John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Change does not come easy to Pennsylvania, a place known for its high percentage of native-born citizens, older residents and public policy that tends to remain the same.
So it comes as no suprise that efforts to change to the way booze is sold and the way the popular, successful state lottery is run both are up against strong opposition.
Nevermind Gov. Corbett's assertion that getting the state out of the booze biz is not only the right thing to do but also can pump $1 billion (over four years) into public schools.
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Another day, another load of grist for the gun debate.
A new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday shows Pennsylvanians support a variety of gun control measures from background checks to a ban on some weapons and ammo magazines.
Here are the highlights:
- 95 – 5 percent for requiring background checks for all gun purchases;
- 60 – 37 percent for a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons;
- 59 – 39 percent for a nationwide ban on the sale of magazines with more than 10 rounds.
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
While a new Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday morning strongly suggests that Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is very a bad bet for reelection next year, members of the anti-Corbett crowd would do well to check their own cards before going all in.
The poll says Pennsylvania voters, by a 51-31 margin, don't think TC deserves a second term.
It says women, by a 45-31 margin, disapprove of the guv.
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
(A brief discussion twixt Baer & Baer's editor, a.k.a. BE)
JB: Yo, boss, see the news story in the British tab The Daily Mail over the weekend.
BE: Oh, yeah, I usually spend my weekends reading British tabs.
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Let's all take a moment on a cold winter day to pay homage to a booming biz in PA.
For while winter might not be the time to think beer, you should know that suds are sizzling here.
(That's my two-line ditty in praise of one of mankind's oldest and best creations, dating back to -- according to Wikipedia, the source of all modern knowledge -- at least "the 5th millenium BC.")
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Gov. Corbett hosted about 75 former Penn State football players at the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg Tuesday night to explain his lawsuit against the NCAA, according to Harrisburg media.
Tuesday was the one-year anniversary of Joe Paterno's death.
One news outlet, ABC News affiliate WHTM-TV, says the private two-hour session included a sit-down dinner. Let's hope Corbett's campaign fund and not taxpayers picked up the tab.
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
Imagine your boss accepting your word that you spend $160 a-day on expenses every day you go to work because your company doesn't require any proof you actually spend the money.
Such is life in the Pennsylvania Legislature.
As I have written over and over, one of the more abusive perks taxpayers fund for the largest full-time legislature in America is per diem expenses, about $4 million worth in the latest legislative session.
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
(A brief discussion twixt Baer & Baer's editor, a.k.a. BE)
JB: Know what annoys me?
BE: Practically everything?
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
By the end of the very day Gov. Corbett announced details and defended his decision to contract with the British firm Camelot Global Services to manage the state lottery, top legislative Democrats formally asked Atty. Gen. Kathleen Kane to kibosh the contract.
House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa sent a letter to Kane on Thursday claiming the contract violates state and federal law.
Kane has 30 days to review then approve or reject the contract.
John Baer, Daily News Political Columnist
On behalf of Philadelphia I am personally bummed.
Veteran Democratic state Rep. Mark Cohen, a perenial leader in collecting expenses related to lodging and food, was not the top taker for the 2011-12 legislative session.
According to a report this week by Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Cohen is the second-highest earner of the perk pay called per diems.
John is the author of the book "On The Front Lines of Pennsylvania Politics: Twenty-Five Years of Keystone Reporting" (The History Press, 2012). Reach John at baerj@phillynews.com.
