Pennsylvania continues to look less like a swing state as the 2012 presidential election draws closer
Two independent polls released this week show President Barack Obama's lead in Pennsylvania widening over Gov. Mitt Romney: Romney does slightly better among likely voters in the F&M poll, trailing only by 9 points: 52 percent to 43, according to a PoliticsPa report.
Pennsylvania must face the growing and unsustainable costs of retirement benefits for public school teachers and state workers.
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG — Halfway through his first term, Gov. Tom Corbett is about to face his biggest political challenge – one that has little to do with polls but a lot to do with the fiscal future of the Keystone State. Pennsylvania must face the growing and unsustainable costs of retirement benefits for public school teachers and state workers. The problem amounts to about $40-billion liability in payments of benefits to retired public school teachers and state workers. In the coming years that figure will stop being an ominous sign at the bottom of a ledger and start having real consequences for the people of Pennsylvania. What do you think? Tell us in the comments section below. Unless changes are made, the …
6:29 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
aside from JOBs from developers billed to taxpayer I havent seen any 12.hr JOBs created by TOM Corbit or any member in Lehigh County nevertheless I want to see JOBs before any more is built in allentown .Show me a profit in the hockey ring then give more funds not before!! more ›
State races could take center stage as far as TV commercials as presidential candidates pull spending in Pennsylvania
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG – With both major presidential campaigns pulling ads from Pennsylvania airwaves recently, some political observers and operatives see at least a limited opportunity for other races to grab the spotlight. And while residents might be glad to know they won’t be barraged with anti-Obama and anti-Romney ads in the last seven weeks before Election Day, they might have to get ready for lots of ads touting U.S. Senate candidates Bob Casey andTom Smith, or attorney general candidates Dave Freed and Kathleen Kane. Without presidential campaigns to compete with, state races running on smaller budgets have a chance to make a splash in Pennsylvania. “It’s a much better market right now for the lower level …
Democrats want to avoid a primary battle in 2014 and are looking for the best candidate to opposed Gov. Tom Corbett when he runs for re-election
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent Pennsylvania Democrats at last week's national convention said there is not a clear-cut favorite to challenge sitting Gov. Tom Corbett in 2014. Still, with Corbett’s approval rating in the mid-30s on most polls, Democrats said they are confident they can break a 60-year trend in which one party and then the other has controlled the governor’s mansion for eight years at a time. Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro said the Democrats had a deep bench of candidates, who could make a case for replacing Corbett. “Whoever takes on Tom Corbett is certainly going to have their hands full, but will certainly have a lot of wind at their backs,” Shapiro said, though he declined to offer a personal favorite. U.S. …
1:34 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Karen, don't even bother with these two uneducated conservative dolts. They're a waste of time. more ›
Former Gov. Ed Rendell told reporters at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., that even though Republicans are pulling advertising from Pennsylvania, Democrats must work hard to secure the state for President Barack Obama.
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s a trap. Or at least it could be. Former Gov. Ed Rendell warned the Pennsylvania delegation at the Democratic National Convention here that the presidential race is not over in the Keystone State, despite reports this week that Republicans were pulling advertising out of the state. Most polls show Democratic President Barack Obama with a lead of between 5 and 10 points in Pennsylvania, but Rendell said the GOP might be laying a trap in the hopes that Democrats will slack off in their efforts to secure the state’s 20 electoral votes for Obama. “If they decide to come in and blitz the last six or seven weeks, they can do it if they want,” Rendell said. “All of a sudden that 9 point lead …
11:48 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Throughout this there is many mentions of God and Faith as in the Christian beliefs, one point that has not been pointed out is that every Christian religion protestant and catholic deemed Mormon a cult and to this day it is a cult, now every republican wants to jump in with him for whatever reason, mostly over womens choice or birth control. more ›
More than $3 billion in unemployment debt has been cleared following Pennsylvania's refinancing with Citibank
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania has successfully refinanced more than $3 billion in unemployment debt with the federal government, a move the state says will save businesses an estimated $12 million in taxes and penalties over the next seven years. Because the state was more than $3 billion in debt to the federal government after borrowing repeatedly to cover unemployment compensation payments during the economic downturn, businesses would have had to pay a 1.1 percent effective rate on payroll taxes, instead of the normal effective rate of 0.8 percent. Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Julie Hearthway said the refinancing of Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation debt would help grow businesses and …
3:29 pm on Monday, September 3, 2012
"Businesses, not taxpayers, will still have the responsibility to pay off the debt, though at a lower rate than before." is bull. Any cost to a business including the cost of higher unemployment rates will be passed along to the consumer. The consumer is ultimately pays all taxes. more ›
The Corbett administration warns that government programs cannot count on the state to replace declining federal dollars.
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG – An annual set of budgetary guidelines issued by the Corbett Administration to all state agencies and departments this month spells out the fiscal challenges facing Pennsylvania and warns that government programs cannot count on the state to replace declining federal dollars. Though the 2012-13 fiscal year is less than two months old, the recently published administrative circular is already looking ahead to expected cost increases in next year’s budget, forcing many parts of state government to tighten their belts even further. The document warns that budget planning for 2013-14 should be predicated on the fact that Pennsylvania’s economy is still in a period of recovery from the “Great Recession…
2:41 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
I think the reason incarceration rates are up, yet crime rates stay consistent has to do with the fact that you stay in jail for longer then just a few days. Someone who is in jail for 20 years contributes to the incarceration rate for 20 years, but the crime rate for only one of them... just saying more ›
A state House committee is expected to file a report on property tax relief measures by Nov. 30, examining municipal and school property tax rates and their cost drivers.
By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent HARRISBURG — State Rep. Nick Micozzie, R-Montgomery, served on a property tax committee around 12 years ago, he said. The committee also crafted a report to reform school property taxes. And then it failed to secure the votes on any legislation. He said he doesn’t see that changing this time either. “I think we’re going to spin our wheels a lot of times, like I have done over the years,” he said. Micozzie joined 12 other members of the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform last week and heard the same arguments for property tax reform lawmakers made this past session, treading water until a new fiscal analysis comes out in the fall. The committee is expected to file a report on property tax …
6:41 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Andrew said,"Your assertion that the value of the property is not an indicator of the owner's income is ludicrous." Then let me introduce you to the world were elderly people have to take in borders or rent their garages out to make ends meet. Where people can no longer manage and must consider a reverse mortgage. Where you inherit the home you grew up in but realize you would never be able to … more ›
Gov. Tom Corbett signed Pennsylvania’s second consecutive on-time, no-tax-increase budget on June 30, but his approval rating with voters continues to slip in August.
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG — Following the passage of his second state budget, Gov. Tom Corbett’s approval rating slipped again, according to a new Franklin and Marshall College poll released Thursday. The poll shows 28 percent of voters think Corbett is doing a good or excellent job, while 66 percent believe he is doing a fair or poor job. Corbett visited the Lehigh Valley last week to tout the creation of more than 500 manufacturing jobs at a Breinigsville plant. Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was up slightly in July. Terry Madonna, a professor of political science and the director of the poll, said Corbett’s low ratings are largely based on his support for budget cuts in higher education, basic education and human …
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Republican voters acting on behalf of the state GOP have officially challenged signatures submitted by Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, who is seeking an equal place on the November ballot in Pennsylvania beside major party candidates Bara
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Republican Party has already booted one third-party candidate from the state’s presidential ballot and is making life difficult for Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson. Republican voters acting on behalf of the state GOP have officially challenged the signatures submitted by Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico, who is seeking an equal place on the November ballot beside major party candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Libertarian Party presidential nominee and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson could be knocked off the ballot in Pennsylvania by the Republican Party. Ron Nielson, senior adviser for the Johnson campaign, told PA Independent on …
2:32 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
On the ballot for the Presidency, Gov. Gary Johnson (Libertarian) and Dr. Jill Stein (Green). Make a special note to remember to watch the Free and Equal Election Debate between third party candidates, Gov. Gary Johnson and Dr. Jill Stein to be aired tonight on Monday evening, Nov. 5th from 9:00 - 10:30 pm Eastern Time. Perform a worthwhile civic duty, and be certain to listen in on this historic… more ›
Debi
1:24 pm on Saturday, November 3, 2012
As for Obamacare: while sitting in Doctors Offices i have heard patients debate this issue. One of the comments I have heard is that I quote " My employer has told us that the medical insurance I currently have through them is going to increase 50% because that is what he/she has been told. That is a LIE by your employer. The insurance company's MAY NOT increase your premium.by 50% they are … more ›