Day: April 16, 2013

Bill Kills Turnpike Commission

Bill Kills Turnpike Commission — State Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-63) will hold a press conference 10 a.m., tomorrow, April 17, to announced legislation “abolishing the PennsylvaniaTurnpike Commission and ceding all responsibility and maintenance of the turnpike to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).”

It’s about time. Kudos to Rep. Oberlander.

While one suspects the bill would not make the toll booths go away, it is a good time to point out that these man-made traffic snarls are about the least efficient of all means of raising revenue with all sorts of hidden costs ranging from higher milk prices in supermarkets to creating a competitive disadvantage to the port of Philadelphia versus New York which shippers can use to access the interior via toll free I-80.

And of course, the cost of tolling interchanges means that there is a lot less of them than there would be with freeways which means longer drives to destinations which means wasted gas and more smog.

 

Bill Kills Turnpike Commission

Bill Kills Turnpike Commission

Prevailing Wage Reform Advances

Nathan Benefield has just tweeted that  important prevailing wage reform bills have been moved out of the Pennsylvania House’s Labor & Industry Committee on 15-10 votes.

Regarding Boston Terror Attack

Regarding Boston Terror Attack — As of now there is not much to add to what is being said about what happened yesterday, April 15, in Boston although it should be repeated that among the three known dead is eight-year-old Martin Richard, and that of the 140-plus injured over two-dozen reportedly lost limbs.

Hopefully, those charged with bringing the guilty to justice and preventing a recurrence avoid using the crisis to advance a political agenda or blame those long away from government.

And hopefully, the attack was orchestrated abroad, as initial reports indicate, and was not the product of domestic terrorists such as Tim McVeigh or Kathy Boudin or Bill Ayers.

Regarding Boston Terror Attack

Smerconish Gone From WPHT

Smerconish Gone From WPHT — Teri Adams of the Independence Hall Tea Party Association tells us that as of yesterday, April 15, WPHT 1210 AM has a new daily lineup that does not feature Michael Smerconish, who has apparently invested the 30 pieces of silver he has earned over the last five years into a podcast.

Chris Stigall runs from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.; the always great Dom Giordano adds another hour and runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and national pundit Dick Morris joins Gary R’nel from 2 to 6 p.m.

 

Smerconish Gone From WPHT

Smerconish Gone From WPHT

Pay To Play Ban Passes Pa. House

Pay To Play Ban Passes Pa. House — The State House voted unanimously last week in support of a bill to end the practice of pay-to-play politics in the state contracting procurement process, says Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). House Bill 201 would strictly prohibit any state employee from evaluating any state contract proposal submitted by a former employer less than two years following the date of the state employee’s separation with the employer.

The bill aims to limit any undue influence a former employer could have on a state employee who is in the position of making contract decisions. House Bill 201 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

 

Pay To Play Ban Passes Pa. House

Pay To Play Ban Passes Pa. House

Cryptowit

By William W. Lawrence Sr

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Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: If you make any money, the government shoves you in the creek once a year with it in your pockets, and all that don’t get wet you can keep.  ~
Will Rogers