Omnibit Of The Day

Spain gets its name from the Hebrew word meaning “island of the rabbit”.

At least according to some.

–William W. Lawrence Sr.

Bills Modernize Prevailing Wage In Pa.

Bills Modernize Prevailing Wage In Pa. — The House Labor and Industry Committee sent to the full body last  week two bills aimed at modernizing the state’s prevailing wage law, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129), who is a member of the Committee.

The prevailing wage applies to any public works project estimated to cost more than $25,000, which includes any construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration, or repair paid for in whole or in part out of the funds of a public body. That amount has not been altered for more than 50 years.

House Bill 796 would raise the threshold to $100,000. If the current $25,000 threshold were to be adjusted for inflation, it would equal just under $188,000.

House Bill 665 would expand the types of road maintenance projects that would be exempt from Prevailing Wage Act requirements to enable municipalities to stretch their road repair budgets and allow them to maintain more roads.

 

Bills Modernize Prevailing Wage In Pa.

SEPTA Traffic Snarls In Springfield

SEPTA Traffic Snarls In SpringfieldSEPTA Traffic Snarls In Springfield — Work on SEPTA’s Route 101 trolley line caused stop lights to turn steady red on Springfield Road in Springfield this morning, April 24, 2013, leading motorists to make their own traffic rules until police arrived to provide some order. The photo was taken at 10:12 a.m. Police arrived on the scene about 10 minutes later.

 

SEPTA Traffic Snarls In Springfield

Bob Edgar (1943-2013) Pol Pot

Bob Edgar (1943-2013) Pol Pot — Bob Edgar died yesterday, April 23. He represented the 7th District of Pennsylvania in Congress from 1975 to 1987. He was a Democrat.

One should not speak ill of the dead so I’ll simply note that my most vivid recollection of him is the series of articles he wrote for The Philadelphia Inquirer in which he defended Pol Pot and denied the existence of the Cambodian killing fields.

Bob Edgar (1943-2013) Pol Pot

Cryptowit

By William W. Lawrence Sr

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Axkftg Fxeobeex 

Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: Whether it’s the best of times or the worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.
Art Buchwald

Turnpike Commission Ends With HB 1197

Turnpike Commission Ends With HB 1197Turnpike Commission Ends With HB 1197 — Legislation has been introduced last week to abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, following grand jury findings highlighting waste, fraud and abuse within the agency, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

House Bill 1197 would transfer all operations, maintenance, construction and other responsibilities for the turnpike to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in an effort to streamline government and enhance efficiency.

If enacted, House Bill 1197 would require PennDOT to honor any collective bargaining agreement in existence between the Turnpike Commission and any employee organization. The bill also would assign debt of the outstanding bonds of the Turnpike Commission to the Commonwealth and would allocate turnpike tolls for repayment of the debt.

The Turnpike Commission is currently run by nine executives and is in charge of 545 miles of roadway. By comparison, PennDOT is run by seven executives and manages more than 41,000 miles of roadway.

The bill now awaits consideration in the House Transportation Committee.

 

Turnpike Commission Ends With HB 1197

 

Cryptowit

By William W. Lawrence Sr

Nyvkyvi zk’j kyv svjk fw kzdvj fi kyv nfijk fw kzdvj, zk’j kyv fecp kzdv nv’mv xfk.
Rik Sltynrcu

Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: Keep cool; anger is not an argument.
Daniel Webster

Quakers, Bootleggers, State Stores

Quakers, Bootleggers, State Stores — Kevin Williamson’s explains how anti-free market Republican cronyists are trying to stop the ending of Pennsylvania’s government liquor monopoly.

Hey, did you know that the guy who got the contract for those laughable wine kiosks in grocery stores was Ed Rendell’s finance chairman?

Or that state store clerks are members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 which is led by Wendell W. Young IV,  who gets  a $260,000 salary?  Do you really think he works a 40 hour week?  The union’s previous president was Wendell W. Young III. You’d almost think they were North Koreans or something.

Hat tip Bob Guzzardi

Quakers, Bootleggers, State Stores

Quakers, Bootleggers, State Stores

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Bill Before Senate

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Bill Before Senate — The House voted this week in support of legislation to eliminate the inheritance tax on property transferred upon the death of a natural, adoptive or step-parent to or for the use of a child 21 years of age or younger.

House Bill 659 would eliminate the current 4.5 percent tax placed on a property transfer of that type. The bill unanimously passed the House last session and is one step in dealing with the levy commonly referred to as the “death tax.” Current law does not tax the transfer of property upon the death of a child 21 years of age or younger to or for the use of a natural, adoptive or step-parent, and this bill seeks to ensure children also would not be taxed in the event of a property transfer.

House Bill 659 goes to the Senate for consideration.

 

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Bill Before Senate

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Bill Before Senate

Cryptowit

By William W. Lawrence Sr

Ztte rdda; pcvtg xh cdi pc pgvjbtci.
Spcxta Ltqhitg

Answer to yesterday’s puzzle: Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
Saint Paul