News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
Tawdry, as you must know, means cheap and gaudy but this was not always true. The name comes from Saint Audrey’s Lace, a silk ribbon worn around the neck during the Middle Ages. Medieval merchants sold cheap, bright substitutes to country bumpkins who couldn’t afford the real thing. They called it “tawdry” an obvious take off of St. Audrey.
— William W. Lawrence Sr.
Flatulent Fred Movie Courtesy Of Wildsound — Toronto-based Wildsound Festival has turned our short story Flatulent Fred into a movie.
Here it is.
Thanks again, Wildsound.
Not sure how much Bill Gates appreciates it, though. 🙂
Best Budget Choice Ignored In Pennsylvania
By Leo Knepper
Often times the news media, Gov. Wolf, and the allies of Big Government in both parties present Pennsylvania’s budget choices as raising taxes or shutting down “vital services.” Two weeks ago, we presented several corporate welfare programs and earmarks that were driving up spending. This week we wanted to let you know about legislation that would save taxpayers $370 million by targeting government overhead.
Most people are unaware that overhead, known as General Government Operations in budget parlance, will cost taxpayers roughly $3.7 billion this year. In the private sector, businesses have focused on cutting overhead for years if not decades. Our state government has not been as vigilant in cutting costs as it would have you believe. Most of the cost savings programs that have been implemented merely nibble around the edges. New legislation introduced by Rep. Frank Ryan, a CAP member, would take a bigger bite out of the problem.
HB 1691 would cut the overhead budget line items by 10 percent across the board. Opponents of the measure would present this an unreasonable cut. However, a ten percent cut would still give the Executive Branch, Attorney General’s office, and legislature over $3.4 billion to spend on overhead for the year; that is hardly a paltry sum.
Before Gov. Wolf and the General Assembly try to raise taxes, they should first look at ways to reduce costs. Please, take a moment to let your Representative know that there are options other than higher taxes to get the Commonwealth’s fiscal house in order.
Mr. Knepper is executive director of Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania.