Really Great Analysis of Corbett's Pennsylvania Budget, and What It Really Means to People

[JPZenger]

6. Daily News Columnist on the State of State Government

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/john_baer/20120227_John_Baer_.html?viewAll=y

Excerpts:

"At the top of the pile is Gov. "Cut-Cut" Corbett who once blasted predecessor Gov. Ed for spending $45 million on Capitol complex stuff and pushing $1.9 million for an Arlen Specter Library.

Now Corbett's seeking $55 million for Capitol complex stuff and releasing $1.9 million for an Arlen Specter Library. Corbett's defense? His Capitol money is "a different story" than Ed's. And the Specter library money is OK now because, "I felt I had to keep his [Ed's] promise."

Why Corbett worries about Ed's promise is beyond me. He should worry about his own: "My very first week as governor, I'm gonna send a reform plan to Harrisburg legislators and, believe me, some of them aren't going to like it." Enjoying all that reform?

...Finally, in Pittsburgh today, former Republican Senate Whip Jane Orie goes on trial for a second time. She and her sister, Janine, are charged with using public resources for years to benefit political campaigns of the senator and another sister, state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin. And, of course, Justice Melvin still sits on the court faced with resolving the redistricting debacle - old maps or new maps, primary or no primary, special elections or no special elections - which is further evidence of Harrisburg leadership's ongoing psychosis."