natural resources. A reasonable severance tax would help address the state’s needs and invest in one of our greatest resources: Pennsylvania’s children. The opposition to a commonsense severance tax is being fed to the public directly from the industry and their paid operatives and fails to acknowledge the inherent need to fund Pennsylvania’s schools and take care of our environment.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Segoe UI', PAHouse-Segoe, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;">Despite claims to the contrary, natural gas companies remain strongly profitable. In 2013 the market value of natural gas produced in the Keystone State was $11.8 billion compared to $4 billion in 2011. Drillers paid just 1.9 percent of that in impact fees. As the industry flourishes, the PA Department of Revenue reports the industry’s corporate net income taxes paid in 2013 fell below pre-Marcellus drilling levels in spite of increased production.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Segoe UI', PAHouse-Segoe, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857143;">The industry and its special interest allies continue to perpetuate the myth that Pennsylvania’s favorable tax climate is the cause for Pennsylvania’s low natural gas prices; but the facts show otherwise. The reality is that an estimated 80 percent of the natural gas produced in PA is exported out of the state and thus any additional cost due to a severance tax would be paid mostly by non-Pennsylvanians. Furthermore, Pennsylvania’s residential prices in February 2015 were 53 cents higher than </span><a href="http://www.eia.gov/dnav/ng/ng_pri_sum_dcu_SWV_m.htm" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #428bca; line-height: 1.42857143; outline: none 0px !important; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">West Virginia’s</a><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857143;"> and our commercial prices were 54 cents higher.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Segoe UI', PAHouse-Segoe, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;">The Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, Commonwealth Foundation and others special interest groups claim that a severance tax would negatively impact Pennsylvania’s competitive edge to attract more gas drilling. Drillers haven’t left Alaska, Texas, North Dakota, West Virginia or any other state with gas reserves that are taxed. The total energy under the ground in Pennsylvania is estimated to exceed the energy value of Saudi Arabia. Pennsylvania has the natural resources with an estimated 1.925 billion cubic feet of recoverable gas in the Marcellus Shale and would still be offering a competitive business environment for the industry. At the same time that a small impact fee went into effect in Pennsylvania in 2012, Pennsylvania jumped from seventh to third in the rankings of natural gas producing regions. Unfortunately, the majority of that impact fee revenue stays in localities with gas wells and does not apply to areas with pipeline and compressor station disruptions.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.901961); box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Segoe UI', PAHouse-Segoe, Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 1.42857143;">In 2009, Chesapeake Energy said, “We gladly pay a severance tax in every state where we’re active, except in New York and Pennsylvania.” The industry needs to make a reasonable investment in the Commonwealth, the same as all hardworking Pennsylvanians do, to improve our educational system and our future. As Governor Tom Wolf has repeatedly warned, we cannot continue to do the same thing and expect a different result. The last administration’s policies had a devastating effect on the Commonwealth and we are working hard to reverse that and turn Pennsylvania back into an innovator and leader in energy as well as education. We need to work with the Governor to break the cycle of placing oil and gas interests ahead of Pennsylvania’s children and our environment.</span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-32929957163319497722015-03-16T11:40:00.000-04:002015-03-16T11:40:59.943-04:00A budget that serves the citizens of PA into the future or one that caters to the special interests of the past?
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">That is the central question surrounding this
year’s budget proposal. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In his budget address, Governor Wolf laid out a
plan to move Pennsylvania forward by investing in education and jobs to drive
the state’s economy in the coming years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Despite the partisan rhetoric in the
post-budget address spin room, I hope the Republicans will accept the “fresh
start” Pennsylvanians called for this past November and finally produce a
budget that fixes our structural deficit instead of adopting yet another
gimmicky budget to maintain the status quo. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The evidence is undeniably clear; what was done
in the past four years has not worked. PA went from 7<sup>th</sup> in job
creation to 50<sup>th</sup>; education test scores went from consistently
rising to consistently falling; the state’s bond rating was downgraded multiple
times; PA’s resources were exploited; and after several years of failed
attempts, many PA workers simply stopped looking for a job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">All citizens of PA need to ask their
legislators….</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for property tax relief for me or
will you continue to protect the bottom line of special interests?</span></li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for funding for schools that get
results for the children in my community or will you continue to protect the
special interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for quality Pre-K for kids so
they are ready to start school or will you continue to protect the special
interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for community colleges and job
training that train workers for family-sustaining jobs or will you continue to
protect the special interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for solving pension issues or
will you continue to protect the special interests?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for increasing the minimum wage
so that no one who is willing to work full time has to live in poverty or will
you continue to protect the special interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for a truly balanced budget or
the cost of structural deficits of the special interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for fair corporate tax rates for
all businesses or special rates for some special interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for taxing Marcellus Shale like every
other state with natural resources or will you continue to protect the special
interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for paying appropriately for
charter schools or will you continue to protect the special interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for freezing college tuition
costs or will you continue to protect the special interests?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Will you vote for expanding health care for
access to all working families or will you continue to protect the special
interests?</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Governor Wolf’s bold budget proposal will put
Pennsylvania back on the right fiscal path and benefits the citizens, not the
special interests, of Pennsylvania. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-78747400223258660932014-12-17T10:04:00.000-05:002014-12-17T10:04:49.423-05:00Corbett, Republicans ignored the problem for four years
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">During his recent mid-year budget briefing,
Corbett administration Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said the cost growth in
the 2015-16 state budget, which was cited as the reason for the projected $2 billion
deficit, is nothing new. Which begs the question: Why didn’t they do something
to deal with it, instead of ignoring it for the past four years?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If Zogby and others knew the one-time revenue
fixes used to balance the last four state budgets would not solve the state’s
overall fiscal problem, that begs more questions: Did they use those tactics
merely for “window-dressing” of the budget or were they simply being
irresponsible with your tax dollars? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Another example of the Corbett folks simply
ignoring the problem with state finances is that everyone knew Act 120 of 2010
included mandated cost increases in the out-years, yet Corbett actually proposed
reducing the payments to balance the budget instead of meeting the obligations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">While Zogby might be continuing the false claim
that the Corbett administration didn’t raise taxes on middle-class families,
the fact is those families did get hit with higher taxes, such as property tax
increases and higher gas taxes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Meanwhile, legislative Republicans and Corbett
also gave away the store to the tune of $2 billion in corporate tax breaks
instead of fixing our ongoing structural budget deficit problem. Those tax
breaks didn’t result in more jobs as promised, instead Pennsylvania’s job
growth plummeted from 7<sup>th</sup> to the bottom of the pack at 50<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Zogby went on to admit that one-time budget fixes
don’t work, yet he continues to push for more one-time revenue gains like
selling the liquor stores, electric competition and pension reform. Those ideas
simply won’t solve Pennsylvania’s structural budget deficit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Finally, Zogby now admits that legislative
Republicans and the Corbett administration created a structural budget deficit
of $2 billion, yet here are just a few of the things that incoming Speaker of the
House, then House Majority Leader, Mike Turzai said about the budget during
final passage on June 30<sup>th</sup>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“We have been nothing but responsible.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"We have been fiscal stewards.”<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“We have been about governing.”<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">"Let us talk about responsible governance.”<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em>“We have been prudent, fiscally responsible, and prioritized state spending on the most vulnerable in our society.”</em><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p> <span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em>“We are fiscally prudent, recognizing we have a responsibility to the taxpayers.”</em></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Maybe not so much …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-51881641834543411652014-12-03T12:46:00.001-05:002014-12-03T12:46:19.810-05:00Bad Republican fiscal policy got us into this budget mess
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">After
attending today’s mid-year budget briefing by Budget Secretary Charles Zogby, the
multi-billion dollar budget deficit that Pennsylvania is facing is not
unexpected given the past four years’ budget messes and the bad news is not
likely to end. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Independent Fiscal Office’s latest report revealed a multi-billion dollar
budget deficit that was reaffirmed today by Secretary Zogby and points to a
dreadful fiscal crisis for our new governor. It is certain that the extent of
the gap is massive and we cannot continue with the same fiscal policies of the
past four years and expect anything other than a continued deficit projection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I see three main
points concerning the budget deficit:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Gov.
Tom Corbett’s fiscal year 2014-15 budget was based on one-time revenue sources
that the administration now admits was bad policy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Corbett administration already borrowed to meet operational expenses and
projections indicate the state will be cash flow negative from January through
March 2015.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The
Republicans that control the House and Senate marched in lockstep with the
Corbett administration on fiscal policy for the last four years. They also need
to be held accountable for this failed fiscal policy and be willing to work to
change it in a bipartisan manner that produces solutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Additionally,
our state has fallen from the top 10 in job creation to last in the nation over
the past four years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">This budget
situation also has bad ramifications for policy proposals, such as
infrastructure, jobs and equitable education funding, because most initiatives
need state money to implement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Wolf
administration offers a different fiscal policy that received a strong mandate
in the recent election. This most recent forecast makes it even more obvious
that we need to follow that change in policy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I’m
definitely ready for a fresh start, which begins Jan. 20.</span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-71415959693207601952014-09-17T17:39:00.000-04:002014-09-17T17:39:44.531-04:00The state checkbook is out of money!
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Bad
Republican budgeting maneuvers that have crippled the state’s ability to meet
its obligations during the past four years have led the state to borrow money
from itself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">What's
that you ask? How does Pennsylvania borrow money from itself?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Well
it goes something like this: the state's checkbook (the General Fund) is what
Pennsylvania government uses to pay its recurring bills. This week, the General
Fund ran out of money so the state Treasurer had to create a $1.5 billion line
of credit out of a cash investment fund operated by the Treasurer. Of that line
of credit, $700 million was immediately used. Kind of like using your credit
card to pay your mortgage. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
administration has stated that this will actually save the state money, which
is laughable. If this were actually true, it should be common practice every
month and why hasn't Governor Corbett done this sooner? Ha!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In
fact, actual loans to be used for the General Fund have only been done four
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if these types of loans were
common, it still begs the question as to whether they should be used for General
Fund purposes at all. In this case, using them is an indication of an
underlying symptom of inadequate and negligent budgeting. There are only a
handful of valid reasons for using the Short Term Investment Program (STIP),
but a failure of leadership is not one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If
the budgeting process was done correctly, with an accurate revenue forecasting
methodology, and a realization that new revenue was needed instead of asking
working families to pay more and school districts to make due with less, this
whole line of credit would be unnecessary. The Corbett Administration claims
they needed to do this to advance funding to Philadelphia schools, but these
schools need this money because they were underfunded by Governor Corbett. It
is like blaming someone else for your bad budgeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But you don't have to just take my word for it that these were terrible
budget decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Independent Fiscal Office and the nation’s three major credit
rating agencies have all noted that choices made in recent Pennsylvania budgets
are creating a structural budget deficit that cannot be solved with the
one-time fixes proposed and passed by the Corbett Administration and Republican
controlled House and Senate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It seems that Governor Corbett and his Republican friends prefer
budget gimmicks that set up the next governor for a deficit from day one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It's time for a fresh start.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-61886343593864643402014-07-17T14:28:00.000-04:002014-07-17T14:28:02.425-04:00"Opportunity" for education dollars, hurt by tax breaks
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Crafting a
state budget is all about priorities.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">For four
years now, Gov. Tom Corbett and his Republican colleagues leading the House and
Senate have shown that giving tax breaks to some multi-national corporations,
while refusing to tax others at all, is their priority and that funding public
education is not.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Since he took
office, Corbett has provided more than $2 billion in big-business tax cuts. Not
to mention allowing multinational corporations to continue using the Delaware
loophole to avoid paying taxes while, at the same time, refusing to implement a
shale gas severance tax.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In an attempt
to cover their tracks, Corbett and the Republicans are now trying to include
funding for pensions as part of their calculations of education funding levels.
But that's not flying with the parents and taxpayers in Pennsylvania who
understand that funding for old pension obligations doesn't help a single
student learn to read, write or solve a math equation. It never has, nor should
it now be, included in the bottom line. For comparison sake, the total education
spend, not including pension costs, (... because historically, no other
administration has ever included pension costs when calculating levels of
education funding) for 2008-09 -- the year before federal stimulus funding --
was $9.36 billion. <span class="apple-style-span">Meanwhile, total education
dollars spent in 2014-15, not including pension costs, (... because
historically, no other administration has ever included pension costs when
calculating education funding levels) is $9.18 billion. Clearly less funding,
yet Corbett and the Republicans in an attempt to call a lame duck a swan, try
to tout this as an increase.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Simply put --
Corbett and the Republican-led House and Senate have cut education funding in
Pennsylvania by about $3 billion total over the past four years.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those funding
cuts at the state level have drastically impacted Pennsylvania's 500 school
districts, which have been forced to lay off 20,000 employees, cut programs,
increase class sizes and hike local property taxes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But wait ...
that's not enough tax breaks for corporations or enough defunding of public
education for Corbett and his Republican privateers. To make matters worse, the
2014-15 state budget continues $150 million in business tax credits for the
Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) and the Educational Improvement Tax
Credit (EITC) ... or what some like to describe as "the faux voucher
program that masquerades as choice."</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Some
Republican echo chamber organizations continue to tout these programs as
vehicles for "saving tax dollars." <span class="apple-style-span">Their
argument goes something like this ... i</span>f corporations (remember, they
are people too) can pay their taxes to private schools instead of to the state
so that a handful of kids can attend the private schools of their choice, the
rest of the taxpayers in the state will actually save money. I know ... it
makes no sense ... but that's what they are claiming.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">However,
providing those tax credits to businesses doesn't relieve the school district
of their educational expenses or the rest of the taxpayers the burden of paying
for the lost revenue.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Those
scholarship recipients aren't leaving Pennsylvania classrooms in groups of 25
or 500, which would lead to one less classroom or one less school building. On
the contrary, the buses still run past the child's house that opted for the
taxpayer-subsidized private scholarship (and in some cases the public schools
incur additional costs to transport that scholarship student separately to
their new private school). Meanwhile, the same costs still accrue for the public
school ... a teacher might have one less kid in their class (although they most
likely have 10 more due to the Corbett education cuts), the cafeteria worker
still prepares the same lunch (less one serving), the principal still oversees
the same number of teachers (although probably 10 less as a result of the
Corbett education cuts), the janitor still cleans the same school building, and
there are still the same numbers of teacher's aides and nurses … check that,
the Republicans cut reimbursement for nurses and teacher's aides so they are no
longer a part of any equation anyway. But ... the same lights are still on in
the same classroom, the same public school building is still heated to the same
temperature by the same boiler, and the same roof still needs the same repair. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">So
where are all these "savings" other than lurking somewhere in the
ideological minds of the faux voucher advocates.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The reality
is, these business tax credits don't save any taxpayer dollars. In fact, they
are an extra cost to Pennsylvania's pocketbook. The $150 million of taxes
otherwise due to the state would be better spent in the public classroom for
the basic education or special education line items.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But as we've
already discussed, those aren't priorities for Gov. Corbett or the
Republican-led General Assembly.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-56906352243262313682014-06-26T09:47:00.000-04:002014-06-26T09:47:17.009-04:00Gov. Corbett's "family budgeting" is hurting PA
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Four
years ago, Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his first state General Fund budget
proposal and likened it to a belt-tightening family sitting around the kitchen
table making decisions on where to save and where to spend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So let's take a look at how that family budgeting idea compares
with this year's House Republican budget proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Simply put: this budget plan is based on either delaying paying
the bills or simply not paying the bills at all. Not many Pennsylvania families
can balance their budgets in that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For example, the PlanCon reimbursement program for new school
building construction is behind by $1.2 billion and the 2014-15 Republican
budget allocates only $10 million to it. That's like making a single payment on
a 120-year mortgage. On that schedule, schools in the program will have to wait
120 years for a new building. Are you kidding me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The Republican budget plan also suggests putting off this month's
payment of $394 million to Pennsylvania's managed care organizations which help
to meet the health care needs of some of our state's most vulnerable residents.
Cash-strapped families know what happens when you put off making a monthly
payment. You're faced with interest and late fees. And make no mistake about
it, when the MCOs come calling for their bills to be paid, they're going to
charge the state more money to make up for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As for higher education funding, four years ago the state cut
their budgets 19 percent and that cut has continued year after year after year
with so-called "flat funding." For families with students in college,
that would be like telling the school: "We'll pay tuition for 4 out of 5 semesters
and call it even." How do you think that would go over at Pitt or Penn
State?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Standard & Poor’s warned that
Pennsylvania’s credit rating would suffer if the Republicans continued to use
one time gimmicks to “balance” the budget. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This Republican budget is based
on $700 million in one-time accounting gimmicks that supposedly balance the
budget this year, but will lead to a $2 billion structural deficit in next year’s
budget. That's an irresponsible way to budget, even for fiscal conservatives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I just can't go along with the idea of fixing a budget deficit by
creating a bigger one for the next guy to worry about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-27279491024590067292014-06-25T15:28:00.002-04:002014-06-25T15:28:59.467-04:00Republican budgeting has led to $1.4 billion deficit
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Gov.
Tom Corbett and his Republican friends -- who lead comfortable majorities in
the state House and Senate -- have had four years to take Pennsylvania in a new
direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately
for Pennsylvanians, that direction is deep into the red, headlined by a $1.4
billion General Fund budget deficit. We are one of only 11 states nationwide
with a deficit. That’s what happens when you give tax breaks to some
multi-national corporations while refusing to tax others at all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If
the state budget deficit wasn't enough, funding cuts at the state level have
drastically impacted Pennsylvania's 500 school districts, which have been
forced to lay off 20,000 employees, cut programs, increase class sizes and hike
local property taxes. But the governor continues to claim he didn't raise
taxes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And
so here we are, within days of the budget deadline and the governor and
Republican leaders can't figure out how to fix a billion-dollar deficit of
their own making. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now
in their fourth year of budget fiascos, they feign surprise that their
trickle-down economics aren't working. Sorry governor, you've had three years
and three budgets that let you implement your spending priorities. You chose $2
billion in big-business tax cuts over more dollars in Pennsylvania classrooms.
You chose to stall on Medicaid expansion instead of accepting Pennsylvania's
share of federal dollars and you refused to impose a severance tax on Marcellus
Shale natural gas even though every other state with gas reserves imposes one.
You don't have the federal stimulus program to blame any more. This is your
budget deficit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile,
House Appropriations Committee Republican Chairman Bill Adolph is offering some
obtuse argument about how our flat income tax as it relates to federal tax
rates is causing our budget problem. Again, most other states have a budget
surplus, not a deficit. House Majority Leader Mike Turzai believes another
thing entirely: that targeted job-creation tax incentives are breaking the
state's bank and corporate tax breaks should be across the board. With all due
respect Mr. Leader, that's how we got into this predicament in the first place:
by Republicans cutting corporate taxes by $2 billion and allowing multinational
corporations to continue their tax shifting out of Pennsylvania's state
coffers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">We
didn’t need to be here … but we are. By implementing fair progressive policies,
we could have stopped our slide from 7th to 49th in job creation, and Pennsylvania
likely wouldn't be in the budget hole that we are today thanks to the failed
leadership of Gov. Tom Corbett and his Republican colleagues. It may be too
late to change the governor's fate as a one-term failure, but it's not too late
to change the failed policies the governor and the Republican legislature have
pursued. We could pass a budget that doesn't rely on one-time gimmicks and
selling off assets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
am not holding my breath …<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-1825007055673580282014-02-04T08:34:00.001-05:002014-02-04T08:34:35.392-05:00A light bulb went on, but did he actually see the light?
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">"It's not fair
right now, OK? So we need to address that." </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">- </span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Gov. Tom Corbett, on education funding, Jan. 22, 2014</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There’s been a
breakthrough: after 1100 days in office, following dozens of protests across
the state, and poll numbers that make the Titanic look recoverable -- in the
dark abyss that is Gov. Corbett’s education policy, a small light went on. I’d
say it was a 15 watt refrigerator bulb in the cold recesses of a beer
refrigerator in the garage, but I digress. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Recently, the governor
had sprinted from a Philadelphia public school </span><a href="http://citypaper.net/article.php?Corbett-can-t-escape-schools-crisis-19369" target="_BLANK"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue;">he was scheduled
to visit</span></span></a><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">
(the first visit to a public school in the state’s largest district, and one
whose chronic underfunding repeatedly makes the national news), because he was
notified of scheduled protests inside and out of the school.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">See it’s only ok for the
governor to use the school as the backdrop for his message and to try to save
(or create) a legacy, but when teachers, parents and students want to convey a
message at the school they work at day-in and day-out, well then it becomes, in
the governor’s words, “</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">theatrics that have been designed by adults</span><span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">.”</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: #323232; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">A few days later during
a non-education related press conference, the governor </span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">seemed
aware of and even expressed </span><a href="http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=kC097P0W" target="_BLANK"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">interest in a GOP proposal approved in the House that
would set up a commission to develop a formula to distribute money for K-12
education</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And you know how the governor feels about </span><a href="http://policycommonwealthcommonsense.blogspot.com/2011/03/does-commonwealth-have-too-many-abcds.html" target="_BLANK"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">commissions</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">: creating them is
his favorite hobby, but taking their recommendations is optional. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The larger irony in this: Pennsylvania had an education funding formula,
established in 2008 after an extensive study was completed. However, the state
abandoned it, before it was even fully implemented. Care to guess when and by
whom?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">If you said “2011 when Governor Corbett took office and cut a billion bucks
from public schools”-- well you’d be right. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So this notion that Governor Corbett supports a formula just may be because
it is politically expedient since his cuts to education are a key campaign
issue. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Truth is the governor could invest more money in education today –
literally today. Its budget day and the governor could choose to appropriate
more state funds for education than pre-stimulus, because despite </span><a href="http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/pennsylvania/mc-pa-corbett-election-education-record-20140125,0,4092509.story"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="color: blue;">his
claims and excuses</span></span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> Corbett’s number is still below that mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">So while a light bulb has flickered on, I have little hope he’ll actually
step into the light. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-73549308143078960922013-11-20T13:14:00.000-05:002013-11-20T13:14:43.012-05:00Genuine Outrage II
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the Corbett Administration’s
typical impeccable timing – the day following my blog post last week
questioning where Sen. Toomey’s new found outrage regarding Pennsylvanians’
health insurance was when the governor was kicking 41,000 working adults off adultBasic;
removing 88,000 kids from Medical Assistance; or his denying 500,000+ residents
health care at all; not to be outdone—Gov. Corbett’s Insurance Commissioner,
Michael Consedine issued a letter, saying both he and the governor “…are deeply
troubled by the flawed launch of the federally-facilitated marketplace…”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Consedine goes on to say his
department has received over 100 complaints from residents. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, we already know that
the Corbett administration doesn’t have much concern for the impact its
policies have had on the health care of over 600,000 (and that’s a conservative
estimate) Pennsylvanians. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But Consedine’s letter
reminded me of another letter I received last month (Oct. 29) from Labor and
Industry’s deputy secretary for compensation and insurance regarding the
efforts L&I was making to correct its own flawed launch, and that they are
working “diligently to resolved system defects, clean up inconsistent data, and
implement improvements.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it turns out the rocky
launch of health care exchange under Obamacare, which Pennsylvania like dozens
of other states, opted to let the federal government operate is not unlike what
Pennsylvania’s own Workers' Compensation Program's website encountered in addition to problems it's </span><a href="http://articles.mcall.com/2013-01-29/business/mc-p-unemployment-compensation-phone-problems-2-20130129_1_phone-system-phone-problems-unemployment-compensation"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">phone line had</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> last year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The difference is scale. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While healthcare.gov is tasked
with shepherding millions of Americans through the process of purchasing health
care, Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Comp system deals with a fraction of that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So before Gov. Corbett and
his minions cast stones at a program aimed at fundamentally improving the
health of our nation, perhaps they should consider Corbett’s own imperfections.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-39803006458607914682013-11-12T09:30:00.000-05:002013-11-12T09:30:16.329-05:00Genuine outrage?
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last week while federal HHS secretary, Kathleen Sebelius,
underwent another round of mainly disingenuous moral outrage from congressmen
and women criticizing the implementation of a plan they been opposing the
implementation of for three years, our state’s junior senator, </span><a href="http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2013/11/us_sen_pat_toomey_voices_healt.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Pat
Toomey offered the evidence</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> he’s been hearing from some Pennsylvanians. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No doubt the stories Toomey cited are real; one woman he
spoke of is even from Lancaster County. But I find Sen. Toomey’s outrage
misplaced and poorly-timed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">See, I didn’t hear a peep from the newly-elected senator in
2011 when Gov. Corbett decided his first action as governor should be the </span><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/03/demise_of_adultbasic_health_pl.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">elimination
adultBasic</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> -- which if you remember was the low cost health care plan,
covering for over 40,000 working Pennsylvanians. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or a year later when the Insurance Department
reported that 40% of those kicked off adultBasic and forced to sign up for <span style="color: #363636; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">new coverage that cost them
more; or when <a href="http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-17/news/30635537_1_medicaid-policy-eligibility-entitlement-programs"><span style="color: blue;">88,000
kids were kicked off Medical Assistance</span></a>. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nor have I heard him call on the governor to expand
Medicaid, which would be a way to cover over a half million Pennsylvania
residents and the easiest way to shrink the list of uninsured Pennsylvania’s by
over 50%.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If Pat Toomey (and others) were actually for covering more
Pennsylvanians and stimulating job growth in the Commonwealth he’d join with
the rest of us calling on Gov. Corbett to expand Medicaid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While Sen. Toomey was admonishing Sebelius on Capitol Hill,
PA’s other </span><a href="http://www.timesherald.com/general-news/20131107/us-sen-bob-casey-asks-gov-tom-corbett-to-expand-pa-medicaid-program"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Senator
Bob Casey</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> was calling on Gov. Corbett to accept Medicaid Expansion, like
the governors of Ohio, New Jersey, Michigan and Arizona (see where I’m going
here) have. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadly, Casey’s request will likely fall on deaf ears, as
Gov. Corbett is busy on a 10 day tour of Pennsylvania in an attempt to rewrite
his abysmal record of governing over the past 3 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-27572783099269914972013-09-13T10:37:00.000-04:002013-09-13T10:37:31.054-04:00It seems like it’s time for another optimistic (albeit inaccurate) email from the governor
<b><i>Something along the lines of …</i></b><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
With
Labor Day behind us, we can etch another relaxing summer free of controversy in
our memories and gear up for a productive autumn legislative session with most
of Pennsylvania's most pressing issues already resolved through the deft leadership
of the Corbett administration in its first 33 months. All we need to do now is
fine tune the machine of prosperity. (The drop from 7th in job creation to 49th
was part of the plan to make our eventual emergence as #1 even more impressive.
Although it may occur long after he’s been booted from office, he will lay
claim to the accomplishment now).<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Look-
there is more state money being spent on education than ever before, and the
state has made sure that local districts have held the line on taxes while
securing smaller class sizes, higher test scores, and expanding curriculum
offerings. More and more kids are performing better at cyber charter schools
and its saving taxpayers millions because the tuition is free.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Pennsylvanians
are going to work in record numbers, and not just at the minimum wage jobs they
found when their unemployment was cut -- these are family sustaining jobs with
healthcare benefits, a defined pension and generous vacation time. Things are
so good, that workers are complaining that the prevailing wage should be
scrapped in favor of higher wages being offered in the open market.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
Commonwealth’s few remaining working poor (so few that it’s difficult to find
them these days) have access to affordable healthcare without resorting to
Medicaid expansion, and polls show that an overwhelming majority of the
residents are happy to send their federal tax dollars to expand Medicaid in other
states where they aren't fortunate enough to have a governor with the sense to hesitate
on Obamacare.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
extensions for the potential sale of the lottery have also worked like a charm.
The extra time has allowed 3 new bidders to enter the fray and the free market
has produced a new bid that is more than double the original offer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
The
impending passage of liquor privatization is a mere formality now that the
details of the new plan that will make alcohol available everywhere in the
state, including vending machines on college campuses! Through a deal brokered
by the governor himself (another notch in his legendary prowess as a
dealmaker), distilleries have agreed to sell liquor to mom and pop operations
at the same price the state used to get. In exchange, mom and pop operations
have agreed to sell liquor at cost, and since there is already a surplus in
education funding, the state has agreed to cut liquor taxes by 50%, meaning the
consumer can now buy liquor for about the same price as their favorite mixers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
In
a quirky twist of fate, even though manmade climate change doesn’t exist, the
prediction of unseasonably warm winters in the future has resulted in a
reevaluation of Pennsylvania's roads and bridges and found that since there is
no expected “freeze-thaw” cycle for the foreseeable future, the roads and
bridges are good to go for at least another 5 years -- maybe even 10 -- if the
GOP-controlled House and Senate can push through legislation banning people
from voting while allowing a governor to serve 3 terms.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
In
fact things are going so swimmingly that Grover Norquist has finally conceded
that the Marcellus Shale fee is so paltry it should no longer be considered a
tax.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
And
lastly, a new report by the Dept. of Revenue states that 70% of "C"
corps paying $0 is just not acceptable - thus effective immediately the Sec. of
Revenue will use the power he’s been granted to waive all taxes on the
remaining 30% of multi-national corps that pay anything at all!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Well,
a man can dream …<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-10420060339810275502013-08-30T11:10:00.000-04:002013-08-30T11:43:01.387-04:00Corbett’s fuzzy math<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People give Gov. Corbett a hard time for a lot of
(well-deserved) reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there’s
the clockwork regularity of putting his foot in his mouth (Latinos, women can
close their eyes during ultrasounds, now <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/attorneys-for-pas-republican-governor-say-gay-couples-just-like-12-year-olds-cant-marry/2013/08/28/531c2c7a-1054-11e3-a2b3-5e107edf9897_story.html">gay Pennsylvanians have been comparedto children</a>); the rapid turnover of Cabinet Secretaries (these people are even
leaving before being confirmed!); yeah he didn’t get any of his self-proclaimed
priorities done by his self-proclaimed deadline (transportation, liquor
privatization, pensions); and wow, those poll numbers -- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>so low they could double and 1/2 of
Pennsylvanians still wouldn’t think he should be reelected.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I’ll hand it to the Gov. Corbett, he sends out
optimistic emails when most people would be depressed (I guess a South Carolina
beach house helps!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wednesday (surely, while working from his <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/attytood/Corbett-to-vacation-with-his-far-right-policies-in-South-Carolina.html">oceanfront patio</a> refreshed
by a gentle sea breeze and a peach wine cooler [likely bought at Charleston’s
Total Wines]) Gov. Corbett sent out an email proclaiming how impressive his
role has been in Pennsylvania’s recovery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
email said: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The commonwealth has
added back more than 70% of the jobs lost during the recession, with the
majority of that gain occurring during the Corbett administration.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But his claims and explanations aren’t quite
accurate (although to be fair, I hear most of his fact-checkers are busy
vetting new administration officials).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Corbett also said that “Since January 2011, Pennsylvania has created
more than 130,000 private sector jobs, our unemployment rate is the lowest it
has been since the recession, and the number of people working, at just over 6
million, is at its highest since April 2008.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For some perspective, over 87,000 jobs were
created in the final 12 months of the Rendell administration; and according to
the Keystone Research Center’s analysis, only 86,600 jobs were created in the
first <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">30 months</b> of the Corbett
administration. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Put </span>another way, the state recorded
as many jobs in the first full year after the recession as it has in the subsequent
two and a half years. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Check my
math, but it seems like Corbett can only take credit for 48% of jobs created –
which is not a majority. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gov. Corbett was </span></span><a href="http://articles.mcall.com/2013-07-19/news/mc-pa-corbett-jobs-commercial-20130718_1_new-jobs-new-businesses-ad"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">criticized last month for using some
less-than-accurate jobs numbers</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, and since that criticism he’s only inflated them further.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention his claims are disingenuous,
in that he doesn’t mention the 45,000 family-sustaining, public sector jobs
lost during his tenure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe
the governor is including the 40,000 transportation jobs that would have been
created if the GOP had passed a transportation bill; or the tens of thousands
of jobs that would be created if PA expanded Medicaid; or by reinstating the
20,000 education jobs lost due to his budget cuts; or the jobs saved by filling
the posts of disgruntled employees’ in the administration; or hiring a single
Latino. At this point I’m sure the governor is focused on only one job – his. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-29440259600620866122013-06-27T13:17:00.002-04:002013-06-27T13:21:16.927-04:00GOP policies described by Republicans as “historic,” “commonsense,” “responsible;” but by Dems and ultimately the courts as “unconstitutional”<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s
been a week of historic court decisions – and not just in Washington. Earlier
this week, yet another of the Corbett/Turzai–led cabal’s milestone policies was
determined by Commonwealth Court to violate the state Constitution. This time
it was the </span><a href="http://www.citypaper.net/blogs/nakedcity/Court-rules-Corbett-social-service-block-grant-program-unconstitutional-.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Human Services Block
Grant</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
program. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Last
year’s pilot program, described by GOP leaders as giving counties “flexibility”
to spend human services money where they believe it is most needed (with the
added bonus of having their budgets slashed 10 percent), evidently was so
flexible in its interpretation of state law that it went outside the bounds of
the constitution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s
easy to lose track of which GOP policies are under court review at any given
time since so many laws signed by Gov. Tom Corbett (ehem, former Attorney
General –so I must<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>know the law) end up
there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Among
other PA GOP’s classics under scrutiny are 2012’s “</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87NN5sdqNt8"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Voter
ID</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
which is going to allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">” law and </span><a href="http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2012/07/26/commonwealth-court-has-struck-down-portions-of-act-13-heres-what-happens-next/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Act 13</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, which stripped
municipalities of the ability to approve their own zoning regulations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And
let’s not forget the ongoing </span><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/governor-plans-to-revise-lottery-contract-679479/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">hot potato plan</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> to hand over control
of our billion dollars in revenue-generating state Lottery to a foreign country
which would be permitted to change the gaming environment in the Commonwealth
with no oversight or run it into the ground and give it back to us (at a price)
with no repercussions, which was </span><a href="http://articles.mcall.com/2013-02-15/news/mc-pa-lottery-contract-illegal-kane-20130214_1_camelot-global-services-pennsylvania-lottery-tom-corbett"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">rejected</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> by current PA
Attorney General Kathleen Kane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps
if the GOP would just take a second to listen to Democrats upon occasion they could
prevent future carpal tunnel syndrome in the governor’s bill- signing hand, because
during floor debate for both Act 13 and Voter ID, we questioned the
constitutionality. I hate to say “we told you so,” but “we told you so.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I
do have to hand it to the GOP, because they seem to have a laser beam focus on spurring
job growth in the legal sector. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Corbett’s
office alone is spending unspecified millions of dollars on outside law firms
(from </span><a href="http://thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/undisclosed-fees-close-case-for-hearings-1.1417376"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Baltimore and New
York</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">)
to handle these issues – at a time when the governor has been crying wolf about
sorting out “</span><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/text-gov-tom-corbett-2011-12-budget-address-211425/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">must haves from nice
to haves</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">However
court scrutiny is nothing new to Gov. Corbett because remember as Grand Poobah
Attorney General a whistleblower case was brought against him in federal court alleging
he terminated two employees for having the audacity to call for an independent
investigation into some AG office operations. The court dismissed one count of the
suit, but before closing the case said two counts are viable in the appropriate
state court. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">…there
was also the time he joined 12 other attorneys general on a lawsuit regarding
Obamacare, the same Obamacare that was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But
we know health care has never been Corbett’s forte because his first action as
governor was to </span><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/02/gov_tom_corbett_maintains_his.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">dismantle adultBasic</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">, the health care
program serving 40,000 working Pennsylvanians, paid for partially using funds
from PA’s share of the federal Tobacco Settlement and by program enrollees. Corbett
then used the tobacco funds for other non-health related issues and that was
found to be </span><a href="http://articles.philly.com/2013-03-07/news/37503432_1_adultbasic-health-insurance-pennsylvanians"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">unconstitutional by a
Commonwealth Court</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">
judge just a few months ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of
course the GOP’s geography aptitude may be called into question too, as their
first attempt at redistricting maps made history by being the first to be
rejected as unconstitutional by the state Supreme Court in </span><a href="http://www.citizenscall.net/govt-politics/legislative-redistricting-plan-thrown-out-by-pa-supreme-court/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">50 years</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And
just this month, Gov. Corbett’s flipflop on the Jerry Sandusky-induced NCAA
sanctions demonstrates his misunderstanding of the law. After originally
accepting the “serious penalties” as part of the “</span><a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/governor-corbett-comments-on-ncaa-penalties-against-penn-state-university-163442276.html"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">corrective process</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">…,” he reversed his
stance and opted to sue the NCAA. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
lawsuit has been </span><a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/77991/judge-dismisses-corbetts-ncaa-lawsuit"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue;">dismissed by a federal judge</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">,
calling it a “fairly easy decision to dismiss.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Just
so I can say “I told you so” – my guess that if the Corbett/Turzai cabal is
able to convince enough lawmakers to go along with their liquor privatization
and pension schemes to get them to the governor’s desk, they’ll end up in the
courts as well with similar consequences.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-64184170195204819132013-06-12T10:29:00.003-04:002013-06-12T10:40:16.920-04:00The truth behind Gov. Corbett and GOP claims about state education funding.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvCw7F6URN6dke8iI6cgP9QKychkWmQaD3UGLxWYYCYDngJ0dvglBBB_d1u84BWMgVkmCHeTSFVxgPWY-5_d7y_pG06se8DeIE3FSwlAtUivWT6qU5SzMijq7Ig6AeC5NR9qvjEfYQGUf/s1600/ed+graph+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvCw7F6URN6dke8iI6cgP9QKychkWmQaD3UGLxWYYCYDngJ0dvglBBB_d1u84BWMgVkmCHeTSFVxgPWY-5_d7y_pG06se8DeIE3FSwlAtUivWT6qU5SzMijq7Ig6AeC5NR9qvjEfYQGUf/s400/ed+graph+(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the GOP claims to have put more state funds into education than ever before, check out the red line on the chart above. The GOP has put marginal funds into ONE education budget line item, while ELIMINATING others. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-7911948017363099382013-05-02T09:52:00.000-04:002013-05-02T09:52:27.209-04:00What is he smoking?
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gov.
Corbett has once again demonstrated his complete lack of understanding and
disrespect for Pennsylvanians. Rather than admit that policies like <a href="http://www.educationvoterspa.org/index.php/site/issues/governor-corbetts-budget-cuts-over-11-billion-in-education/"><span style="color: blue;">cutting
school funding</span></a>, limiting <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2013/03/05/court-says-pa-must-bring-back.html"><span style="color: blue;">access
to health care</span></a> and failing to invest in transportation infrastructure have
failed to energize hiring in our Commonwealth, he'll lay the blame with people
who receive <a href="http://articles.mcall.com/2012-10-23/news/mc-unemployment-busy-signals-20121023-10_1_unemployment-benefits-careerlink-officials-unemployment-compensation"><span style="color: blue;">busy
signals</span></a> when they call to apply for unemployment compensation, have had to
reapply for Medicaid coverage for their children after they were <a href="http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-17/news/30635537_1_medicaid-policy-eligibility-entitlement-programs"><span style="color: blue;">erroneously
eliminated</span></a>, or waiting in line for hours trying to get a photo ID that the
GOP told them they'd need in order to vote.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gov.
Corbett's job numbers speak for themselves. Before Gov. Corbett took office
Pennsylvania repeatedly had an unemployment rate below the national average,
and was an admirable 7th in job growth -- now <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/morning_roundup/2013/04/pa-49th-in-job-growth.html"><span style="color: blue;">we're
49th</span></a>. His administration boasted that Pennsylvania has <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/04/pa_labor_secretary_julia_heart.html"><span style="color: blue;">recovered
50 percent</span></a> of pre-recession jobs lost -- meanwhile Maryland has recovered
97 percent of theirs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
governor has repeatedly championed <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/04/on_tax_day_gov_corbett_should_put_people_ahead_of_corporate_tax_breaks_as_i_see_it.html"><span style="color: blue;">tax
cuts to campaign contributors</span></a>, while publicly blaming Pennsylvanians for
his failed policies. When will he learn that businesses don’t hire people because
their tax rate dropped -- they hire people because there is a demand for their
goods and services? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Blaming unemployed Pennsylvanians is not the answer</span><br />
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-20813018662164078232013-04-09T13:55:00.000-04:002013-04-09T13:55:03.522-04:00House Bill 790's (liquor privatization) public hearing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou0u0V_cOHLNfG2zBXU2epcjB_OfCZ3K6EKT_Cm4HlpaXD8wtyLK5itEKeFUHExagzly9sAwK1_7fk-eGVq9gi8ZmPsEMqymnLhIHRXBNZ4Yfa6QLMeaemZIStc0tXM_Mzxd5FjGsxdAM/s1600/096_0327_Liquor_Stores_016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou0u0V_cOHLNfG2zBXU2epcjB_OfCZ3K6EKT_Cm4HlpaXD8wtyLK5itEKeFUHExagzly9sAwK1_7fk-eGVq9gi8ZmPsEMqymnLhIHRXBNZ4Yfa6QLMeaemZIStc0tXM_Mzxd5FjGsxdAM/s320/096_0327_Liquor_Stores_016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEG2i7EBVqRZe44oxbKblqpdGRta4IDsd407K-nMfAlD_hYKw-wraD_ES43jjysx3VUjx65mUdbWs6aLNH7uQ15bk-8Tt9G5f2LdG2VWSWJPUnuWvru9LirzqGS24HB6iPImHPG5HjSKo7/s1600/096_0327_Liquor_Stores_007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEG2i7EBVqRZe44oxbKblqpdGRta4IDsd407K-nMfAlD_hYKw-wraD_ES43jjysx3VUjx65mUdbWs6aLNH7uQ15bk-8Tt9G5f2LdG2VWSWJPUnuWvru9LirzqGS24HB6iPImHPG5HjSKo7/s320/096_0327_Liquor_Stores_007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8te2vnbC5YtV-h_ZIoneB5dEwIy3tWpEik60hpEvG1oXTS2KZFg7N48VuRKZnt1HrO6Mh_9yNpIFAFG_mysa3KKYNpkToCbVX04JFW5Kd58YIGcp_r5UIok1-_1ntIgBeBUTW2Frc6EM/s1600/096_0327_Liquor_Stores_017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8te2vnbC5YtV-h_ZIoneB5dEwIy3tWpEik60hpEvG1oXTS2KZFg7N48VuRKZnt1HrO6Mh_9yNpIFAFG_mysa3KKYNpkToCbVX04JFW5Kd58YIGcp_r5UIok1-_1ntIgBeBUTW2Frc6EM/s320/096_0327_Liquor_Stores_017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here are some photos from an HDPC public hearing on House Bill 790 on March 27 just days after the bill was introduced and rushed through the House. There is one of a standing room only crowd, clearly people are interested in this issue. Thanks to Abington's Big Top Beverage and Rep. Madeleine Dean for hosting us. <br />
<br />
I encourage people to ask the House Republicans for pictures from their public hearing and see what they come up with.<br />
<br />Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-44752199002214783022013-04-04T16:40:00.001-04:002013-04-04T16:40:35.971-04:00Consumer Confusion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1SkxMTHYeew?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe>(<span style="font-size: x-small;">and thats just the beer distributors</span>)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Consumer Confusion<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Days after a marathon debate on liquor privatization
2.0, the Philadelphia Inquirer included an </span></span><a href="http://articles.philly.com/2013-03-26/news/38043606_1_wine-and-liquor-state-liquor-liquor-control-board"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">editorial</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
quoting some of my floor remarks, while I am flattered they were paying such
close attention, I’m concerned about the “facts” they used to reach their
conclusions, after all I’m sure the paper has nothing to gain from private
liquor sales (clearing my throat) so why would they ignore history or mislead their readers?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While I wait for them to print my response countering
their claims, here are some details of the plan that passed in the state House
based off my floor comments and focused on the claims of improved consumer convenience.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The GOP claims liquor privatization is all about
consumer convenience, but based on my calculations there are at least 20
different configurations of licenses possible under their plan. Depending on
what you want and when determines where you should go…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How does this make things less confusing for
consumers?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) – sells cases of beer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) – sells cases of beer and unlimited wine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) - sells cases of beer and unlimited wine and unlimited spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) - sells cases of beer and unlimited spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) - sells down to a six pack of beer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) - sells down to a six pack of beer, and unlimited wine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) - sells down to a six pack of beer, unlimited wine and
unlimited spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor
(D) - sells down to a six pack of beer, unlimited spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Restaurants/Hotel
(R ) – sell 2 six packs of beer to go and opened bottle of spirits and
open bottles of wine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Restaurants/Hotel
(R ) – sell 2 six packs of beer to go and 4 bottles of sealed wine and open
bottles of spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Restaurant/Hotel
(R) - sell up to 4 six packs of beer and open bottle of spirits and
open bottles of wine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">12.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Restaurant/Hotel
(R) - sell up to 4 six packs of beer and 4 bottles of sealed wine and
open bottles of spirits to go<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">13.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grocery Store –
12 bottles of wine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">14.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grocery Store
with a café (R ) – 2 six packs of beer, unsealed/open wine and unsealed/
open bottles of spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">15.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grocery Store
with a café (R ) – 4 six packs of beer, and unsealed/open wine and spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">16.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grocery Store
with an R license and a Grocery Store license - 2 six packs of beer,
unsealed/open wine and spirits to go and 12 bottles wine<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">17.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grocery store
with an R license and a Grocery Store license – 4 six packs of beer and 12
bottles wine, open wine and spirits to go<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">18.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wine and Spirit
Retailers – unlimited Wine only<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">19.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wine and Spirit
Retailers – unlimited Wine and unlimited Spirits<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">20.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wine and Spirit
Retailers - unlimited Spirits only<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In other words under the plan there
would be:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8 possible license configurations for beer
distributors<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4 possible license configurations for restaurants and
hotels<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 possible license configurations for grocery stores<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 1in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 13pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">Ø<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 possible license configurations for wine and spirits
retailers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></u></b><br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WAIT there’s MOre: <o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 14pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Since this plan is intended to make things less
complicated for consumer…</span><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; text-transform: uppercase;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Q</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. What are the hours of operations for a wine and
spirit store Monday through Saturday? How about on Sunday?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Answer.
9 a.m. -11 p.m. Monday - Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>9 a.m.
– 9 p.m. if have Sunday permit<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No Sunday permit 11 a.m. -9 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Q</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. What about a beer distributor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Answer.
24 hours, Monday through Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday without permit 9 a.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- 9 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Q</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. What about a beer distributor that sells wine and
spirits?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Answer:
9 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday - Saturday <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday no permit 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday with permit 9 a.m. -11 p.m. but can’t
be 24 hours<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Q</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. What about a grocery store?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
Answer. 7 a.m. -11 p.m. Monday through Saturday <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
with permit<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Q</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. What if I go into a Grocery store that has an R
license and I want to buy a bottle of wine?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Answer:
7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Saturday<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday without permit 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday with permit 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the age of employment
for the various licenses?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wine and Spirit Retail Establishment -21 years old<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Grocery Store with Unlimited Wine</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> – 18 years old<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Restaurant or Bar -18 years old<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor- 18 years old<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Beer Distributor that sells unlimited wine</span></u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> - 21 years old (*note difference with grocery store*)<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beer Distributor that sells wine and spirits - 21years old<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-895089888468970862013-03-13T15:42:00.000-04:002013-03-13T15:42:52.497-04:00Budgeting like a family?<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three weeks of budget hearings finished up last week -- an annual
ritual where state agency chiefs, among others, testify before the
legislature’s Appropriations committees saying yea or nay to the governor’s
spending priorities. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It got kind of heated for a few testifiers this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Revenue?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A week after Attorney General Kathleen Kane rejected the
Corbett administration’s rapid, secretive and unconstitutional plan to turn
over the state’s thriving Lottery to British firm, Camelot LLC, Revenue
Secretary Dan Meuser made his appearance before the House panel. He found
himself battered with questions about the lottery plan. Namely, how much the
high price consultants the Administration hired need to be paid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">See, even while the Corbett administration decides its next
step (and the clock is quickly ticking toward the March 16 deadline), and even
if the plan goes up in smoke, Corbett’s handpicked high price consultants still
need to be paid -- like MILLIONS and MILLIONS of (taxpayer) dollars. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And before you say, well, come on, how much are we talking?
Isn’t “millions and millions” kind of broad? Well that’s all the Administration
has been able to report to Pennsylvanians. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Meuser headed to a Senate hearing a week later – he still
didn’t know how much cash we’re talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He knew it would be “substantial,” but less than $30 million. See where
my broad generalization of MILLIONS and MILLIONs comes from?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In my opinion, and probably in a lot of people’s opinions,
these multimillion dollar payments to Chicago’s Greenhill & Co. and
Baltimore’s Piper LLP are a big deal, and the Administration should dedicate
the necessary time to calculating them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What I find so ironic about the Corbett administration’s
inability to figure all of this out, is that on many occasions Gov. Corbett has
compared Pennsylvania to the average family (albeit one that will cut to the
bone and refuse to consider Jr. picking up a part time job after school) evoking
images of a family around the dinner table looking at their finances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But what family purchases a good or service without knowing
the price? Is this the way Pennsylvania families budget? Hire a firm hundreds
of miles away and worry about paying the bill later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please, if Gov. Corbett is going insist on using his tired
analogy comparing Pennsylvania to the typical American family, he ought to at
least provide his revenue chief with a calculator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-49384124077683389882013-01-30T11:17:00.000-05:002013-01-30T11:17:18.027-05:00Corbett’s Lottery plan looks worse and worse (even after his self-aggrandizing blast email)
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the text of an email Corbett sent out in response to
groundswell of opposition to his plan to privatize the state Lottery. It was
distributed on Jan. 19, just days after </span><a href="http://www.pahouse.com/Sturla/video.asp"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">House Democrats</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> held a
Capitol news conference contesting the plan. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This email was meant to convince (aka deceive) seniors into
thinking funding for the programs which benefit them would actually gain from
giving our state Lottery to a foreign company. This only proves that Gov.
Corbett underestimates the intelligence of Pennsylvania seniors. Once they see
the facts, I’m guessing they’ll support this about as much as they supported </span><a href="http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/rick-santorum-consistently-wrong-on-social-security"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rick
Santorum’s plan to hand their Social Security savings</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to Bernie Madoff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read my comments below for a more accurate explanation of
his propaganda point by point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdHL9AUPMHUALKm8xVbi6jog1-V-Tu1pqE0NNBgrT7KvrNZtDQfqbQS9YPWoam6dgjPHi8sTH40htXhXIt1oA3rLyjATYxU4UU0nUgfw9rfGKgJX97k3eJGCiBfOs5HSpYy1jAl2bLVln/s1600/Corbett+blast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdHL9AUPMHUALKm8xVbi6jog1-V-Tu1pqE0NNBgrT7KvrNZtDQfqbQS9YPWoam6dgjPHi8sTH40htXhXIt1oA3rLyjATYxU4UU0nUgfw9rfGKgJX97k3eJGCiBfOs5HSpYy1jAl2bLVln/s400/Corbett+blast.jpg" width="335" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"><v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Corbett claims there will be at least $3 billion
in new revenue generated for seniors just by handing over the Lottery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not so fast. Even if you buy his numbers,
any additional revenue generated would come from expanding the Lottery to
include Keno and video poker. Heck, PA could meet or exceed those projections
if we expanded under our current system, owned and operated by
PENNSYLVANIANS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would make
additional dollars under the Corbett giveaway, ZERO.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Wow, $50 million set aside in this year’s budget.
That one time infusion of cash will definitely make up for the property tax
hikes or the millions cut in last year’s budget on programs to keep seniors in
their homes. This year’s $50 million won’t help much in future years when
Camelot fails to meet projections – for heaven sake it will barely </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2265725/National-Lottery-operator-Camelot-5m-set-aside-staff-bonuses.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cover
the bonuses</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> it’s handing out to its top executives this year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>This is fantastic news…but the current Lottery
already has its offices in Pennsylvanian, so this isn’t really a gain. And
Camelot had already lost a little credibility when it set up shop in
neighboring Delaware …home of the infamous tax evasion haven – Delaware Loophole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Camelot has already pledged to hire some
employees back, which pretty much proves they’ll be making layoffs. Sure those
workers could apply for unemployment compensation, if only the </span><a href="http://articles.mcall.com/2012-10-23/news/mc-unemployment-busy-signals-20121023-10_1_unemployment-benefits-careerlink-officials-unemployment-compensation"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">phone
lines at Labor and Industry</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> weren’t always busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having the phones lines tied up, is
the Corbett’s strongest strategy for keeping Pennsylvania’s unemployment
numbers down, and he’s still failing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>First, it’s just kind of hard not to laugh when
this governor talks transparency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
many of these phone conversations were with voicemail? or how many staff
members from the same office sat in on a meeting? Plus the testimony at public
hearings came after Corbett’s announcement to award the contract. Although I’m
hopeful an intrepid reporter will request the list of the 100 legislators
Corbett spoke with, but that’d probably result in </span><a href="http://articles.philly.com/2012-12-10/news/35728732_1_open-records-office-open-records-office-terry-mutchler"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">another
lawsuit against a member of the press</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> – so much for transparency.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-77049029754192214222012-11-28T13:01:00.001-05:002012-11-28T13:01:37.728-05:00For sale: Pennsylvania
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There he goes again! Remember when Gov. Corbett used to say
Pennsylvania is just like a family… when the budget was tight, they would sit around
a table and figure out how to get through the tough times. Although unlike the
average Pennsylvania family that would consider ways to increase income as well
as cut, Corbett would never consider letting Johnny take on a paper route or
working a second job himself. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Corbett’s Pennsylvania there was only one way --- cut,
cut, cut. But now that support for his slash and burn agenda has disappeared,
PA’s pater familia has another quick fix for the Commonwealth’s fiscal woes --
sell, sell, sell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yeah, that’s it… the liquor stores, the lottery -- if it’s
worth anything put it out for a yard sale and take the best offer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just sell it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently the governor renewed his interest in an initiative first
mentioned </span><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/state/corbett-seeks-to-privatize-pa-lottery-629682/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">last
April</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">: privatizing the state lottery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the time, Gov. Corbett was just investigating the lottery
privatization, and knowing the length of time a Corbett investigation can take,
I didn’t expect any action until at least 2014 when the influx of fast cash
could help a tough budget in a reelection year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But now the plan to privatize seems to be on the fast track.
Your party’s loss in the presidential, senate, attorney general, auditor
general, and treasurer races can be a strong motivator to do something and
quickly before anyone can check up on what it is you want to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now
the Administration is racing to judgment on the solo bid to privatize the
lottery. That’s right, ONE lonely bid – from a company in the United Kingdom. Yes,
that same United Kingdom that we fought 236 years ago to get out of our
government operations. Maybe the Tea Party can chant, “gaming without
representation” and help lift the curse. And like Cinderella’s carriage, this
bid disappears on December 31, conveniently before the General Assembly returns
to Harrisburg to weigh in on whether to sell off the family assets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bear
in mind, under its current management by the state’s Revenue Department, the
Lottery has<span style="color: black;"> increased sales by 8.5% in the last
fiscal year -- to $1.06 Billion -- and that these flourishing sales go to fund
programs for Pennsylvania’s nearly </span></span><a href="http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Data/PAStats/tabid/1014/Default.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">2 million
seniors</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Funds pay for </span></span><a href="http://www.palottery.state.pa.us/Winners-Beneficiaries/Where-Does-The-Money-Go.aspx"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">programs</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
like transit, rent and property tax rebates, prescription drug assistance,
senior centers and long-term care services<span style="color: black;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This leaves many asking: if the Lottery, which is owned by
the very citizens it benefits, is already profitable and going to the programs
our people depend on, why privatize, especially when there is such little
interest from potential takers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I say: why stop there? If you want to sell, then sell,
baby, sell.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe Camelot Global Services would like to purchase the entire
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Think about it…if it’s good for a portion of the state’s
operations, why not ALL state operations? They can’t do a worse job than this
Administration regarding roads, education and social services. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In addition to running our lottery and our liquor stores they
could pave our roads…for a fee. Operate our schools…for a fee. Care for our
infirm…for a fee, and we would never need to pay taxes again. We could just pay
a private company with a CEO that makes </span><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1220218/Camelot-chief-executive-Dianne-Thompson-hits-jackpot-1-8million-pay-day.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">15x
what the governor earns</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (so she must be good) to do it for us. By selling
out we could probably even punt on our pension obligation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And if the people don’t like the new benevolent corporate
entity, they can move to some other socialist state with a democracy like New
Jersey or New York (their governors have colluded with President Obama anyway).
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as in the case of our state’s liquor stores, the
Corbett administration has puts blinders on to the existing case studies.
Illinois, which privatized its lottery in 2010, has been let down by private
company’s failure to meet its forecasted revenue projection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember a few years ago when the casinos wanted to bring a
new industry to the Commonwealth… we said ok…pay a 55% tax -- and they agreed.
Contrast that with Corbett and the gas industry when they wanted to come, and
he said “Ok” -- for free!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In reality, the </span><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/11/editorial_camelot_hardly_there_are_too_many_questions_with_gov_corbetts_lottery_proposal.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Harrisburg
Patriot-News Editorial Board</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> has done more research on Lottery
privatization than the Corbett Administration, noting that the state has very
little negotiating leverage when there is a single bidder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once again , just like the sweetheart deal that Corbett
struck with Royal Dutch Shell that then required legislative action to
implement (</span><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/analysis_gov_tom_corbetts_plan.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">tax
breaks to the tune of $1.7 Billion</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">), this deal only appears to work on the
surface IF the legislature agrees to give the privateers Keno as a revenue
source … for free!... just like our shale gas. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like so many other Grover Norquist devotees, Gov. Corbett placed
all the Commonwealth’s bets that Marcellus Shale, if left untaxed, would do so
much for the economy in terms of jobs and revenue that he could just sit back
and never have to work at governing. It didn’t pan out and now he needs to sell
the farm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t do it governor!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3176473116891662339.post-51968682981154051592012-10-31T14:29:00.001-04:002012-10-31T14:29:57.070-04:00These Corbett job numbers are downright scary.
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Last
week when defending the <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/10/corbett_staff_raises.html#incart_river_default"><span style="color: blue;">$10,000
raises his boss doled out to top staff,</span></a> the governor’s spokesman told the Harrisburg
Patriot-News that Gov. Corbett has a “broader plan” to bring equity to the
state workforce’s <span style="color: #363636;">12,000 managers</span>. He said “<span style="color: #363636;">Governor Corbett plans to grow the economy so that
additional revenues become available which allow for additional raises.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #363636; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">His plan to “grow the economy,” rang a little hollow to me.
Perhaps because I had just done some research that points to PA’s economy moving
in the opposite direction of the nation’s at large. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">See,
while other Americans look at economic indicators like the unemployment rate
and foreclosures, and feel encouraged by the hopeful signs Pennsylvanians are
left wondering why the numbers in our state don’t do much to boost confidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">The
<a href="http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/gdp/gdpnewsrelease.htm"><span style="color: blue;">U.S.
Commerce Department</span></a> shows economic trackers like housing starts, home
prices and consumer confidence are growing, while foreclosures and unemployment
are down. But Pennsylvanians aren’t feeling this recovery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Plus
according to RealtyTrac <a href="http://www.realtytrac.com/content/foreclosure-market-report/september-and-q3-2012-us-foreclosure-market-report-7424"><span style="color: blue;">foreclosures
in the U.S. plunged to a 5 year low in September</span></a>. But in the Commonwealth
-- up a 134% since September 2011, the 2nd highest of any state in the country.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Similarly,
the U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 7.8% in September, a 3/10 percent drop, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/10/19/september-state-unemployment/1642183/"><span style="color: blue;">falling
in 41 states; Pennsylvania’s increased to 8.2 percent</span></a> last month, climbing
steadily every month since May.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Adding
to the pain and frustration <a href="http://wnep.com/2012/10/18/unemployed-need-help-get-busy-signal/"><span style="color: blue;">WNEP in
Scranton reported that many recently laid off Pennsylvanians hit a wall when
calling the state’s toll-free unemployment hotline</span></a> – getting a busy signal
-- sometimes for weeks on end. In fact when Labor and Industry Secretary Julia
Hearthway called, she got a busy signal too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">I’ve
heard the <a href="http://www.pahouse.com/PR/096102312.asp"><span style="color: blue;">frustration and
anxiety from would-be and existing U.C. claimants</span></a>, and those trying to
assist them firsthand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">So
when can we expect this promise to “grow the economy?” In his first 22 months
it looks its Corbett’s failed policies that are responsible for our state’s
nonexistent recovery. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Remember
back-to-back state budgets which laid off nearly 20,000 education
professionals, and the 40,000+ working Pennsylvanians kicked off their health
insurance, and asset tests to qualify for nutritional assistance – clearly these
do not contribute to a thriving recovery. Compounded by the governor’s inaction
on transportation infrastructure, which by the way would improve public safety
and creating tens of thousands of jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Not
only has the administration (and others remember “<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9rqYSvOhRk"><span style="color: blue;">jobs, jobs, jobs</span></a>”) failed
to generate the jobs it claimed were its top priority, it has also dismantled
the safety net there to assist struggling families. This is simply unacceptable,
Pennsylvanians deserve better.</span></div>
Mike Sturlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15229685665930323649noreply@blogger.com