Commentary
Here’s how to avoid the next government shutdown | Madeleine Dean
President Trump didn't mention the shutdown once during his State of the Union address on Tuesday. We can't let another one happen.
Payday lenders just scored a win in Washington — will they try again in Pennsylvania? | John L. Micek
And, as ever, it’s those who are cheering the loudest for him that will end up suffering the most. Let's hope Pa. lawmakers have more sense.
Math is hard. Budget math is harder | Thursday Morning Coffee
When he rode into office four years ago, Gov. Tom Wolf was pretty clear about one thing: The way Harrisburg was balancing its books wasn’t working. Simply moving pots of money around, and relying on one-time fixes to make ends meet had to change. We’ve since come to refer to this as “The Pizza Law of Budgeting,” […]
People don’t trust blockchain systems – is regulation a way to help? | Opinion
Blockchain technology was supposed to make trust unnecessary – but that turns out not to be true. Most people will want laws and regulations to help make blockchain-based systems trustworthy.
State of the Union 2019: Investigating doesn’t rule out legislating | Opinion
The U.S. government has been able to legislate just fine during past presidential investigations.
When it comes to marijuana legalization, Pa. is following a familiar script | Opinion
On every major reform, Pennsylvania punts, waiting as long as possible before being dragged fighting and screaming into modern times. It would be nice if Pennsylvania didn’t have to be last again.
Today is the first day of the rest of the 2019 budget season | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers. Heading into Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget speech on Tuesday, there was really only one question worth asking: Which Wolf would show up? Would it be a bold progressive, buoyed by his landslide win over Republican Scott Wagner last fall, and emboldened by the surge of the Democratic Party’s youthful and increasingly diverse left wing? Or […]
This is why House Democrats are focusing on economic security for working families | Opinion
By Frank Dermody Many Americans have become discouraged with today’s politics of personal destruction and the influence of big money in campaigns. They are looking for something different. People want to vote for candidates up and down the ballot who will stand up for their ideals and fight for their interests. In 2018, more than […]
Wolf, lawmakers can’t forget the challenges facing the Pa. State Police | Opinion
By David Kennedy Pennsylvania State Troopers are working harder than ever before as our department continues to be stretched incredibly thin. Gov. Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania General Assembly have — and continue to provide — our department with new cadet classes each year, but we simply cannot keep up with retirements within our ranks. Currently, […]
Sober? Steady? Liked by Republicans? A most unusual Wolf budget indeed | John L. Micek
There was plenty that was familiar about Gov. Tom Wolf’s fifth budget address on Tuesday. Once again, he was after a higher minimum wage and more money for public schools. And he was taking another run at trying to get municipalities without their own police departments to pony up and pay for the free coverage […]
It’s our birthday! It’s your budget day! | Tuesday Morning Coffee
A Wolf budget. A Trump State of the Union. What could possibly go wrong?
Looking to improve Pa’s business climate, Gov. Wolf? Here’s a suggestion or two | Opinion
By Gene Barr It’s the start of a new legislative session — and a new term for Gov. Tom Wolf. The governor’s budget address this Tuesday sets in motion a very busy time in state government, as lawmakers and the administration work to finalize a state spending plan while at the same time trying to […]