PA Week in Review: Privatization efforts in spotlight

By   /  February 15, 2013  /  Accountability, Audio, Ethics, Featured, Issues, Judiciary, Media, News, News Roundup, Pennsylvania, Politics, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate, transportation  /  No Comments

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By PA Independent Staff
HARRISBURG – A majority of Pennsylvania residents favor privatizing the state liquor stores, but this week it was another privatization effort that stole the headlines.
Newly minted Attorney General Kathleen Kane blocked a contract that would have handed off the managerial duties for the state lottery to a private firm. The move is [...]

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Corbett divides, hopes to conquer union opposition of liquor store proposal

By   /  January 30, 2013  /  Audio, Featured, Finances, Issues, Media, News, Pennsylvania, State Budgets, State Government  /  No Comments

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Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday unveiled a plan to privatize Pennsylvania’s monopoly liquor store system, simultaneously executing a deft political move intended to accomplish a goal of his administration while undercutting some of his loudest critics.

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Pension reform will likely target future benefits, PA budget chief says

By   /  January 28, 2013  /  Audio, Featured, Finances, Issues, Media, News, Pennsylvania, Pensions, Pensions, State Budgets, State Government, Video  /  No Comments

PENSIONS: Budget Secretary Charles Zogby said Monday failing to fix the state's $40 billion pension debt would result in "deep, immediate and painful cuts" to the state budget.

Facing nearly $1 billion in new pension costs in the next two years, Pennsylvania appears to be inching toward reforming retirement benefits for state employees and public school teachers.

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PA Week in Review: 2013 setting up to be historic year for Pennsylvania

By   /  January 18, 2013  /  2012 General Election, Accountability, Audio, Elections, Ethics, Featured, Finances, Issues, Media, News, News Roundup, Pennsylvania, Politics, Politics & Elections, State Budgets, State Elections, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate, transportation  /  No Comments

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By PA Independent Staff
HARRISBURG – The Corbett Administration finalized a contract to privatize the management of the state lottery this week, but bigger issues are on the horizon – including a long-awaited transportation funding plan and a renewed effort to also privatize Pennsylvania’s state monopoly on liquor stores.
Judging from this week, 2013 could be an [...]

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Survey: Pennsylvanians want better roads, don’t want to pay for them

By   /  January 17, 2013  /  Audio, Featured, Finances, Issues, Media, News, Pennsylvania, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate, transportation  /  1 Comment

WHO WILL PAY: Most Pennsylvanians want better roads and bridges, but a majority say they don't want the cost to come out of their own wallets. It makes about as much sense as having a town in Lycoming County named Jersey Shore.

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – An overwhelming percentage of Pennsylvania residents are likely to support an upcoming proposal from Gov. Tom Corbett to invest in the state’s roads and bridges.
But most of them would rather see someone else pay for it.
According to a pair of surveys completed by AAA Mid-Atlantic last year, 88 percent [...]

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