Better transparency, clearer rules would help PA redistricting process in 2021

By   /  May 10, 2013  /  Accountability, Featured, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, Politics & Elections, Redistricting, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate  /  No Comments

NOW OFFICIAL: The second set of district maps (Senate map seen here) were approved by the Supreme Court this week. But should there be changes when the process begins again in 2021?

In the aftermath of a legal battle over redrawing Pennsylvania’s state House and state Senate district maps, one key player believes the commission charged with redistricting the state every 10 years can do better.

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PA lawmakers, unions, business make for a complex political brew

By   /  May 9, 2013  /  2010 Midterm Election, Elections, Featured, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate  /  No Comments

CENTER OF THE STORM: State Sen. Charles McIlhinney, R-Bucks, is at the center of the liquor privatization fight.

In April 2010, someone in Newtown, Bucks County, threw a party — a political fundraiser, like dozens or perhaps hundreds of similar events held across the state that election cycle.

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PA lawmakers crafting new tax loophole for private aircraft

By   /  April 25, 2013  /  Featured, Finances, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Senate, Taxes  /  No Comments

FEWER TAXES, MORE JOBS: The sales tax exemption would lure jobs to Pennsylvania, supporters say.

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania’s state sales tax code – already full of carve-outs for niche industries and special interests – is about to get a little more complicated.

The state General Assembly appears to be on the way to passing a new sales tax exemption for airplane parts and maintenance, meaning private plane sales and repair expenses would go untaxed. The change would mean a loss of $12 million dollars in tax revenue for the state General Fund.

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PA state taxes down, federal taxes up under Obamacare

By   /  April 24, 2013  /  Affordable Care Act, Featured, Federal Government, Finances, Health Care, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, State Budgets, State Government, State Senate  /  No Comments

MEDICAID: The federal government will pick up most of the costs for Medicaid expansion in Pennsylvania, but it all comes back to the taxpayers eventually.

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Taxpayers will be on the hook for additional costs if Pennsylvania decides to expand Medicaid in accordance with the federal health care law, but the those additional tax dollars will flow from the federal government, not from the state.
A new report from Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal Office – a [...]

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PA Week in review: (Bankruptcy) lawyers, guns and money in Pennsylvania

By   /  April 12, 2013  /  Accountability, Ethics, Featured, Federal Government, Finances, Fraud, Issues, News, News Roundup, Pennsylvania, Pensions, Pensions, Power Abuse, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate, Taxes, Transparency, transportation  /  No Comments

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Debt is drowning governments across Pennsylvania. It’s not a new story, but this week financial problems at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and in the state’s municipalities were front and center.

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