The ongoing budget impasse has dragged down the approval ratings of Gov. Rendell and state lawmakers to dismal depths, according to a poll released today.

Fewer than three out of 10 Pennsylvanians believe the Democratic governor is doing an excellent or good job – the lowest marks Rendell has received since taking office in 2003, the survey conducted by Franklin & Marshall College shows.

Yet, even more blame the 253-member General Assembly for the budget impasse – 54 percent compared to 31 percent who say Rendell is the cause. Not one of the 643 Pennsylvanians surveyed graded the legislature’s job performance as “excellent”.

Asked if he was surprised by the overall poll numbers, Rendell quipped to reporters, “I am surprised it is that high.”

The survey, which has a margin of error of about 4 percent, was conducted Aug. 25-31 as the state was ending its second month without a fiscal budget for 2009-10 in place.

The poll also found that U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter is holding a 37-11 percent lead over his Democratic primary challenger, Congressman Joe Sestak. Specter also leads former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) 37-29 percent in a possible 2010 general election faceoff.
 

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Just in time for the Labor Day weekend road rush, PennDot has launched a new information service to help drivers steer clear of highway hazards.

The 511 system allows motorists to call in and check on any highway construction, weather-related news or traffic accidents throughout the state. They can also access the system online at www.511pa.com.

The 511PA roadway network includes all 1,759 miles of interstate including the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as well as other major roadways in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Commuters and other travelers also can sign up for personalized travel information that will send bulletins to them via email or text message about any back ups or other issues along their regularly traveled route. There also will be links to public transportation agencies and major airports. PennDot officials say they are working on developing a system to alert riders to bus and train delays.

Another feature gives speed limits on different sections of road so drivers can know ahead of time where they need to slow down. PennDot urges drivers not to call while driving, but to find a safe place to pull over and call.

When the service goes live on Sept. 4, Pennsylvania will join 35 states that already have established 511 services.

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Booze Brother?

State liquor control board officials announced today that actor Dan Aykroyd will sign bottles of his Crystal Head Vodka at the Wine & Spirits store at 1218 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10,

Aykroyd, perhaps best known for role in Ghostbusters and his days on Saturday Night Live, has been involved with producing and distributing wine and spirits for seven years. He created Crystal Head Vodka as a result of his fascination with the supernatural.

The vodka is filtered through Herkimer diamonds, which, according to New Age beliefs, embody positive energy. It is stored in a bottle modeled after mystical crystal heads unearthed across the globe, according to the distiller’s website.

Aykroyd will sign bottles for those who purchase the vodka, which retails for $49.99.

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State Rep. Tom Killion, (R., Delaware) is exploring a run for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Killion, 52, a former small businessman, succeeded the late House Speaker Matthew J. Ryan in 2003.

In a press release, Killion . who has been involved in county and state politics since 1992, said he formed an exploratory committee after receiving positive feedback from GOP party leaders. He said if he decides to run in the coming weeks, Killion will advance a fiscal belt-tightening, pro-business platform.

“I believe strongly that we need to maintain fiscal responsibility on the state level while creating a better economic environment that allows businesses to grow, flourish, and create new jobs,” Killion said.

Other Republicans mentioned for the lieutenant governor's race, include Montgomery County Commissioners Jim Matthews and Bruce Castor, Philadelphia City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr., state Rep. Mike Turzai of Allegheny County, Dauphin County Commissioner Nick DiFrancesco and York businessman Steve Johnson. On the Democratic side, the only name circulating is former Philadelphia controller Jonathan Saidel.

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 A budget-crafting legislative panel met for two hours today in a mostly cordial discussion and broke agreeing to talk some more as the state entered it’s third month without a spending plan in place.

Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.) the chairman of the conference committee, called the session useful although the state doesn’t appear any closer to reaching a budget compromise.

“It is always productive when you talk,” he said moments after the six-member joint committee wrapped up the session at noon.

During the meeting, House Minority Leader Sam Smith (R., Jefferson) tried to break the logjam by offering a compromise fiscal blueprint.

The $27.5 billion plan contains no new broad based tax increases and is the same as one offered by GOP members more than a month ago. It never got a full vote of the House because Democratic leaders successfully blocked its consideration.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) said that GOP members who control the chamber were prepared to approve such a budget within a day if needed.

The conference committee didn’t take any formal action on the proposal.

Instead, Evans instructed legislative staff to draw up spread sheets comparing Smith’s plan with one offered by House Democrats. That plan calls for $28.1 billion in spending and unspecified tax increases.

Evans said the group would meet again after that comparison is completed. He could not say when that would be other than it likely would not be until after Labor Day.

It was the third time the conference committee had met. It last convened a month ago and had made little progress toward solving the budget standoff since then.

The bottom line on spending and taxes remains the main sticking points.

Gov. Rendell and Democrats in both chambers are insisting on raising taxes to cover what they view as needed spending increases in core governmental services such as education and health care. Republicans, meanwhile, are dead set against imposing any new taxes in a recession and instead favor additional spending cuts.

And it appeared that Pennsylvania is on the verge of assuming an unflattering distinction: the only state without an operating budget.

Connecticut is also budgetless, but perhaps not for long. Early today, the Connecticut legislature sent Gov. M. Jodi Rell a final budget bill.

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 A budget-crafting legislative panel met for two hours today in a mostly cordial discussion and broke agreeing to talk some more as the state entered it’s third month without a spending plan in place.

Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.) the chairman of the conference committee, called the session useful although the state doesn’t appear any closer to reaching a budget compromise.

“It is always productive when you talk,” he said moments after the six-member joint committee wrapped up the session at noon.

During the meeting, House Minority Leader Sam Smith (R., Jefferson) tried to break the logjam by offering a compromise fiscal blueprint.

The $27.5 billion plan contains no new broad based tax increases and is the same as one offered by GOP members more than a month ago. It never got a full vote of the House because Democratic leaders successfully blocked its consideration.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware) said that GOP members who control the chamber were prepared to approve such a budget within a day if needed.

The conference committee didn’t take any formal action on the proposal.

Instead, Evans instructed legislative staff to draw up spread sheets comparing Smith’s plan with one offered by House Democrats. That plan calls for $28.1 billion in spending and unspecified tax increases.

Evans said the group would meet again after that comparison is completed. He could not say when that would be.

It was the third time the conference committee had met. It last convened a month ago and had made little progress toward solving the budget standoff since then.

The bottom line on spending and taxes remains the main sticking points.

Gov. Rendell and Democrats in both chambers are insisting on raising taxes to cover what they view as needed spending increases in core governmental services such as education and health care. Republicans, meanwhile, are dead set against imposing any new taxes in a recession and instead favor additional spending cuts.

And it appeared that Pennsylvania is on the verge of assuming an unflattering distinction: the only state without an operating budget.

Connecticut is also budgetless, but perhaps not for long. Early yesterday, the Connecticut legislature sent Gov. M. Jodi Rell a final budget bill.

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A judge this morning pushed back the scheduled trial date for a former state legislator who is among a dozen charged in the Bonusgate scandal.

Sean Ramaley, a Democrat who had represented Beaver County in the state House, will now go on trial Dec. 1. His trial on theft and conflict of interest charges was originally set for Sept. 21.

But outstanding discovery issues filed in front of the grand jury judge will probably not be resolved in time for the trial to start in three weeks, said Dauphin County President Judge Rich Lewis.

Ramaley and 11 other House Democratic insiders were charged in July 2008 with carrying out a conspiracy to award millions in government bonuses to legislative aides as rewards for working on political campaigns.

Ramaley is poised to be the first of those Bonusgate defendants to face a jury.

Prosecutors allege that he was placed in a no-work job as a legislative aide in 2004 as he ran for the state House. He has maintained his innocence and is waging an aggressive defense against the charges.
 

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Longtime ACLU Harrisburg lobbyist, Larry Frankel, was found dead  Friday in a Washington D.C. park. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle remembered Frankel - who in 2008 was promoted to a national position in the ACLU's Washington office - as a "brilliant tactician," committed to his causes and always fair. To many reporters he was a Capitol source on many issues and a valuable resource willing to take time to explain complex legal issues. Plans for memorial services in Harrisburg or Philadelphia have not yet been set.

Here are the obituaries in today's Inquirer and Daily News.

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Pennsylvania's agriculture secretary, Dennis Wolff, who is credited with improving food safety and expanding markets for the state's farm products, is stepping down after 6 1/2 years.

Gov  Rendell said Wolff's last day would be Sept. 12 and that he will nominate executive deputy secretary Russell Redding to lead the department.

Redding has worked in the Department of Agriculture since 1995 and run its day-to-day operations as the second-in-command since 2003.

During his tenure, Wolff's launched the PA Preferred initiative, the centers of beef and dairy excellence, and fought for legislation to protect farmers from "nuisance" lawsuits. Wolff also worked to expand the state's nationally-recognized farmland preservation program and was instrumental in the passage of legislation toughening restrictions on commercial dog kennels.

Agency spokesman Justin Fleming said Wolff's future plans have not yet been made public, but that he was seeking opportunities in the private sector.

Wolff was one of the last members of Rendell's original 2003 cabinet still holding office. Redding's nomination must be approved by the full Senate.

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