HARRISBURG —
Gov. Tom Corbett is playing a Clintonian language game in asserting that lifting the cap on the oil company franchise tax is not a tax increase. But it may be a game that other Republicans are willing to play along with, as they struggle to maintain their conservative cred while finding a way to fix our roads and bridges. Most lawmakers I talked to this week seemed to think, that of all the governor’s priorities, the transportation plan seems the most likely to succeed.
Getting the no-tax increase crowd to go along with the need to spend billions to fix roads and bridges will be much easier than getting lawmakers to approve a measure that could destroy the businesses of constituents.
The only time in my newspaper career that I got scolded in church came after I wrote an editorial advocating privatizing liquor sales. For clarity, it was not the priest who scolded me.
Regardless, I know where lawmakers are coming from when they give voice to serious apprehension about tinkering with a beer distribution system that has created hundreds of family businesses all over the Commonwealth. Eighty years from the end of Prohibition, some of those businesses are now in their third or fourth generations.
Many people are vaguely interested in seeing beer in the grocery store or convenience store. But few people have as passionate opinions on this subject as those whose livelihoods literally depend on whether the state privatizes liquor and beer sales or not.
The governor says that beer distributors will have the right to apply for licenses to sell wine and liquor too. But in that deregulated environment, most people think the little guys won’t be able to compete for long.
My favorite quote of the week that I didn’t get to use: “Your neighborhood beer seller, he can kiss his rosy rump, good-bye.” That’s from Rep. Gary Haluska, a Cambria County Democrat. But he was by no means the only lawmaker to express similar sentiments. He just did it more colorfully. While there are those who defend the state store system, there seems to be much more entrenched opposition to any move that will be perceived as an assault on the beer distributors.
Around Harrisburg:
You probably weren’t hanging on the governor’s every word during his budget address. But I was. Sad, I know. But there I was, reading along with the provided text in the event that the governor would express something historically significant or, at a minimum, vaguely interesting.
Eh.
But mid-way through, Corbett dropped a familiar name, giving credit to Sen. John Gordner, R-27, of Columbia County, as one of the prime sponsors of the Keystone Works legislation.
The governor introduced Pennsylvania to Greg Vasquez, a York resident, who after getting laid off, became the first person to enroll in Keystone Works. He ended up working at Schugt Manufacturing. As the governor told it: “Greg was laid off last summer. Around that time we, working together, Republicans and Democrats, passed legislation creating the Keystone Works Program. This program is built around a worker’s ambition, not bureaucratic rules.
Keystone Works provides on-the-job training to allow displaced workers to train for open positions.”
The innovation in Keystone Works is that a worker enrolled in the program does not lose access to unemployment benefits while participating in training to get a decent job.
A couple weeks ago, Sen. John Wozniak, D-35, of Cambria County announced he was forming a Third Class City Caucus – though in conversation he prefers to call it a “Confederacy.”
This week, Wozniak said he is moving forward and hopes to convene a summit in Harrisburg in April to get the ball rolling. For those who missed it, in Pennsylvania, just about every city, except Philadelphia and Harrisburg, is a Third Class City. Wozniak hopes that by marshaling the political power of all the smaller cities, it will create greater balance against the political power of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Finnerty is the Harrisburg reporter for CNHI’s Pennsylvania newspapers, which include The Meadville Tribune.
Opinion
Governor plays word games to hide increase in gas tax
- Opinion
-
-
WALK TALK: Vegas, UFC: Here we come
1 I know the saying is "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," but I'm going to forgo that adage next week. After all, part of my week-long trip with three friends to Las Vegas includes my first in-person viewing of an Ultimate Fighting Championship card. I'll give you all the juicy and exciting details from UFC 160 in next week's column.
-
Seizure of phone records will hurt your right to know what government is up to
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
-
WALK TALK: LeBron’s near unanimous MVP and another hoax
1 LeBron James became the first player since 2000 to receive every vote but one while being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. It was his fourth MVP award, and it surely won’t be his last. The one thing I question in all this is the person who didn’t vote for James — The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn. As I said here in February — back when he was scoring 30 points and making 60 percent of his shots every night — his winning the award was a lock. Washburn’s excuse is that the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony “meant more to this team” this season. He stopped LJ from becoming the first ever unanimous NBA MVP.
-
Spring brings back motorcycle memory from the old country
Traditionally, the sign of spring is manifested by the return of robins. But I know spring is really here when a roaring motorcycle goes by my house and my son’s shop gets full again with motorcycles that need serviced. Immediately, memories from my youth come back to me, and the following is one of those memories.
-
WALK TALK: OKC’s fate rests in Durant’s jump shot
1 The Western Conference favorite took a big hit a few days ago when Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook injured his knee and will be out until next season. It’s a huge blow for the Thunder, who lose their second-best player and offensive catalyst. So what does it mean? It means that Kevin Durant is going to have to score at least 40 every night if OKC has any hope of even getting out of the second round this season. We’ll truly see how great Durant is over the next few weeks now that his right-hand man is out.
-
By foot or by cycle, get moving
It’s been a little more than a year since my SUV died and I promised to report the results as I spent the next 12 months commuting on twos — by foot or by motorcycle.
-
Burning tires is a very bad deal for western Pennsylvania
Litigation is before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board on the Department of Environmental Protection’s air quality plan for the proposed Crawford Renewable Energy tire-burning plant in Crawford County. The plant is a terrible deal for the Meadville area, as it will emit far more harmful pollutants than its promoters have projected.
-
WALK TALK: Quarterbacks are still draft focus without elite choices
1 The NFL draft is in just two days, and there are many reports that not one quarterback will be taken until the second round for the first time since 1996. So the draft’s focus has to be on other players/positions, right? Nope. If anything, the lack of an elite QB only heightens the interest in when and who of the signal callers will be chosen first.
-
We all mourn the loss of Martin Richard — a martyr for freedom
We don’t know whether 8-year-old Martin Richard was killed by a domestic or foreign terrorist at the Boston Marathon. But all Americans tremble in our hearts when we think of the agony experienced by his family, which also endures serious injuries to his 6-year-old sister and his mother.
-
WALK TALK: A plunking will happen if you crowd the plate
1 The count is 3-2 on San Diego’s Carlos Quentin. A runner is on first during a 2-1 game in the sixth inning and Dodgers starter Zach Greinke is on the mound. Next thing we know, Greinke is checking to see if his collarbone is in its original place after accidentally hitting Quentin, who charged the mound seconds later. I cannot be any more on the side of Greinke and L.A. manager Don Mattingly, who said that Quentin should be suspended for as long as Greinke is injured. Quentin will be back in the lineup after eight days. It may be eight weeks until Greinke returns.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
WALK TALK: Vegas, UFC: Here we come
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
