No Joke: Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

When I first saw the headline "Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize," I thought it was an April Fools joke. Then I looked the calendar and figured out it was not a prank. It's still a joke, but it really happened. Then I remembered that this is the same outfit that gave Jimmy Carter and Al Gore the same prize. That explains a lot.

Here's reaction to the news from around the blogosphere:

From Another Black Conservative: This has to be the most absurd thing I have ever seen in all my life. Obama has done absolutely nothing to earn the award and his efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons has all the potential for an epic failure.

From Legal Insurrection: My initial reaction to Obama getting the Nobel Peace Prize was that this was Obamamania gone wild. That's part of it. But I think there is more to it. The internationalists have tied Obama's hands. Will Obama continue ordering drones to bomb houses in Pakistan? Will he listen to the military as to how to win in Afghanistan? Is there any choice but to consent to an Iranian nuclear weapon? Will the Peace Prize winner take all military options off the table?

From NW Republican: Not that I ever thought that Obama would not some day win the Nobel Peace prize. But this one? Now? Don't you think that this instance de-legitimizes the entire award? Something tells me that perhaps deep inside the bowls of the White House there are some folks who are a bit embarrassed over this.

From Warning Signs: Giving the prize to Barack Hussein Obama has rendered it a joke. In office less than a year, Obama has, in the words of a recent Saturday Night Live satirical skit, done "nothing" to deserve what once was one of the highest international accolades anyone could receive.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Medicare Cutbacks Threaten to Put Cardiac Care Out of Reach for Millions

Medicare Cutbacks Threaten to Put Cardiac Care Out of Reach for Millions of Rural Americans

Deer Activity Increasing, PennDOT Cautions Motorists

Deer Activity Increasing, PennDOT Cautions Motorists

O-Lympic Rings

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Reichley to host Senior Expo on Oct. 16

State Rep. Doug Reichley (R-Berks/Lehigh) will hold a Senior Expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, at Lower Macungie Township Community Center, 3400 Brookside Road, Macungie.

Senior citizens and family members living in the 134th Legislative District are invited to attend the event, which features more than 40 exhibitors who will be able to provide information and answer questions from older citizens and their families about local and state government programs and services available in the private sector that can help older Pennsylvanians.

"I look forward each year to learning about new services that are available locally and meeting with the many people who enjoy attending the expo," Reichley said in a press release. "We bring together so many providers into a one-stop shop that it is becoming a must-attend annual event."

Booths will be set up to provide free information to those senior citizens who can attend. Exhibitors will distribute brochures, offer services and answer questions about what they can do to assist older Pennsylvanians.

The event is co-hosted by LutherCrest Retirement Community and sponsored by St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network.

For more information or directions, contact one of Reichley's district offices at 1245 Chestnut Street, Unit No. 5, Emmaus. The phone number is 610-965-9933. Reichley's Berks County office is in Bally Brook Industrial Park on 20 N. Front Street in Bally. The phone number is 610-845-1425.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Gerlach says things would be different if he were governor

Jim Gerlach, a Republican candidate for governor, said on Thursday that Pennsylvania's broken budget process has become a national embarrassment.

On the 100th day of the state's budget impasse, Gerlach said this would never happen if he was sitting in the governor's mansion.

"We do not need to waste any more time playing political games and pointing fingers," Gerlach said in a written statement. "This dysfunctional process has resulted in a 100-day delay in enacting a budget. The Harrisburg culture of putting self-interest ahead of the public interest must end. The families of Pennsylvania understand the importance of paying your bills on time and not spending more than you can afford. For far too long Harrisburg has ignored these basic principles.

"That's why I was the first candidate for governor to propose moving to a a two-year budget cycle to cut costs, increase accountability and avoid the annual budget soap opera, which for the last seven years has resulted in increased government spending and higher taxes. And we must stop rewarding politicians in Harrisburg for failure. If the state cannot meet the Constitutional requirement of enacting a budget by July 1st of each year, then the Governor, his Cabinet and lawmakers should lose a day's pay for every day the fail to pass a budget."

In September, Gerlach released a 17-point "Pledge to Pennsylvania" that is a contract to protect taxpayers and send a very clear message that the days of rewarding failure, ignoring runaway spending and tolerating a lack of accountability in Harrisburg are over.

The entire "Pledge to Pennsylvania" is available at his campaign Web site, www.gerlachforpa.com

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Rep. Schroder: Democrats leave PA vulnerable

State Rep. Curt Schroder (R-155th Dist.) voted against the long-awaited state budget that passed by a 107-93 vote in the House on Thursday.

Schroder offered the following statement on his vote:

"I could not vote for this bill. Like last year's budget, it contained inflated revenue projections and relied too heavily on stimulus funding and one-time revenues. By passing this legislation, the House is making the same mistake it made a year ago that resulted in a $3.5 billion revenue shortfall.

"This budget drains the state's Rainy Day Fund and the Health Care Providers Retention Fund. Without these critical reserve accounts we will be unable to cushion an expected revenue shortfall next year. It also, for the first time, dips into the principal reserves in the tobacco settlement fund. With revenues already $140 million below projections for the year, I believe we will face another deficit next June.

"The House Republicans had proposed a budget that is slightly leaner, balanced, did not raise taxes, funded essential state programs and services, and ensured that the state would live within its means, but it was not considered by the Democrat leadership in the House. Instead, we were forced to consider a budget bill that raises taxes by more than $1 billion during a recession.

"On the bright side, we prevented an increase in the Personal Income Tax, sales tax, taxes on small games of chance and the arts, among others."

The measure goes back to the Senate for concurrence on House amendments to the bill.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Rep. Joe Pitts praises Chinese dissident

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Deer Activity Increasing, PennDOT Cautions Motorists

Deer Activity Increasing, PennDOT Cautions Motorists

'Those White Coats In The Rose Garden'

Terrific editorial in Investor's Business Daily about the staged photo-op by the Obama Ministry of Propaganda to drum up support for Obamacare.

Those White Coats In The Rose Garden

Politics: The administration stages a photo-op with handpicked doctors who support its health care reform. Fortunately, most doctors still believe that the first rule of medicine is to do no harm.

It would seem some doctors still make house calls. Some 150 of them made one at the White House Monday in an attempt to give a booster shot to the administration's chaotic and stalled health care reform drive.

Rather than a grass-roots uprising of physicians, this was a classic case of AstroTurfing.

Attendance was by invitation only, and 40 of the 150 were said to be members of Doctors for America, a reincarnation of the Doctors for Obama arm of the Obama campaign that boasts of having more than 15,000 members.

The physicians were told to bring their white lab coats with them to make sure the TV cameras to capture the proper image. Those who just showed up wearing suits or dresses were provided with lab coats hastily rustled up.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Coalition Warns New Entitlement Is Not Valid Health Care Reform

Concord Coalition Warns That New Entitlement Is Not a Valid Health Care Reform Offset

Physician Assistants Can Help Remove Barriers to Care for Seniors

Physician Assistants Can Help Remove Barriers to Care for Seniors

Pat Toomey Raises $1.5 Million in Third Quarter

U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey announced Wednesday that his campaign has raised more than $1.5 million for the third quarter of 2009.

To date, the campaign has raised more than $3.1 million from more than 20,000 contributors since Toomey announced his Senate candidacy five-and-a-half months ago, according to the Toomey for Senate Campaign.

Toomey already has 33 percent more contributors than the total number of donors amassed during the entirety of his 2004 Senate run, the campaign reports.

The most recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Toomey leading both incumbent Democratic Senator Arlen Specter and Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak in general election matchups.

"I am honored by the thousands of people who have contributed to my campaign," Toomey said in a press release. "People all across Pennsylvania are rallying to our message of fiscal responsibility and political balance. They are concerned about the reckless bailouts, extreme policies, and out-of-control debt resulting from one-party control of Washington, and they believe that the country deserves better than that. Together, I believe we will win the fight for fiscal sanity, responsible government, and economic growth."

For more about Toomey, visit his campaign Web site at www.toomeyforsenate.com

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Video: Dictionary

PA Gaming Control Board Fines Casino for Internal Control Violation in Its Handling of Patron

PA Gaming Control Board Fines Casino for Internal Control Violation in Its Handling of Patron

Auditor General Investigation Finds Weak Controls Over $11.5 Million Computer Inventory at Bethlehem School District

Auditor General Wagner's Special Investigation Finds Weak Controls Over $11.5 Million Computer Inventory at Bethlehem School District

Treasurer McCord to PA Families: Last Chance to Win $25K

Treasurer McCord to PA Families: Last Chance to Win $25K

Casinos threaten to sue PA over expansion bill

Pennsylvania Casino Association Poised to Sue State If Budget Deal Expands

Redefining the presidency

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

PA marks 150th Anniversary of the Civil War

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission today unveiled plans for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, including the launch of www.PACivilWar150.com

The Commission also announced a full slate of special events and traveling exhibits "highlighting the state's paramount role in the war."

Pennsylvania Civil War 150 is a unified, statewide alliance that will attract visitors and enrich their experience county by county through remarkable programming for the sesquicentennial commemoration, according to a Commission press release.

"While many of the great battles of the Civil War were epic in nature, the story of this war in Pennsylvania is much more than just tactics and strategy," said Barbara Franco, executive director of PHMC. "The Civil War also is the story of individual soldiers and of women and children struggling to survive in small towns and family farms all across the state and of African Americans working to abolish slavery and join the United States Colored Troops."

More highlights from PA Civil War 150 launch event in Harrisburg:

· PACivilWar150.com, a dynamic Web site that unlocks the incredible personal stories of Pennsylvanians both on the battlefield and at the home front, the vast Civil War collections of the state's museums and historical societies, and the state’s numerous heritage tourism attractions and trip-planning resources.

· Pennsylvania Civil War Road Show, a traveling museum experience based in a 53-foot tractor trailer that will bring interactive exhibits and unique programming to all 67 counties in the state from 2011 to 2015. The Road Show will encourage residents and organizations in each locality to share their stories and artifacts in conjunction with the traveling exhibition.

· Additional initiatives include a digitization project under the direction of Penn State University that aims to unearth and organize Civil War collections in an online format to preserve primary source materials and make them accessible to the public and to scholars. The Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh also will coordinate the publication of two books: Pennsylvania Civil War in Photographs, a collection of rarely seen photos from the Civil War era, and Pennsylvania African Americans in the Civil War Era, an account of the African American experience during the same time period.

For more information, visit www.PACivilWar150.com

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

National Call Congress Day

From Patients First:

On Tuesday, October 6th, Patients First is sponsoring a National Call Congress Day to send our legislators a simple message: "Hands Off My Health Care!"

This is your chance to explain why we cannot afford any bill that puts Washington between you and your doctor. Call Congress and tell them: "Hands Off My Health Care."

Find out more about the campaign at http://www.joinpatientsfirst.com/

Safe School 'Czar' Kevin Jennings Backpedals on Ignoring Child Molestation

Safe School 'Czar' Kevin Jennings Backpedals on Ignoring Child Molestation

Application Deadline for Weatherization Training Provider Grants is Oct. 16

Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Extends Application Period for Weatherization Training Provider Grants; New Deadline is Oct. 16

Rendell Names Naomi Wyatt as Senior Deputy Chief of Staff

What happened to the hiring freeze?

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Names Naomi Wyatt as Senior Deputy Chief of Staff

So far, only 7 PA Congressmen support '72 Hour' rule

The Democratic majority in Congress continues to reject calls to actually read bills before voting on them.

From Robert Romano of the NetRight Nation Blog:

If a growing number of House members that signed a discharge petition for H. Res. 554 have their way, every single bill in Congress will be held for least 72 business hours Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) prior to passage for a mandatory review by each house.

The discharge petition initiated by Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR2) has obtained 182 signatures, including the bill's sponsor, Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA3). Walden did so on the same day the Senate Finance Committee explicitly voted against allowing 72 hours to review ObamaCare once it was finally written.

Only 7 of Pennsylvania's 19 House members have signed the petition: Reps. Charlie Dent, Bill Shuster, Glenn Thompson, Todd Platts, Joe Pitts, Jim Gerlach and Tim Murphy. All 7 are Republicans.

What about your member of Congress? What are they hiding? Why do they want to rush through votes before anyone has a chance to read the bill?

For a complete list of the members of Congress who signed the petition, click here.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Women's Voices in the Health Care Debate

Why Won't Democrats Read Health Care Bill?

Let's give Sen. Thomas Carper, D-DE, an "A" for honesty for admitting nobody in Congress actually reads the bill they vote for, but an "F" for doing the job his constituents sent him to Washington to do.

Carper told CNSNews.com that he does not "expect" to read the actual legislative language of the committee's health care bill because it is "confusing" and that anyone who claims they are going to read it and understand it is fooling people.

"I don't expect to actually read the legislative language because reading the legislative language is among the more confusing things I’ve ever read in my life," Carper told CNSNews.com

Read the full story at the link below:

CNSNews.com - Finance Committee Democrat Won’t Read Text of Health Bill, Says Anyone Who Claims They’ll Understand It 'Is Trying to Pull the Wool Over Our Eyes'

Posted using ShareThis

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Gary Bauer Endorses Doug Hoffman for Congress

Gary Bauer Endorses Doug Hoffman

Libertarian Party blames GOP, Dems for budget mess

The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania doesn't have a voice in the Pennsylvania Legislature, but party officials want to say loud and clear they disapprove of the way Democrats and Republicans are handling the state's finances.

From a statement issued by Doug Leard, head of media relations for the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania on behalf of party Chairman Michael Robertson:

Last year, Pennsylvania general fund tax revenues fell below $25,000,000,000. Our representatives in Harrisburg ignored the revenue shortage and spent over $28,000,000,000. Instead of facing reality for the upcoming year and joining taxpayers in tightening their fiscal belts, our representatives have proposed a general fund 2010 budget of $27,950,000,000.

To make matters worse, while most "budget" references are to the general fund portion of the budget, state government's total operating budget exceeds $61,000,000,000.

Where will the money come from? Increased taxes for one. The most recent budget plan retroactively increases the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax (CSFT) – the tax which Governor Rendell had said was the most harmful to the Pennsylvania economy In addition, we would be charged a sales tax for admission to performing arts programs (such as music concerts and theaters) and other cultural venues (such as museums, parks and zoos). Smokers will also pay an additional tax for cigarettes.

But, these taxes will not be enough to meet Harrisburg's hunger for spending. So, Governor Rendell and legislators appear to be counting on federal bailout dollars and may exhaust Pennsylvania's Rainy Day Fund to delay facing economic reality until next year.

Media Relations Chair, Doug Leard, stated "Harrisburg's approach to belt tightening is like the man who comes home from work and tell his wife 'Times are tough at work – no bonus this year and 10% pay cuts across the board. Boy, it’s hot today. Let's put in a pool.'"

Based on recent budget proposals, The Commonwealth Foundation, an independent, non-profit research and educational institute, projects a budget deficit of $846,000,000 next year that will grow to $14,400,000,000 in 2012 as federal stimulus money disappears and pension obligations for Pennsylvania's School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) come due.

The Libertarian Party denounces both the Republicans and Democrats along with their bankrupt vision of spending, taxing and regulating Pennsylvania into even deeper hardship. If voters want to escape from this budgetary death spiral, the only option is Libertarian Party candidates for the General Assembly. After all, the status quo has proven yet again to be no choice at all.

For more information about the Libertarian Party, visit www.LP.org or www.LPPA.org

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Vereb Proposal to Reform Pennsylvania's Gaming Industry Passes House

Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150th Dist., released the following statement regarding the Pennsylvania House of Representatives' unanimous passage of his proposal to reform background checks of members of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board:

"Tonight we had the opportunity to fix a major flaw in the original gaming law concerning the conduct of background checks. If we are going to expand Pennsylvania's gaming industry to include table games, we need to make sure that reforms are put in place so that past mistakes are not repeated. It is important for background investigations to be conducted by trained law enforcement professionals. Moving background investigations of the four highest executive positions on the board to the Pennsylvania State Police will ensure a more thorough vetting process. My legislation also puts more integrity into the process by banning any direction or communication between the investigators and the board or its employees regarding an open background investigation.

"The need for reform is by no means over; however, my legislation is a good first step. I applaud my House colleagues for taking the initial step toward gaming reform. I have been pushing for gaming reform since I first came to the House in 2007. I look forward to continuing to work with House members from both sides of the aisle in continuing to fix Pennsylvania's fractured gaming law."

Vereb's amendment, which was inserted into Senate Bill 711, mandates that background checks of potential board members, including the four highest executive positions, be conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Big 4 Casinos Draw the Line at $10 Million for Table Games

Big 4 Casinos Draw the Line at $10 Million for Table Games; Agree Not to Apply for Licenses if Fee Goes Higher

PA Casinos Show Nearly 30 Percent Revenue Increase for September

PA Casinos Show Nearly 30 Percent Revenue Increase for September

Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Fall Sharply during Third Quarter of 2009

Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Fall Sharply during Third Quarter of 2009

96 bank failures since Obama took office

News Item: Federal regulators close Mich. bank; 96th failure in '09

In case you haven't been following the news, Barack Hussein Obama has been president of the United States over the past nine months. That same time period corresponds with federal regulators shutting down 96 banks.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has coughed up billions of dollars in deposit insurance to cover the debts of failed banks in 2009.

By comparison, just 26 banks failed in all of 2008 when Republican George W. Bush was president. In 2007, also under Bush, just 3 U.S. banks failed. The good old days.

Industry analysts predict that another 150 to 200 banks will fail. Keep that in mind next time the Obama media tells you the recession is over.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Reichley blasts House Dems on tax vote

Rep. Doug Reichley (R-Berks/Lehigh), the Republican vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to his "No" vote on a tax measure advanced by House Democrats:

"The tax bill offered (Friday) points to the erosion of the budget deal tenuously cobbled together two weeks ago by the governor, House Democrats, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats. I opposed that tax proposal as did the House Republican Caucus because it proposed a 20 percent tax on small games of chance that charitable organizations use as fundraisers, and it imposes a 6 percent sales tax on tickets for the arts, museums and performances. There was an outcry against these taxes, so the House Democrats devised their own tax bill.

"I opposed those tax increases and must stand against the new batch taxes proposed today, which includes a 30 percent tax on cigars, cigarillos and smokeless tobacco that could jeopardize 8,100 jobs in the Lehigh Valley in the cigar-making industry. Those businesses could move to Florida if this tax is enacted.

"In the last 24 hours, House Democrats have retreated from this deal and also choose to institute a severance tax on drilling in the Marcellus Shale area, which was not a part of the three-caucus agreement, and is likely a deal-killer.

"House Republicans continue to oppose new taxes and support a no-tax budget that spends $500 million less than the $28 billion three-caucus deal. House Bill 1943 spends $27.5 billion and does not increase taxes yet adequately funds education, veterans, social services and hospitals.

"During the town hall meetings I held this week with constituents, one message was clear: 'Tell Harrisburg to get their greedy hands out of our wallets.' This Halloween trick or tax plan has no treat for taxpayers and should be rejected."

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Rep. Vereb to Host Third Annual Senior Expo

Rep. Mike Vereb, R-150th Dist., invites local senior citizens to his third annual senior expo on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

From a press release issued by Vereb's office:

"Last year we had a record turnout to my annual senior expo, and I'm hopeful even more residents will come this year," Vereb said. "This is a great opportunity for local seniors to obtain a wealth of information on programs and resources that are available to them. I look forward to discussing issues important to seniors with my constituents."

A special guest speaker will be on hand to discuss veterans' health care issues.

Seniors will be able to obtain information on programs available to them from the following organizations: Klein Bus Trips, Spring-Ford Community Education Program, Waddell & Reed, Verizon Wireless, Bayada Nurses, Home Helpers and Direct Link, Independence Blue Cross, the Senior Adult Activity Center of Montgomery County, Montgomery County Historical Society, Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services, Family Services, the Office of the Attorney General, Senior Resource Guide, SEPTA, TRANSNET, the American Cancer Society, LIHEAP, AARP, Elmwood Park Zoo, Montgomery County Cultural Center, Merle Norman Cosmetics, the Philadelphia Veterans Association, Visiting Angels, Silver Sneakers and more.

The expo will take place at the IBEW Local 380 building, 3900 Ridge Pike in Collegeville. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon and is free for all who attend. Complimentary light refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Vereb's district office at 610-409-2615.

PA GOP: Pennsylvania’s Democrat House of Hypocrisy

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason released the following statement in response to a press release sent out by Democrat members of the state House of Representatives touting their letter to Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation that called for an investigation into the activities of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN:

"Democrats in the state House have taken hypocrisy to a new and dangerous level," Gleason said. "Just weeks after voting to support state funding for ACORN, Democrat state Reps. Tony DeLuca, Dom Costa and Bryan Barbin are now publicly calling on Pennsylvania's Congressional delegation to investigate this corrupt organization. This letter was no doubt a measure taken to calm down their constituents, who are upset that their elected officials voted to support a group that has clearly been misusing precious taxpayer resources.

"In these troubled economic times, when everyone is working to stretch our dollars as far as we can, the public deserves to know that the Democrat Party is willing to knowingly send our tax dollars to this corrupt organization. The recent videos depicting ACORN counseling people involved in criminal activities is deplorable. It is mind-boggling to me that, even with mounting video evidence piling up against this corrupt organization, every Democrat member of the state House still voted to send precious taxpayer dollars to fund the activities of this corrupt organization."

"ACORN has been exposed as a corrupt organization that should not be receiving federal or state funds under any circumstances."

When Is Rape Not Rape?

When Is Rape Not Rape?

Economy is good unless you count those 15 million unemployed

The Obama recession continues as the U.S. unemployment reached 9.8 percent in September.

It's the highest unemployment rate since June 1983, according to The Associated Press.

The Obama/Pelosi "stimulus" package, approved in February, has been a bust, with more than 15.1 million Americans out of work - 3 million more than when Obama took office.

From The Associated Press:

The Labor Department said Friday that the economy lost a net total of 263,000 jobs last month, from a downwardly revised 201,000 in August. That's worse than Wall Street economists' expectations of 180,000 job losses, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.

The unemployment rate rose from 9.7 percent in August, matching expectations.

If laid-off workers who have settled for part-time work or have given up looking for new jobs are included, the unemployment rate rose to 17 percent, the highest on records dating from 1994.

All told, 15.1 million Americans are now out of work, the department said. And 7.2 million jobs have been eliminated since the recession began in December 2007.

The department said 571,000 of the unemployed dropped out of the work force last month, presumably out of frustration over the lack of jobs. That sent the participation rate, or the percentage of the population either working or looking for work, to a 23-year low.

The unemployment rate would have topped 10 percent if the labor force hadn't shrank.

Older, laid-off workers are dropping out and requesting Social Security at a faster-than-expected pace, according to government officials. The Social Security Administration said earlier this week that applications for retirement benefits are 23 percent higher than last year, while disability claims have risen by about 20 percent.

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month

Pennsylvania Governor Rendell Proclaims October as Cyber Security Awareness Month

Pennsylvania to Proclaim October as Parent Involvement Month

Pennsylvania to Proclaim October as Parent Involvement Month

Gov. Rick Perry Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge

Gov. Rick Perry Signs Taxpayer Protection Pledge

Digging a deeper hole for PA

The first rule of holes: When you're in one, stop digging.

While Gov. Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania Legislature are still trying to figure out what to do about last year's $3.25 billion budget deficit, Pennsylvania is facing another financial disaster for 2009-10.

Revenue collections for the first three months of the new fiscal year have fallen short of projections. That's a fancy way of saying Pennsylvania is headed for another fiscal crisis -- even while elected officials struggle to get the state out of the mess they created last year.

Pennsylvania collected $2.1 billion in General Fund revenue in September, which was $118.6 million, or 5.5 percent, less than anticipated, according to Revenue Secretary Stephen H. Stetler. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $5.3 billion, which is $140.6 million, or 2.6 percent, below estimate, Stetler reported.

Tax revenues from the state's two biggest sources of income fell short for the third consecutive month of the new fiscal year, adding to the 12-month decline in the 2008-09 fiscal year.

From the Department of Revenue's September Collection Report:

Sales tax receipts totaled $633.4 million for September, $38.8 million below estimate. Year-to-date sales tax collections total $2 billion, which is $52.2 million, or 2.5 percent, less than anticipated.

Personal income tax (PIT) revenue in September was $835.4 million, $69.5 million below estimate. This brings year-to-date PIT collections to $2.2 billion, which is $97.9 million, or 4.3 percent, below estimate.

The only bright spot is September's corporation tax revenue collections of $403.9 million, which was $5.6 million above estimate. Year-to-date corporation tax collections total $541.4 million, which is $7.3 million, or 1.4 percent, above estimate.

More from the Revenue Department:

Other General Fund revenue figures for the month included $59.1 million in inheritance tax, $3.4 million below estimate, bringing the year-to-date total to $181.6 million, which is $6.1 million below estimate.

Realty transfer tax was $23.5 million for September, $1.5 million below estimate, bringing the total to $82.2 million for the year, which is $3.7 million less than anticipated.

Other General Fund tax revenue, including cigarette, malt beverage and liquor taxes totaled $85.4 million for the month, $7.2 million below estimate and bringing the year-to-date total to $259.4 million, which is $1.2 million above estimate.

Non-tax revenue totaled $9.8 million for the month, $3.7 million below estimate, bringing the year-to-date total to $52.1 million, which is $10.8 million above estimate.

Click on the link below to view the full September report:

Revenue Department Releases September Collections

Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS

Auditor General Faults Oversight of Older Adult Daily Living Centers

Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner Finds Weaknesses in Oversight of Older Adult Daily Living Centers

Kerry-Boxer is Bait-And-Switch Scam

Democrats are no longer calling it "Cap-and-Trade," but it remains the biggest energy tax in U.S. history.

Kerry-Boxer is Bait-And-Switch Scam, Says American Council for Affordable and Reliable Energy

FRC Calls on Kevin Jennings to Resign

FRC Calls on Kevin Jennings to Resign

The Communist State Building

Pro-Union Groups Mislead Public About Port Trucking

Pro-Union Groups Mislead Public About Port Trucking

'Talking Politics' on the radio today

Tune in to "Talking Politics with Tony Phyrillas & Mike Pincus" today at 5 p.m. on WPAZ 1370 AM

Topics will include Pennsylvania's unraveling budget agreement and the special election win by state Rep. Bob Mench.

You can call the station with questions or comments at 610-326-4000.

If you can't receive the radio signal, you can listen to the broadcast online at www.pottsmerc.com or www.1370wpaz.com'

Poll: 43% of Americans on the Fence about Swine Flu Vaccine

Consumer Reports Poll: 43% of Americans Say They're on the Fence about Swine Flu Vaccine