No cost? Not quite: Self-funded PA website contract costing up to $2.6M

By   /  May 16, 2013  /  Featured, News, Other News, Pennsylvania, State Government  /  No Comments

WEB WORK: The Office of Administration says server outages may be a thing of the past once its new contract for web services with NIC is up and running.

A state lawmaker continues to raise red flags about a website redesign and management contract.

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PA Dems press governor on Medicaid expansion

By   /  May 15, 2013  /  Featured, Issues, Medicaid, News, Pennsylvania, State Budgets, State Government  /  No Comments

CAPITOL DECISIONS: Medicaid expansion continues to hang over Gov. Tom Corbett and budget-making lawmakers.

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Democratic leaders in the General Assembly say Gov. Tom Corbett has delayed long enough on a decision about expanding Medicaid in Pennsylvania.
And if the governor won’t make a decision, they are ready to force his hand.
“If Gov. Corbett is unwilling to do the right thing, my colleagues in [...]

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What’s in your package? PA distributors may get to sell six-packs

By   /  May 14, 2013  /  News, Pennsylvania, State Government  /  No Comments

CHEERS: Privatization debates in the Pennsylvania General Assembly could mean changes to where Pennsylvanians can buy six packs.

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — A simple six-pack of beer is becoming a focal point of the most substantive legislative debate on Pennsylvania alcohol laws since Prohibition.
A Tuesday afternoon Senate Law and Justice Committee on liquor privatization, headed by Chairman Chuck McIlhinney, R-Bucks, featured numerous testifiers discussing the already-private industry of beer sales.
Chief [...]

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Right and left oppose Common Core standards in PA

By   /  May 14, 2013  /  Accountability, Education, Featured, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, State Government  /  No Comments

PASS THE TEST: A new test will determine whether high school students can graduate, but the standards used for those assessments is raising some questions.

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – They don’t always agree on education policy, but when they do, it’s to oppose an unfunded mandate on school districts.

The implementation of the so-called Common Core standards in Pennsylvania public schools is facing united opposition from teachers unions and tea party groups – two political factions that rarely, if ever, play on the same team.

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Virginia GOP convention highlights party split

By   /  May 14, 2013  /  Elections, News, State Government, Virginia  /  No Comments

SPLITSVILLE: Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli isn't supporting Gov. Bob McDonnell's transportation plan.

By Carten Cordell │ Watchdog.org, Virginia Bureau
ALEXANDRIA — Virginia Republicans this weekend will launch an experiment in politics, opting for a party convention to choose a slate of candidates for statewide offices.
The move eliminates a long, drawn out and often expensive primary season.
But while the goal is to give voice to a diverse electorate, the gathering [...]

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