IN THE AFTERMATH of the first round of criminal charges in a spreading investigation of the Legislature comes the question - who or what can save this institution?
- Stu Bykofsky: Shaggin' on our dime? We have needs, too
- Complete coverage of politics
BECAUSE I've often bashed members of Congress and our Legislature for failure to act on health-care issues while they live under a taxpayer-provided blanket of full coverage, I feel duty bound to note a small step forward.
- THINK OF IT as the latest (but not the last) wave in an ocean of shame. Criminal charges announced yesterday against a dozen amazingly arrogant "public servants" from your Legislature vividly underscore the need in Harrisburg for a thorough cathartic cleansing.
- NOW SOME fun facts from that $28.3 billion state budget passed (late, as usual) over the July 4 holiday weekend when nobody noticed.
- THE LARGEST full-time legislature in America is set to stampede out of Harrisburg for its annual summer break - leaving, as usual, a bunch of good ideas trampled underfoot.
- A BAD PUN: Gov. Ed tries to push Pennsylvania forward, but he just can't budge it. See, it's June 30, the end of the state fiscal year, another budget deadline, and guess what?
- YOU'D THINK that our conservative-leaning Legislature would jump at a chance to save $100 million a year in the state welfare budget, wouldn't you?
- I'M NOT MUCH of a rock concert fan. I'm too old and they're too loud. And even when I wasn't too old I didn't go to many.
- IF YOU WERE from another planet and went to yesterday's Senate State Government Committee meeting in the Capitol, you might think that Pennsylvania is a progressive place.
- I SAID IT before. I'll say it again. Until state lawmakers help hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians without adequate health care or insurance, they should forgo their own taxpayer-financed coverage.
- I HAVE TO CONFESS. The presidential primary season that just ended hit me - a practicing political cynic - as a remarkable bit of democracy.
- AS STATE lawmakers rattle around the Capitol trying (again) to pass a budget on time, or trying (again) to pass a statewide smoking ban, I'm reminded (again) of the need for reforms - and how unlikely they are to happen.
MORE STORIES
- Top Jobs
- Top Homes
- Top Cars
Philly.com Promotions
- Apparel
- Books
- Movies
- Page Reprints
- Photos
Buy Inquirer, Daily News & Philly merchandise here including:
Ticket Offers
- News | What's Happening | Sports | Restaurants & Food | Arts & Entertainment | Living | Travel | Business | Health | Opinion
Site Services:
Classifieds:
- Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Rentals | Marketplace | Celebrations
Partners: