Back in Happy Valley

Open the meetings

I know I heard in previous conversations with Turnpike Commission officials that this process regarding tolling Interstate 80 will be open.

Fully open -- to you and me and whoever cares and eventually will pay.

That was then. Now, during a rainy week in Happy Valley, the Turnpike Commission apparently doesn't remember any of this.

Its consultant swooped in to talk to local transportation leaders in a closed-door meeting. No press, no public, no news.

Mike Joseph got some news, as he reports today, but he should have been at the meeting along with anyone else interested.

The Turnpike Commission -- through its consultant -- won't win any friends going around the state and holding closed meetings. And it's likely the paying public won't be happy when they find out what they decided, behind those closed doors.

Run for cover

They're running for cover at the Capitol, as Bonus-gate hits hard with yesterday's 12 indictments in Harrisburg.

It was a cool plan, to use your money and legislative staffers' time for political campaign. They got caught.

So far it's all House Democrats. Seems like it's just the tip of the iceberg, and it's going to be a long and sweaty summer for Capitol types. Can they sidestep this latest ugly Pennsylvania corruption?

It's outrageous. Here's what came out of the grand jury presentment:

"It must be noted that the award of bonuses was but a single facet of the concerted effort to employ taxpayer funds and resources for campaign purposes."

- "It was clearly understood by all these employees that the campaign work in question was part of their public employment and not something to relegate to after work hours or personal time."

- "Many caucus employees testified about the alarm that spread through the caucus following the public disclosure of the bonuses."

Remember, we paid for this. Repeat it again: We paid for this. And now we get to pay for this investigation and court proceedings.

Same old, same old

Why, I ask at budget time, do we need to pay royally 253 legislators in Pennsylvania?

They're clearly not involved in the budget, while leaders do all the inside work. And it happens every single year.

Here's a good look at the details of this June in Harrisburg.

It's the same old, same old, and I just hope Gov. Ed Rendell and his friends don't lay people off and shut the state parks again because THEY can't do their jobs.

Stay tuned, it is likely to happen.

Not so fast

Sen. Jake Corman's office must be in quite a hurry to provide good news, or at least to get state
Route 26 in Spring and Marion townships named after Marine Sgt. D.J. Emery.

Great goal, but it takes time to get anything done in the legislature. Don't we know.

The state House has yet to vote on this, which already passed the Senate, but Corman's office sent out a press release Monday proclaiming that the House passed the bill.

"The state House today unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Jake Corman ..." it started.

Trouble is, that was a House committee's vote. The full chamber hasn't voted yet, according to the speaker's office today.

We ran a story based on this press release and an interview with a Corman aide. The story was incorrect, and we thank Bill Patton of the speaker's office for pointing it out. He read it online.

A correction is running in Thursday's paper.

They did nothing

Readers who have been pushing for redistricting reform and fair voting districts don't need me to tell them that the deadline has passed and the Pennsylvania General Assembly did nothing.

Nothing to take the first step to reform. You now most likely have to wait 10 more years for any action on this.

A lot has been written and said, but the final outcome in a word remains Nothing.

Now, do you care enough to vote them out?

The problem with Harrisburg

Today's story by Dena Pauling, headlined "Schools bet on state money," offers great insight into the politics of Harrisburg and shows beautifully what's wrong at the Capitol.

This essentially happens every year, so it's not new and different. But it shows a system that is fed by politics and politics alone and does not represent the taxpayer, or the school districts in this case.

Why do I say that?

Consider that Gov. Ed Rendell issued his school funding plan with the budget proposal in February. The Senate Republicans, including Sen. Jake Corman, took one look at it and declared it dead. They fired off a letter advising school districts not to count on the extra money Rendell slated for them.

And then what happened? Nothing, while school boards here and all over the state had to complete their budgets.

This week, the Republicans marched out and passed their plan in the Senate, showing it as a clear alternative to Rendell's. The comparison is striking, as presented today by Pauling, and some school districts more than others need one over the other to make their budget work.

But they won't know which one will apply until legislators get around to passing the budget. So they wait.

Perhaps the Senate plan is better, and I doubt any reader in these parts would approve of Rendell's heavy spending toward Philly schools. But my point in highlighting the politics and problems of Harrisburg is that the Senate should have voted on this in April.

Why now? Why not then, other than to play politics and hardball?

The losers in all of this are the local school districts and you, the taxpayer. When it's finally settled the state will again pass on to the locals the tough decisions, on raising taxes or cutting spending. Legislators -- senators in this case -- will be out of it.

This is the problem with Harrisburg, in a nutshell, presented in today's story. And Corman and other Senate leaders should know it and should be able, with their seniority, to push for reform in this process.

'The train's running'

There are some great quotes in today's Rockview land story, and they serve to illustrate the games they play in Harrisburg.

Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, offering reality: "The train’s running so I had better get what I can here. When you see it coming, I think you have to try to get half a loaf instead of no loaf at all.”

Rep. Mike Hanna, offering a behind-the-scenes look: "He withdrew that, and instead, Penn State and I agreed to address it — that it would be better to have the master plan address it.”

The "he" is Benninghoff, who had two amendments approved and withdrew a third one. He did what he could.

The reference to "Penn State and I" is rather interesting, isn't it.

This thing is rolling right along, and it passed the House yesterday by 185-13.

But may I ask why the rush? It's going to sit around all summer, going nowhere until the Senate votes, and Sen. Jake Corman is promising a public hearing on the Senate bill.

Shouldn't the House have a few other things to do right now? Like a budget. Like redistricting, which is due June 23. Like .... well I can keep going.

But no, they made time for this, perhaps because they don't want to get run over by the "train."

Latest on redistricting

Wondering what's happening with redistricting in Harrisburg?

My answer, of course, is NOTHING.

You'll get further information in a column we published today on the opinion page. Thanks to the writers, Lora Lavin and Sandra Christianson, for sending it to us.

Lavin is with the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, while Christianson is with Common Cause/Pennsylvania. Both groups have been working hard to bring attention to this issue.

Pennsylvania legislators are distinguishing themselves by ignoring it completely. Take notice, everyone.

Time to watch the legislature

It's that time of year again, the time to watch the Pennsylvania legislature closely.

The obvious: Watch what passes committees and gets voted on the floor.

The more interesting: Watch what never gets a committee hearing, what dies a silent death before summer recess.

That's what is happening with redistricting reform, not surprising in the least. Legislators want no parts of allowing elections to become more competitive in fair districts. None at all.

Notice what did get a committee hearing: The Rockview land transfer to Penn State and Benner Township. That's on a fast track, while other more significant issues wither away.

It's that time of year again, so watch closely.

I've been watching all of this for a good many years. So has Russ Eshleman, a Penn State prof and our monthly columnist. His column today is instructive on why things are what they are in Harrisburg.

We contribute an amazing amount of money to fund this legislature, and they stockpile surpluses away like they'll need them for some dire emergency. Meanwhile, issues important to you get little or no attention.

You can change all this by getting involved and voting. Or you can continue to watch this show unfold this way every June.

Senate strikes

What is going on in the state Senate, if it can't even agree on what its representatives decided in a legislative conference committee?

Yes, the Senate has rejected the compromise smoking ban deal trumpeted just yesterday.

Let's look beyond smoking for a second as we wonder what the upper chamber actually can accomplish. If it doesn't trust its own members to make the right move in a conference committee, how will it trust the House or the governor when it comes to the budget or anything else?

The Senate always has marched to its own drum, but I have to think from afar that it's out of control.

It's no surprise, then, that redistricting is essentially dead. And I just can't wait to see how the budget goes, after seeing the happy faces from Monday's "talk nice" meeting with the governor.

Just tell yourself, again and again, that these people were elected to represent us.

Smoke rising

Can it be, can there be smoke rising in Harrisburg signaling a smoking ban agreement in Pennsylvania?

Can it be? Really?

The devil will be in the details, when we see this agreement and the laundry list of exceptions. If it's anything like that Senate bill it essentially will be worthless.

But we'll see, assuming the House and Senate follow through with the conference committee's deal. If so, we'll have what's called a smoking ban in Pennsylvania.

Stay tuned. We're watching closely, having been to California and New York, among other places, and returned asking why it is so difficult in this state.

A new direction?

Our editorial today should be worth a look, or several, in Harrisburg.

There have to be alternatives to leasing the turnpike or tolling Interstate 80. Have to be, and we threw a few out today.

Add them up and maybe they're better than what's on the table in Harrisburg.

Should be worth a try, because before legislators are two bad plans.

Attracting attention

Our print spotlight on redistricting reform is gaining attention, and we're sharing the effort with online readers too.

Here's what we're running on the opinion page each day, and here's the forum we started on the subject today.

Getting all of this online will help bring more attention to the need for the legislature to act in June to begin taking politics out of drawing lines for legislative districts.

If you agree with us, and with so many Centre Countians who regard this issue as a priority, you can e-mail these links around and encourage voters to contact legislative leaders who control the agenda in Harrisburg. This issue has to come up for a vote, and if it does we think it will pass.

How good is the legislature?

Day in and day out we have stories about excessive spending or incredible inaction by elected officials in Harrisburg.

Case in point is the story about taxpayers paying $15.6 million for a fleet of 3,650 vehicles for state employees. Here's that story, thanks to the Patriot-News, and tomorrow it will be the subject of our editorial. Enough said for now.

Case in point too is the story about how electric rates soon will skyrocket for Pennsylvania taxpayers. We're looking to Harrisburg for action on this and other issues. Here's that story, essentially what we reported on Page 1 a couple of months ago.

We could go on and on, but we'll pause and highlight a comment left by a Web reader with our Sunday editorial about the need for action on an energy policy. This reader clearly understands the situation in Harrisburg. Here's what he/she posted:

"If doing nothing is the measure of a good legislature, than Pennsylvania has the best legislature in the nation. Vote them all out of office."

PHEAA's real grant spending

Sen. Jake Corman was quick to take us to task for last week's PHEAA editorial, which was his right.

His column today is linked here.

Corman, however, in his haste to bash us was a little loose with the facts himself.

For example, here's what he wrote: "Fortunately, PHEAA has planned for a rainy-day situation and can continue the grant program, even though it is at a reduced rate. Hopefully, the bond market will return to normal and PHEAA will be able to return to a position where it grants hundreds of millions of dollars every year to students in Pennsylvania."

Sorry, but the board at its last meeting received a document showing the amount PHEAA put into the grant program in 2007-08 was $69 million.

And PHEAA, according to a good source, never puts hundreds of millions into the grant program in a year.

Corman neglects to stay that it's the state appropriation to the grant program that vaults the figure into the hundreds of millions annually. It's not PHEAA's contribution alone. And of course the state appropriation is taxpayers' money, so maybe he should thank taxpayers.

Also, while we're at it, Corman blasts us for not knowing that his father left the board two months ago. So sorry, but how would we know? PHEAA doesn't put out news releases on this kind of stuff, and as of recently J. Doyle Corman was still listed online in the board lineup. Perhaps Corman should wake up the PHEAA PR machine to get information out.

And we never said Corman went on the junket trips. But as a board member, you'd think he should have known about them and stopped them.

These are just a few observations to his column today.

Retirement calls

It's time -- way past time actually -- that taxpayers stop paying the freight for Sen. Vince Fumo.

He retires soon but it can't be soon enough after the disgusting comments he made at a Senate hearing about how Pennsylvania legislators would vote to legalize slavery.

Oh, yes, he claims a day later that he exaggerated, but he didn't even come out and say that, instead hiding behind a press release.

Fumo should be shown the door by Senate leaders, since taxpayers in Philly haven't been able to do that and the feds haven't yet done it.

All this reminds me of a couple years ago, when a Centre County reader eager for reform in government --aren't we all? -- e-mailed me saying Fumo is a reformer and is leading the charge.

I almost fell over before responding that, no, he's not leading any reform. He'd want you to think that, but look at it closely.

Look at him closely today and you see a poster child for retirement. It can't come too soon, because we shouldn't pay another dime for his "public service."

Funding the legislature

Here's a question that I've asked over and over, in Harrisburg for nearly two decades and now here.

Just so you know I've never gotten an answer that makes sense.

So, here's the question: Why does the Pennsylvania legislature need to carry a surplus of more than $200 million?

This isn't a joke, that's the surplus these 253 elected officials carry. Let's see, can you think of ways to spend that?

It's all Pennsylvania taxpayer money, and it just sits there.

So there, sharing my question with you. Perhaps you have the same question. Please let me know if you have an answer that makes sense to taxpayers.

A political junkie's dream

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have debated 20 times already.

Chances are Nos. 21, 22 and maybe 23 will be in Pennsylvania.

Philly? Harrisburg? Happy Valley?

Welcome, senators, to the Keystone State. We'll enjoy meeting you and covering you.

This is political junkie's dream, and you've read how I've hoped for it. It'll be a reality very soon, after Clinton's three primary wins on Tuesday.

This is a tight race and it'll go all the way to the Democratic convention in Denver in August.

No doubt in my mind. And I have no doubt that it could get ugly.

Stay tuned, and follow it here with us. Make sure to check out our Decision 2008 page, which changes constantly, every time you visit CentreDaily.com.

Sunshine in PA

I devoted my Sunday printed column to the state's new open-records law, and I'll share it here with you.

No need to repeat anything, but it's a great step forward overall for Pennsylvania and a credit to legislators who have worked to make the changes, effective in January 2009.

It means a lot to me, happening this year as I serve as president of the Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors.

Let me share, too, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association's take on this new law, from its Web page.

And let me share Jamie Blaine's passopenrecords blog, linked on our community blogs page right here on CentreDaily.com.

It is looking a bit brighter in our state, and you know how we do need sunshine in Pennsylvania.

Coming out of the 'Dark Ages'

I want to highlight a quote regarding the open-records law by Rep. Tim Mahoney, who sponsored the progressive bill that was considered by the House State Government committee before it was gutted and then rebuilt somewhat by the Senate.

Mahoney is quoted in Adam Smeltz's story about Penn State getting a break on disclosures according to the bill, passed by both chambers and signed into law today.

Sen. Jake Corman said he was behind the changes, but truth be told everyone in the Senate knew about them and the entire House knew when it took the Senate bill for revisions. Nobody in the House stepped forward to correct the changes that let Penn State and other state-related universities somewhat off the hook.

That's an aside to my point here, however, and it was made by Mahoney in expressing his disapproval that the open-records measure goes easy on the universities.

Mahoney said, "We've been in the Dark Ages too long."

Bravo, Rep. Mahoney. To date I've only heard journalists and a few questioning citizens say it that strongly about Pennsylvania and its tendency to close records to the public.

This law is historic in that it will allow sun to shine in this state starting next year. So we've come somewhat out of the "Dark Ages," but let's just say there's room to improve.

Brighter PA

I'm late, I know, in saluting the Legislature for a strong open-records bill that just passed.

We've waited and we're pleased. More to come in my Sunday column, but a tip of the cap to legislators on this one.

Awaiting action

I'm not the only one, believe me, planning to watch very closely to see what the House Republicans do with the open-records bill that should have been passed today.

Improve it?

Oh really. Or will they hold it hostage?

All eyes are now on the House GOP, so let's see some action. If they hold it hostage they will read about it again and again, because the bill passed by the Senate is not bad.

Pennsylvania needs some sunshine, let's all nod in agreement.

An uphill fight

Happy to be back in Happy Valley after quite a bit of newspaper board business, both state and national.

My journey ended in Harrisburg for state business and the Legislative Affairs Conference sponsored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.

Today's final sessions featured state Senate and House leaders sharing their priorities and their realities, and I listened closely for what I hear from readers.

Sorry to tell you, but what you want doesn't appear on too many radar screens in Harrisburg.

Redistricting reform? Not this year. Senate leaders see no reason for it.

A smoking ban? Maybe, if the House and Senate can work out their differences. But nobody's betting on it.

Tolls on Interstate 80? What's the problem, they say.

I could go on, but it's clear there is a disconnect between communities and Harrisburg. That may not be headline news, since it's been that way for awhile, but it must be noted again.

The best idea I heard all day was by Sen. Michael O'Pake, the Senate Dem leader, who wants to replace property taxes with a graduated income tax. You earn more, you pay more to fund our schools, and you address education inequality at the same time.

Sounds simple? But don't worry, it's going nowhere.

What likely will happen is some kind of tax relief for senor citizens. Noble and needed perhaps, but this is an election year and seniors vote. Legislators understand that.

All in all, it's wonderful to be Back in Happy Valley. A couple days in Harrisburg is enough anymore. I spent 18 years there, somehow, and some of the issues listed here were issues then too.

Open records reform

Bravo to the state Senate for approving a progressive open-records overhaul today.

It's historic, and it's now up to the state House to approve it and the governor to sign it into law.

News of the Senate passage came during our Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors Meeting today, and it was welcome.

I'm especially proud of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association staffers who've worked so hard on this, and I'm very pleased it's happening in my year as president of the PSNE.

Thanks to legislators who pushed this through. We all will benefit if it becomes law.

Political junkies unite

Anyone who knows me knows I'm somewhat of a political junkie. You can't work in Harrisburg for 18 years without being one, whether you admit it or not.

I wrote about this on Sunday and I'll link the column here, although you online readers probably know my key point. That's just telling everyone about our Decision 2008 page online, where you can get all of the campaign news that we get, updated at all hours.

Make it your political stop. I do.

A call for REAL reform

I enjoy meeting with readers, and recently I met with four members of the League of Women Voters of Centre County to talk about the need for redistricting reform.

They have an event planned for March 27 to dig into this issue, and they want to get as much public awareness and participation as possible.

I admire their efforts and I support them. The need is great for REAL redistricting reform in Pennsylvania, and the deadline comes this year for the legislature to act. It's time to strip this issue of the politics that drives it, and it's time to take the decision-making regarding voting districts out of the hands of political leaders.

I'm encouraged by the interest for REAL reform here in Centre County, and I hope it's matched around the state. The only way the legislature will really address this is if the voters make sure they know it's important and they're watching.

Will it be the same old, same old in Pennsylvania again this time? Or will they really work for REAL redistricting reform.

I hope you learn about this issue through Mike Joseph's story today and start demanding the changes that are needed.

Pay close attention to the detail in the story concerning Sen. Lisa Boscola's bill, Senate Bill 346, which would take politics out of this process. Notice where the opposition is coming from. That bill is dead on arrival under normal circumstances in Pennsylvania. But should it be?

Reform in '08?

Our editorial today questions whether we'll have real legislative reform in Harrisburg in 2008.

Yes real reform, past the procedural stuff that has legislators so happy about themselves.

Real reform means real change, like open-records and campaign-finance reform and more. We didn't even include in the editorial real change like reducing the size of the legislature and the cost of state government overall. Those are fair points that should be considered in this or any year.

Some will e-mail me saying we're better off that they do nothing. I've heard this response from readers/taxpayers for years, back in Harrisburg and here in Happy Valley.

To that I say, sorry, I disagree. We are paying dearly for this full-time legislature of 253 people with wonderful benefits, and for this Pennsylvania government overall. We should expect some results and we should expect changes that allow taxpayers to know what they're doing and what they're spending.

It's our money, after all.

Pennsylvanians would be amazed and no doubt outraged if they knew how much money was stockpiled in those legislative leadership and caucus accounts. Money that could be used for the general fund is stuck there, at the control of legislative leaders. You don't read much about this, do you? That's because this isn't public record.

Open-records reform will help. Real change will help too, and that should be the priority of 2008 in Harrisburg.

Since it's an election year, voters may start paying attention again. We can only hope.

Don't miss Farm Show

I used to live a couple miles from the Pennsylvania Farm Show complex, so it was easy to stop there on the way home and take in the massive event.

A funny thing is happening this year as we get ready: A warm up is coming.

As crazy as it sounds, we'll have nice weather for the Farm Show, apparently, not the worst weather of the winter as featured some years.

That's great, because you should make the trip to Harrisburg for this wonderful event.

And when you do, don't miss the Food Court. Unusual for me, but I'll offer food tips here, based on years of visits. Get a milkshake and a baked potato. Or get two of each. They're worth waiting in line for and they're reasonably priced. The rest of the food is good too, so take your pick.

And walk around the complex, observing  the competitions and talking to other Pennsylvanians. People work all year preparing for the Farm Show. Appreciate it with them.

Making an impact

The PR machines of U.S. Sens. Bob Casey Jr. and Arlen Specter are in overdrive the past couple days, sending out this, that and everything else that the great senators got done.

They certainly are making an impact given the volume of this correspondence.

It reminds you of the days after the state budget gets passed, when virtually every legislator and caucus sends out press releases on what a great job they did.

You'll read about stuff that Casey and Specter actually did. The rest of the barrage of e-mails will be deleted.

However, it's nice to know how hard the PR machines work in Washington. Let's hope they get some time off for Christmas.

No sunshine in this government

I hope my printed column today perhaps helps some readers see how limited access we all get from Harrisburg.

Too often, open records/sunshine in government is seen as a media issue -- us against them. Some of you often don't care, even though what we are trying to find out is how your tax money is being spent and how policies that impact you are being made.

Today's column, though, shows it's your problem too, as a Penn State student is having no success in getting information from state government.

She's been trying as an interested citizen, a western Pennsylvanian, and you can read the results of her semester-long work in today's column.

Maybe you don't think she's entitled to know anything either.

But maybe, just maybe, her efforts and this column will help you better understand the issue. I hope so.

Our state's housing crunch

My Sunday column outlined a new effort to get Harrisburg to pay attention to the housing crunch across Pennsylvania.

It should be time for the state to set aside dedicated funding for this need. But to date it hasn't, while other states have passed Pennsylvania in this area.

Affordable housing isn't just a problem in Centre County. It's statewide, and those fighting for it are fighting the good fight.

I look forward to meeting many of them Friday at the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania conference in Harrisburg. I'll be there to pick up the media award, given to us for covering the issue over the past year. The best part of that award is that we didn't send in an entry; Centre Countians nominated us, which makes it special.

Let's hope Harrisburg starts paying attention to all of this.

A raise for legislators

Timing is everything, they say, and here right in the middle of our paycheck to paycheck series is word that legislators will get a 3.5 percent cost-of-living raise starting Saturday.

Nice deal, if you can get it, and I guess we should applaud because this is out in the open, not the result of a back room deal in the middle of the Harrisburg night.

So many workers out there won't get 3.5 percent raises this year. Now that's the understatement of the week, isn't it?

We're still waiting, as are you, for meaningful legislation this fall. Turkey day is over, now will they get down to business on open records reform, smoking and other issues?

On Sunday we suggested they clean off the plate in our editorial. We can only hope.

No shame in Pennsylvania

Rep. Frank LaGrotta took up space for 10 terms -- that's 20 years -- in the state Capitol.

That was bad enough, sending a finally defeated LaGrotta onward with an inflated state pension, no doubt.

But now we find out that his relatives apparently took up space, too, on the state payroll. They never actually did any work, it's alleged.

There's no shame in Pennsylvania government, and LaGrotta is today's poster child. We have the most corrupt government in the country, according to one who should know, and it's apparently getting worse.

We're looking for more charges at the Capitol in coming weeks. Bonus scandal anyone? Stay tuned.

Disgusting 'capital culture'

Monthly columnist and Penn State journalism prof Russ Eshleman knows the "capital culture" as much as anyone.

In today's column, he calls it "a smug, pervasive attitude that allows officials in Harrisburg to spend someone else’s money with no regard for decency or common sense and without fear of consequences."

Well said, and I might just add disgusting.

Pennsylvania voters woke up two years ago and started to shake up Harrisburg by showing the door to some entrenched incumbents and electing reformers.

It's not enough. From the looks at what's going on down there we'll need another round of this next election cycle.

Voters, are you ready?

Santorum starts new forum

Former U.S. Sen Rick Santorum, R-Pa., hasn't had many friends at The Philadelphia Inqurier in the past.

So it raised eyebrows when the paper, now under local owners, announced that the strong conservative would join its column lineup, along with other notables.

Well Santorum debuted today and promises to be somewhat gentle. Here's his first column.

It will be interesting to watch where it goes from here.

Open the government

Local TV this morning featured a sound bite with a Blair County representative on the prospect of open-records reform.

I didn't hear it but did read the words (in the gym you follow it that way). He essentially said he's open and he doesn't hear from anybody on this, so he sees no need to spend time on it. So there.

No need to revise a law that's 50 years old and an embarrassment to Pennsylvania and its citizens.

The TV reporter could and should have asked followups but that's his/her problem.

Our problem, collectively, is that state government -- starting with the Legislature -- doesn't feel the need to let taxpayers know much of anything.

That may change with reform, but a Senate committee yesterday polluted the Senate bill on this with exception after exception, and the House is now mired in amendment after amendment to a flawed bill that emerged from its committee.

It's time, Harrisburg, to open the people's government. It's time to let Pennsylvanians know what they're spending their money on.

It's time, and if legislators don't improve this 50-year-old law this time, voters should know, collectively, that they don't want us to know.

That would be some music to face when legislators go around seeking votes next time around. So the choice is theirs.

I hope you join with me in pushing for open government in a way not seen in Pennsylvania. It's truly time.

Here's our editorial today. We see the need.

Don't call this reform

My column today discussed the status of changes to government access in Pennsylvania.

We are, as you know, near the very bottom in openness in Harrisburg and elsewhere, thanks to the legislature and various governors.

The biggest change to the law in 50 years may take place this year, and today I wrote about how a progressive House bill got essentially gutted with not input -- not exactly reform.

Here's the column, so I don't repeat myself.

This is not reform, Harrisburg. This is the same old, same old.

The funny thing is, they know it's not reform. They're just hoping the voters aren't paying attention.

Are you?

More government access benefits everyone, because we all deserve to know where our tax money is going. Don't we?

The case for I-80 tolls

Our on-again, off-again meeting with Joseph Brimmeier, executive director of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, finally happened yesterday, and I can report that Brimmeier will make his family and friends happy with boxes of stickies from the diner.

Nothing like stopping there while in Happy Valley.

Brimmeier presented himself as someone just doing his job, carrying out Act 44 and planning for tolls on Interstate 80 the way the legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell ordered him to.

He presented a strong case for why tolls are needed, and our editorial today, "Rough roads ahead," summed up the meeting and the choices for Pennsylvanians.

Brimmeier isn't backing away from a tough and thankless stance. He believes in this, and it comes through when you talk to him.

As he pointed out so well, he could stay away from this controversial stuff so close to retirement. But he pushes on, and he's doing his job.

It was nice to meet with him after some starts and stops. He promises a fully open process regarding I-80 tolling, and we look forward to it if it's not stopped in its tracks.

Hunting guest list kept secret

Look around and you will find, in this case a state with as dismal an open records law as Pennsylvania.

In South Dakota, you can't even find out who is invited to the governor's pheasant hunts. That's right, that state's high court ruled against the newspaper that has been seeking the guest list as an open record.

Not so,the court says.

Why the South Dakota governor didn't release the list in the first place is beyond me.

But, of course, that's why strong open records laws are needed, because many politicians won't volunteer any information that can be protected. The South Dakota legislature would have to strengthen the law.

Just like the situation here in Pennsylvania.

Reporter strikes again

Patriot-News reporter Pete Shellem has done it again. His aggressive investigative reporting has led to another prisoner being set free.

It happened yesterday in Lancaster County and you can read the Patriot-News' story here.

I blogged about Shellem in May with "One-man Innocence Project," so here's that post. At the time he got national attention in journalism for doing his job, his way.

The latest news continues his run, which I now watch from Happy Valley. Congratulations to Pete and best wishes to newly freed Charles T. "Ted" Dubbs.

We have only one question now: Who's next?

Why public access matters

Mike Joseph's powerful story today on the state of Centre County bridges is eye-opening, you'll find.

It also is a story that couldn't have been told in full until now.

Why so? It's based on data disclosed just last week by PennDOT, in the aftermath of the Minneapolis bridge collapse.

PennDOT didn't get the idea on its own to share bridge inspection data with Pennsylvanians. It was pushed to disclose records by the public, the media, and legislators, and its decision was revealed at the House State Government committee meeting featured a short time ago in the paper and in this blog.

I think you'll find that we're all better off in finding out information like this. Certainly, it shouldn't be kept from the public.

Our hope is that the legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell revise the state's poor open records law to make it routine that data like this is released by government agencies, PennDOT among them.

PHEAA marches on

PHEAA keeps right on truckin', doesn't it.

Undaunted after the courts made the agency show financial records of lavish spending, after all, it is shameless in awarding bonuses to its executives.

We're talking about a half million dollars in bonuses. Here's what we have to say in today's editorial, headlined "Robbin' Hood strikes again."

Here's what Gov. Ed Rendell's spokesman says, as quoted in the news stories and this editorial: "This appears to be Robin Hood in reverse, as the interests of struggling students are once again overshadowed by the interests of those who occupy PHEAA's executive suite."

Indeed, and PHEAA needs to stay front and center in the push for open records reform in Pennsylvania. Taxpayers -- and students -- will appreciate that.

A first-class road?

I'm catching up on reading after a short trip and Sunday's state story caught my attention.

The details: They plan to plow $1 billion of improvements into Interstate 80 over the next few years to make it a "first-class road" for motorists paying new tolls.

Here's what Pennsylvania Turnpike CEO Joseph Brimmeier said in the Associated Press story:

"We are going to issue bonds over the next five years for about $1.1 billion to put into I-80. If they (motorists) are going to pay a toll, you've got to have a first-class road."

Great, nothing like a first-class road. But am I missing something? Does anyone think the Pennsylvania Turnpike is a first-class road?

Anyone? Have you driven it lately?

We're paying dearly for the turnpike, in tolls and in continuing to support incredible state staffing, and this is what we get.

Makes you have high hopes for I-80, doesn't it?

Pa.: Where history matters

Russ Eshleman, in his monthly capital perspectives column, tackles what we've all seen and heard but don't really talk about.

It's the proclamations of history by government officials whenever there's any action.

Gov. Ed Rendell is masterful at this, and I'm sure he'll be touting history during his Ag Progress visit. His speech there is an annual classic, sending everyone from the crowded tent thinking that he really is the agriculture governor.

But it's history that really matters, as Eshleman points out much better than I could. Don't miss his column and listen for the next historic proclamation by a government official.

Could it be today, at media day for the Interstate 99 rock hauling project? We have waited four years...

A ray of sunshine

Here's my Sunday column, titled "A ray of sunshine in the campaign for open records."

It's a summary of Tuesday's remarkable hearing at the Capitol, and it's quite rewarding to be able to have input in this process.

Thanks to readers who've corresponded about this issue in recent days, and I only encourage you to keep pushing for open government. Share your thoughts with legislators, write letters to the editor, talk about this issue that truly will benefit everyone in Pennsylvania.

A reader wondered last week why it's this way now, why records are presumed closed and why locals are not always open with records and meetings. Why? Simply because it's always been that way in Pennsylvania and the legislature has continued to exempt itself from any sunshine. It must lead the way, and perhaps it will do that in coming weeks and months. We certainly hope so.

It's fine to have a ray of sunshine in August. We need it all year.

My testimony at the Capitol

A couple of readers have asked to read my testimony from Tuesday's House State Government Committee hearing on open records, and I'll be glad to share it.

Here's the link from our Pennsylvania Newspaper Association passopenrecords blog, listed with all of our blogs on CentreDaily.com.

Keep in mind that the testimony had to be short, and I wanted to give several examples of why this all matters.

Please let me know what you think, and I hope you'll read my Sunday column which discusses the hearing and the overall effort being taken by the legislature to strengthen our open-records law.

Also, here's our other testimony, by Carl Lavin of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Terri Henning, general counsel of the PNA. And here is the blog's summary of the hearing.  The blog, by Jamie Blaine, is following the open-records process and we're pleased to feature it on our Web site.

Our team took questions afterward and our segment lasted at least a half hour, perhaps 45 minutes. It went fast facing the lights and the legislators on a hot August day.

March toward open records

I worked at the Patriot-News for 18 years and only ever got to the Capitol as a visitor or an editor pest to the Capitol newsroom.

So it was quite an honor to get a chance to testify yesterday at the House State Government hearing on open-records reform.

The hearing made news for PennDOT's reversal of form on making bridge safety ratings public. There was much more to it, however, and I'll write about it in my Sunday column.

I was part of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association group that included Terri Henning, general counsel, and Carl Lavin, deputy managing editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer. We talked about the importance of making government records and information more accessible, from our different perspectives.

All in all, it's great to see the effort going into this, after all of these years. The result, we hope, is a law that brings much more sunshine to government, and I feel confident that the legislature is moving toward that.

On tolls, let the debate continue

Another day, another update on Interstate 80 tolls that don't yet exist.

But they're on track, says a feisty Turnpike Commission CEO, in a chat with Mike Joseph.

Six to eight toll plazas, according to Joseph Brimmeier, even as Harrisburg charges ahead while the feds try to stop them in their tracks.

Much more will be written and discussed about this before any toll plan becomes reality, and that's a good thing, considering this whole thing sprung on everyone in typical Harrisburg fashion.

No sunshine, no idea what they were really voting on, I'd argue, and here we have tolls for I-80.

Another day, another voice heard, and we're actually having the debate that should have happened before they approved this in the first place. We're paying attention here in Happy Valley.

A Pennsylvania moment

With all the talk about tolls and highway maintenance and funding, I had a classic Pennsylvania moment last weekend.

Wound up in Delaware and decided to make my way to Philly for the game by traveling north on Interstate 95. No big deal, the right move, and the first time for me on I-95 in awhile.

Didn't have far to go to the Pennsylvania border but knew I'd arrived. The sign said "Welcome to Pennsylvania" just as the road deteriorated to a classic rough ride.

Let's just say you knew you were in the Keystone State by the road. Our reputation prevails.

Refreshing politician

State House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, R-Philadelphia, met with our editorial board Monday in a great meeting, also attended by local Rep. Kerry Benninghoff.

O'Brien is a refreshing politician who wants to involve and include and is ever-optimistic about the workings of the legislature.

He's in an amazing spot -- a Republican picked by Democrats to lead the House in the year of the Democratic comeback. And it's easy to see why. He's engaging, open and -- there's this word again -- refreshing.

Does he have all of the answers? No. Does he answer all of the questions? Double no.

But he does involve, and want to involve, all of the 203 House members in what used to be the workings of a few.

Reform? He's leading the charge and he's seeing progress, although sometimes we don't see it. He cited the recently completed budget process as progress, but we saw it as late and more of the same. Today's editorial reflects on that theme.

But you come away from a meeting with O'Brien somehow optimistic that things really can change, that the legislature may be on track for better and better things for Pennsylvanians.

Kind of interesting, and refreshing.

Feds to the rescue

I have to applaud U.S. Rep. John Peterson and others for moving fast against the misguided plan for tolls on Interstate 80.

Gov. Ed Rendell can get charged up about all of this, but the feds are right and this toll plan should be scrapped in its tracks.

Not only will it cost central Pennsylvanians, it is unsafe, something that we've been saying over and over. Rendell and others don't want to listen.

Local legislators, of course, opposed this plan, and now they have Peterson and friends on their side.

So do we.

'Curse of the budget process'

I usually have a lot to say about Harrisburg, but today I'll just link our editorial.

"Curse of the budget process" should be required reading for all, particularly those who get state paychecks.

Their $360 million secret

Only in Harrisburg could elected lawmakers get away with hiding the details of where $360 million in the finally passed but miserably late state budget really will go.

Only in Harrisburg could they have a little secret that is this big, made up with taxpayer money.

But they get away with this in Harrisburg, while they talk and talk and talk some more about how they're reformers and how they're reforming their ways.

Until they start letting the sun shine on $360 million for pet projects, they're not reforming anything.

Someday, I predict, the voters will wake up and boot them all out and demand total reform of their system.  I just tend to doubt that it will be in my lifetime.

Corman's effort gets attention

Jamie Blaine's passopenrecords blog linked on CentreDaily.com tracks the progress of open records reform in the state.

It's worth a read anytime you visit our expanding blogs page.

Today's post highlights, among other things, Sen. Jake Corman's work to make the Senate more accessible with online postings.

You now can search laws and view Senate votes, all a step in the right direction.

It's the right move, however late, and it's a credit to Corman and the leadership for pushing it through. It'll certainly help us here in Happy Valley.

Empowering the Turnpike Commission

Of all Harrisburg agencies, for the state Turnpike Commission to get more authority is truly mind boggling.

But authority it gets in the Interstate 80 toll deal -- it will set toll rates and place the toll plazas, amazingly.

Local legislators opposed this for good reason. Their constituents will pay.

We can't say we didn't see this coming. No matter, this just doesn't feel like the right approach.

More power for the Turnpike Commission?  Does that make sense to you?

Pen on ink: A reality check

I bet it warms your heart too, to know that Gov. Ed Rendell -- surrounded by Harrisburg kids while signing the state's two-week late budget -- said that the budget really is not about the people who negotiate it and vote on it.

To this point, he and others have been acting like that don't know that.

It's time for a much-needed recess down there. They all should read Russ Eshleman's capital perspectives column today. The headline says it all: "Part time would be more than enough."

Smoking ban runs out of time

Should you thank the legislature for giving it the old college try on enacting a statewide smoking ban?

The House finally approved one, way late in the process and well after the Senate approved its heavy-on-exceptions plan.

The Senate refused to go along and adjourned, leaving Pennsylvania without any kind of ban.

They'll go back to this when they return in the fall, they say, and maybe a compromise can be made.

Maybe. And maybe not.

Let's remind all of reality, and the fact that the budget dragged on for 17 days past the deadline for no real reason. If the budget had been completed on time, perhaps legislators would have had time to iron out their smoking ban differences and not be so rushed at the end.

Perhaps they could have pulled an all-nighter on smoking and huffed and puffed until they could agree. They would have shown leadership to communities like State College, where there's push for a smoking ban but there's no backup from the state.

Perhaps, but you know that would essentially be good government  -- something we're lacking.

Continuing labor pains

Today's news on continuing labor pains over an already late Pennsylvania budget only makes my Sunday printed column more timely.

Here it is, as promised.

Let's hope legislators and Gov. Ed Rendell don't further mess around with state workers by approving it all so late that they miss a paycheck.

Have to say, I haven't heard anything good about this whole thing from people mentioning it during arts festival weekend.

Last-minute budget dealing

There's no stopping it and there's no sunshine.

Here we are -- days after a heralded agreement that ended the 24-hour state furloughs and reopened the parks -- and there still haven't been any votes on all of this in the legislature.

There's also no sunshine, no idea what's happening in this budget dealing.

This is a system out of control and you'll read more about that in my Sunday column in the paper.

But staying on point concerning last-minute budget dealing, today we find out about how new money for domestic violence shelters and women's resource centers apparently will mostly go to Philadelphia.

This is not what advocates expected and it smacks of Gov. Ed Rendell getting his way, again.

Why Senate Republicans caved in on this -- and apparently they have -- is a very fair question. But another fair question is why can't this stuff take place out in the open, instead of happening in back-room deals as late as we are in this process.

If you're counting, they're 14 days late with the state budget and as I noted, we still haven't had any votes in Harrisburg.

Let's hope publicizing this particular deal derails it for the good of everyone in this state, not just in Philly.

Hanna's classy move

Bravo, state Rep. Mike Hanna, for a classy move in a week that dearly needs one.

Here's what Hanna's office has sent out:

HARRISBURG, July 11 – State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, issued an apology to the state employees who experienced a one-day furlough on Monday because the General Assembly and the governor were not able to agree on the 2007-08 budget sooner.

“I apologize to the state's workers and all Pennsylvanians for the partisan bickering that resulted in Monday's furlough and partial state government shutdown. Like several other lawmakers and officials, I plan to donate my salary from Monday to a charitable organization,” Hanna said.

Rendell's 'thin skin'

Did Gov. Ed Rendell misread the political landscape in furloughing 24,000 state workers and shutting state parks and museums because of the budget stalemate?

A few people think he did, including an activist.

A Philadelphia Inquirer story on the activist's comments started Rendell on a tear. See what you think.

Wonder what some people who were evicted from parks, after pre-paying vacations, would say to Rendell? It's no time for "thin skin," governor.

'Essential' rules

I can report that everyone in Harrisburg is now "essential."

Yep, state workers are back in their offices and legislators are back doing the state's business.

They too are "essential" now that they have something to do, meaning Gov. Ed Rendell and their legislative leaders have "compromised."

Some compromise. Do you see anything here that couldn't have been agreed to by the budget deadline?

Still a nearly 5 percent state spending increase ... to run this state?

And tolls on Interstate 80 ... on that dangerous road?

And of course more, good and bad, that has been or will be reported in the coming days.

I'll be back with a Sunday column on all of this. Stay tuned.

Happy with each other

Oh, they're happy at the Capitol. Are we?

I'm heading to Harrisburg, of all places, for newspaper board business Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm sure I'll hear a lot of hot air about this.

Keep following it online and in the CDT and post comments if you''d like.

Smoke rises from afar

And as the first day of Pennsylvania government shutdown 2007 is about to end, none other than Sen. Vince Fumo -- the "reformer" -- announces that there's a budget deal that is "a win-win for everybody."

Ha, that's a good one. Tell it to the campers who were evicted all over the state today at the parks, or the state workers who spent the weekend and today worrying about how to pay the next bill.

We'll look closely at this deal and what it will cost. But we think this settlement really came so "quickly" because these politicians couldn't go on this way any longer.

They were close to being political write-offs. Who knows, voters might even remember this fiasco and turn them away the next time, like the state park vacationers wer