http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2F Welcome to Baer Growls, where we let you eavesdrop on Daily News political columnist John Baer's daily conversation with this editor in Philadelphia. en-us Tue, 15 May 2012 16:36:04 GMT John Baer 2012-05-15T16:36:04Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=151520955&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FPols-in-Prison.html There's at least a chance that former Democratic House Speaker Bill DeWeese and former Republican House Speaker John Perzel could meet up behind bars this week. Tue, 15 May 2012 16:36:04 GMT b7f0da69175cfc7a4908231b4400e730 John Baer 2012-05-15T16:36:04Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=151362475&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FThe-Gifts-They-Keep-on-Getting.html Gifts to elected officials are legal in PA but further the impression that our government is for sale; banning gifts would help erase that impression. Tue, 15 May 2012 10:52:56 GMT 9ca116cbb69bf497ef3bf6831f9b83c0 John Baer 2012-05-15T10:52:56Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=150927785&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FThe-Political-Pot.html Lots of stuff is getting stirred around in today's political pot; question is will any of of it last or mean anything? Thu, 10 May 2012 14:33:54 GMT 2f52c5e681c78e632942f51e5f3b2f33 John Baer 2012-05-10T14:33:54Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=150576105&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FSomething-that-Works.html It's rare to find something in government that works; the state Supreme Court has one good example. Tue, 08 May 2012 17:08:20 GMT 228ed753dec02ac2d70ea95bb148dc15 John Baer 2012-05-08T17:08:20Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=150417145&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FPension-Tension.html With state pension problems piling up, a Pittsburgh newspaper looks at growing costs of generous state pensions. Mon, 07 May 2012 14:35:21 GMT f7ade9a533df4054d9df61b974d4d02a John Baer 2012-05-07T14:35:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=150149255&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FOrie-vederci.html Convicted state Sen. Jane Orie says she'll soon resign but wants her sentencing delayed anyway. Mon, 07 May 2012 10:53:01 GMT 66d46ad99abf3976c0453136bdb73c14 John Baer 2012-05-07T10:53:01Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=149736775&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FWhat-Does-Rick-Want.html Santorum is to meet with Romney Friday to talk endorsement and more; what does Rick really want. Thu, 03 May 2012 14:43:00 GMT fe39e2e401150471033a8060e95af8ef John Baer 2012-05-03T14:43:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=149639165&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FOne-Good-Idea.html A state Rep from Pittsburgh wants to ban elected officials from running for one office while holding another; that's one good idea. Wed, 02 May 2012 16:13:59 GMT 020baf9ec9f028a455bd3ee2994d42ec John Baer 2012-05-02T16:13:59Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=149479105&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FA-National-Swat-at-Kane.html A national Republican group dedicated to electing GOP state officials tees off on Democratic attorney general primary winner Kathleen Kane. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:18:21 GMT 2f1ef2d9cd855935303d7af0b6c79463 John Baer 2012-04-30T14:18:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=149219015&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FAnother-Booze-Tease.html State lawmakers are again working on legislation to sell off State Stores; don't celebrate yet, it's an election year. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:31:11 GMT ab5b59fe077edc3264f4484dda8ef2d4 John Baer 2012-04-27T16:31:11Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=149038305&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FBipartisan-Bash.html Both parties tee-off on opponents in PA's U.S. Senate race; it's only a sample of what lies ahead. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:48:05 GMT 6212bbacc35ce59fdd66162637830d58 John Baer 2012-04-26T14:48:05Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=148860015&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FDeWeese-Wins-Loses.html Former House Speaker Bill DeWeese won in Greene County but lost in Dauphin County and faces a stint in prison. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:29:21 GMT b29c922188ba4ffafee7b96c369f72fb John Baer 2012-04-25T14:29:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=148660395&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FCorrecting-Corrections.html State Corrections Secretary John Wetzel says the prison system is "inefficient" but there's a program under way to make it better. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:11:53 GMT 87c256f72ae30c936c277daef1730932 John Baer 2012-04-24T14:11:53Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=148497275&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FLess-Transparency.html Harrisburg fails to keep up with candidate financial report filings; just another way in which transparency in politics is being disregarded. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:29:30 GMT b4d3a643d82257254065a02913915c25 John Baer 2012-04-24T11:29:30Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=148078465&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FGOP-Cannibalism.html PA Republicans are following the script written by national Republicans: they are eating each other up. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 14:46:47 GMT 5deb68269f7b5497077ab74340b9251f John Baer 2012-04-19T14:46:47Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=147901415&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FPols-and-Legal-Defense.html Should pols be able to spend campaign funds on their own legal defense? They do. And they shouldn't. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:17:52 GMT 33a60ec943be5791e5b910936e4728c4 John Baer 2012-04-18T14:17:52Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=147731645&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FPoll-Watchers-Delight.html New polls on Obama v. Romney give both sides reasons to hope; and give every pundit more to talk about. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:41:16 GMT abfcf6378d725ad15544917ed7381721 John Baer 2012-04-17T14:41:16Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=147568385&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FThe-Paths-for-Kane-and-Murphy.html Each of the Democratic candidates for state AG has a path for victory in the primary; here they are. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:46:00 GMT fab27694718a7b8d16c6c619d1a16a86 John Baer 2012-04-16T15:46:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=147240815&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FBuffet-Rule-Grrrr.html Obama's "buffet rule" makes me grrrr because it's not what it seems and it's a play for political gain. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:33:48 GMT 7d6ae2e6dfd263c63fe853dd1789161f John Baer 2012-04-13T17:33:48Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=748349&44=147145185&32=3796&7=762584&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fblogs%2Fgrowls%2FCorbetts-Real-Beef.html The Guv's comments about Daily News coverage of his welfare department are really tied to Daily News irreverence of the Guv. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:16:40 GMT abee9829a776f6688830fc5a10580f99 John Baer 2012-04-12T17:16:40Z