IntenseDebate - Rasputin

538 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Pittsburgh Controller ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Having failed to defeat the O'Connor and Ravenstahl juggernauts, he sets his sights on, what else? The US Senate, of course.

539 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Museums lobby for cont... · 0 replies · +1 points

This is classic and a great metaphor for why we are about to get wacked with a whopping tax increase this summer. Well-meaning, worthy causes have gotten hooked on government grants as part of their fiscal survival strategy. Now they come pleading their case to our legislators, alleging that all kind of bad things are going to happen if they aren't funded again. History shows that not only will the legislature restore funding for museums, public television stations and other non-profits, they will likely get an increase while sticking taxpayers with the bill.

539 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Without Hart, GOP Look... · 0 replies · +1 points

Mike Turzai will not be running for this seat.

He has "crossed the Rubicon" in his work in Harrisburg. Altmire -- fairly or otherwise -- will paint him with the broad brush of What Voters Hate About Harrisburg.

Look for his vote on the budget this year. He's in the House R Leadership -- he'll be expected to be a "yes" vote.

539 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Rendell & PA Mayors ca... · 0 replies · +3 points

The Governor behaving self-righteously. That's pretty rich.

It would be comical if it weren't so sickening.

548 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Zappala 'interested' i... · 0 replies · +1 points

"Believe me, Cmdr. Brackney has lost her weight" around the police department, Zappala said.

Yeah, I guess he told her!

549 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Feds: ex-Lawrence Coun... · 0 replies · +1 points

There is more to this development than meets the eye. In filing federal tax evasion charges against Felasco, the US Attorney's office in Western PA gives itself more leverage over a key witness for a grand jury reviewing the actions of yet-another infamous non-profit and their use of taxpayer money (http://www.mortgagefraudblog.com/index.php/weblog...Felasco's previous conviction and subsequent parole make him a prime candidate to share what he knows about the Affordable Housing scheme with federal authorities.

550 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - State's budget problem... · 0 replies · +1 points

I fully expect the Legislature to dither until late June and pass the largest tax increase in state history in the middle of the worst economic conditions of our lifetime. There will be no sincere or meaningful discussion (repeat: none) about cutting spending. The Governor and the legislative leaders will spend a lot of time trying to scare people (read: old people) that their prescription assistance will be reduced, buses will stop running, and property taxes will skyrocket. The fact of the matter is that billions could be cut from the state budget without affecting any of there things or costing anyone but a few bureaucrats their jobs.

Instead, what will likely happen is legislators, facing the option of raising state sales and income taxes, will begin to ask for money for pet projects (e.g., soccer stadiums and museums dedicated to slam dancing) and favored interest groups (e.g., an increase in the $5 billion in state aid to school districts to cover teacher contract salary increases). This log rolling effect -- "I'll vote for this nasty tax increase if you make sure money is in the budget for something I want" -- will balloon the deficit from $3 billion to nearly $4 billion). It happened in 1991, and it will happen again in 2009.

Disgusted yet?

551 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - PGH Schools stand to g... · 0 replies · +1 points

Education would get $66 billion more (which is more than the entire Education Department spent a mere 10 years ago). If you think the intention here is to help kids learn, the bill declares on page 257 that "No recipient . . . shall use such funds to provide financial assistance to students to attend private elementary or secondary schools." God forbid that parents may know more than government bureaucrats and union bosses about what is best for their child...

551 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Judges indicted in Luz... · 0 replies · +1 points

Bob, Gregory Zappala is using his father's network throughout Pennsulvania to do business. Whether he violated the law or not, I'm sure the FBI will determine before long.

551 weeks ago @ GrassrootsPA - Man who had dispute wi... · 0 replies · +1 points

Re: the theft at St. Vitus: that's the answer to the question, "what would happen if we didn't audit our books for seven years?'

This guy is almost in Veon territory...

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