Some things I noticed looking at line items seem worth sharing, under the category of 'your tax dollars at work.'

For instance, overall spending goes up less than 4 percent, or $1 billion (so next year you can say, "Wow, this state feels a billion dollars better than last year!"), but the lieutenant governor's office got an increase of 5.7 percent.

That's more than double the increase for the governor's office.

It's more than the percentage increase for basic education.

But I think it's worth it - investment in the pure and potential entertainment value of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll.

Remember, she called Edward G. Rendell "Edward G. Robinson"; attended military funerals uninvited, handing out business cards; introduced a parrot in the Senate; said that Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Exec Dan Onorato "can't stand women" because they didn't introduce her at a rally for Hillary Clinton.

And my, so far, favorite press release of 2008 is from Knoll's office.

It was an advisory "for planning purposes only."

It said that she'd host the Rare Collections Library Committee at her residence to discuss "the Briefing Paper on The Pennsylvania Study addressing air quality issues" for rare books.

Knoll's public residence, at Fort Indiantown Gap near Annville, is about a 30-minute drive from the capitol.

The event was at 10 a.m. The advisory for "planning purposes" was released at 10:36 a.m.

I say double her budget.

I also note that the Commission for Women got a 3.1 percent hike, to $334,000. Couldn't find anything on the Commission for Men.

But Latinos are hot.

The Latino Affairs Commission got a 7 percent bump, to $260,000.

The Asian-American Affairs Commission jumped only 3.5 percent, to $238,000. And the African-American Affairs Commission got only a 1.4 percent hike, but its total is now $352,000.

The American-American Affairs Commission remains un-funded.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett is investigating the Legislature. Maybe that's why his office got an increase of less than 1 percent.

Maybe he should hang out more with Catherine Baker Knoll.

The Agriculture Department's "specialty crops" program got a whopping 50 percent hike to $1 million. That's a lotta special, uh, crop.

And if you're thinking of eating healthier, your state has a $500,000 new line item to help you "transition to organic farming."

Also new is $200,000 for the National Scenic Byways Program. But there's a 30 percent cut in Tourism Promotion Assistance. So I guess you'll need to find your own damn byways.

The overbloated Legislature actually shaved a percentage point off its spending. It's down to a measly $293 million a year.

But don't fret - it still spends $48,000 a year on flags for constituents, so call your lawmaker now and get yours while they last.

And if you're looking for a new career opportunity, consider mapping.

The largest increase I could find, 479 percent, from $355,000 to $2.05 million, is in the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for "Topographic and Geologic Survey Grants."

A department aide says that it's for, you know, better maps.

Lawmakers must not be all that happy with the state Supreme Court.

Justices' expenses got cut 30 percent.

Now, in addition to their $170,000-plus per year pay, the berobed must scrape by with just $18,285 each per year in expenses.

No lobster for you!

And, finally (perhaps precariously), in the face of expected indictments and possible prison terms for former and maybe current lawmakers, there's a 43 percent cut in the "prison rape elimination" program.

This appears a stark deviation from lawmakers' usual efforts at practicing CYA. *

Send e-mail to baerj@phillynews.com.

For recent columns, go to

http://go.philly.com/baer.