gdp's Comments

GrassrootsPA : Pittsburgh Controller Lamb considers run for US Senate...

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:34:32 +0000

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

GrassrootsPA : Museums lobby for continuing state funding...

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:09:03 +0000

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.

GrassrootsPA : Without Hart, GOP Looks to Move On. Sights Set on Turzai as Challenger to Altmire...

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:06:08 +0000

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.

GrassrootsPA : Rendell & PA Mayors call for assault weapons ban...

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:58:07 +0000

The Governor behaving self-righteously. That's pretty rich. It would be comical if it weren't so sickening.

GrassrootsPA : Zappala 'interested' in US Attorney post...

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:38:29 +0000

"Believe me, Cmdr. Brackney has lost her weight" around the police department, Zappala said. Yeah, I guess he told her!

GrassrootsPA : Feds: ex-Lawrence County treasurer didn't file taxes...

Thu, 5 Feb 2009 23:30:54 +0000

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.

GrassrootsPA : State's budget problems may force tax hike...

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:31:52 +0000

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?

GrassrootsPA : PGH Schools stand to gain $132.5M under proposed economic stimulus package...

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:43:58 +0000

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...

GrassrootsPA : Judges indicted in Luzerne corruption probe...

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:30:16 +0000

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.

GrassrootsPA : Man who had dispute with bank crashes into bank's front door...

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 21:41:54 +0000

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...

GrassrootsPA : 13 years later, PA expects to finish building $368 million radio project, but system already obsolet

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:57:19 +0000

"Someone is going to get hurt'? Sadly, that tragic event has already occurred at least once. In December, 2005, state trooper Cpl. Joseph Pokorny was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop on I-279 just outside Pittsburgh. Corporal Pokorny was unable to contact local police (who, as it turned out, were patrolling just two blocks away) because state police and local police are not part of the same radio system.

GrassrootsPA : 13 years later, PA expects to finish building $368 million radio project, but system already obsolet

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:31:32 +0000

Ben, Lancaster County just fired M/A-COM and there was a piece in the York Daily record last week about York county's problems. Hard to believe that anyone would commit to them now.

GrassrootsPA : 13 years later, PA expects to finish building $368 million radio project, but system already obsolet

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:52:14 +0000

This is one of the state's most infamous boondoggles. The worst news is, that despite repeated assurances from the contractor and the Rendell administration, eight years after 9/11, PA's network simply does not work (i.e., provide statewide coverage to police, fire, emergency personnel, Penndot, game wardens and others). We are no closer to being prepared to handle a natural disaster (does the Valentine's Day storm on I-78 ring a bell?) or, God forbid, an act of terrorism than we were on September 10, 2001. It is also chilling to note that the state's contractor for this project -- M/A-COM (a division of Tyco) -- was just fired from the very same project in New York State (see last week's article in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/10/nyregion/10cont...The same equipment, technology and management that failed miserably in New York is also failing in Pennsylvania. Ticked off? Call your legislators and ask for answers. Only a bright light can prevent the state from spending hundreds of millions more on this project with no accountability.

GrassrootsPA : Friends of Dan Onorato Ends Year with $4 Million+ on Hand...

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 01:29:35 +0000

Love him or not, Dan Onorato is well-positioned to run for Governor in 2010. For those who are sanguine about the Republicans chances, it is likely that the Democratic nomoinee will outspend the Republican (whoever he or she is).

GrassrootsPA : Richardson scandal involves Rendell?...

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 01:26:53 +0000

5. The $26 MM Performing Arts Center in Midland

GrassrootsPA : Lamb 2nd elected PGH official to blab to press re: City Council President Doug Shields running again

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:33:03 +0000

Why would anyone want to be Mayor of Pittsburgh?