Western PA Amtrak service will probably depend on transportation package

By   /  April 10, 2013  /  Featured, Federal Government, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Senate, transportation  /  No Comments

RAILROADING TAXPAYERS? Should residents of the state have to put up $3.8 million to keep Amtrak running between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh?

The Corbett Administration has agreed to spend $3.8 million annually to support passenger rail service in western Pennsylvania, but the state Legislature has the final say.

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Two bills passed in ‘one of the most productive sessions,’ MO leaders say

By   /  March 19, 2013  /  Gun control, Health Care, Medicaid, Missouri, Power Abuse, Regulations, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate, Tax Reform  /  1 Comment

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By Johnny Kampis | Missouri Watchdog
ST. LOUIS – Lawmakers are enjoying their spring break this week, as the 2013 edition of the Missouri General Assembly reaches
the midpoint.
The output so far? Two bills sent to the desk of Gov. Jay Nixon, both dealing with tax credits. That’s out of about 1,500 bills and resolutions that House [...]

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Grand jury says Pennsylvania officials stole ‘millions’ from turnpike

By   /  March 19, 2013  /  Accountability, Elections, Ethics, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, Politics & Elections, Power Abuse, State Elections, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate  /  2 Comments

CAPTION

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Charges against eight men involved in alleged bid-rigging and “pay-for-play” schemes at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission may be only the surface of problems at the state agency.
Last week, Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced charges against former state Sen. Bob Mellow, D-Lackawanna; former Turnpike Commissioner Mitchell Rubin; former Turnpike CEO [...]

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They’re illegal now, but PA officials say risky bonds could ease debt

By   /  March 11, 2013  /  Featured, Finances, Issues, News, Pennsylvania, Pensions, Pensions, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Senate  /  No Comments

$42 BILLION: Pennsylvania faces billions in unpaid pension debt, but borrowing more to cover the current red ink would be a mistake, many experts warn.

Sometimes the cure can be worse than the disease.

So-called “pension obligation bonds” offer an enticing way for Pennsylvania policymakers to avoid a steep increase in pension payments over the next few years, but experts warn to tread carefully.

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PA Week in Review: Budget hearings wrap up, Corbett under fire

By   /  March 8, 2013  /  Accountability, Education, Ethics, Featured, Finances, Issues, News, News Roundup, Open Records, Pennsylvania, Pensions, Pensions, Politics & Elections, Power Abuse, State Budgets, State Government, State House, State Politics, State Senate, Transparency, Transparency, transportation  /  No Comments

weekinreview

By PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Budget hearings came to an end this week, the last shot for department heads to plead their case for extra funding in front of the powerful committees that will have much to say about the state budget’s fate between now and June 30.
Gov. Tom Corbett continued to take heat for not [...]

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