The 50 Wealthiest Members of Congress

By Tony Phyrillas | 09/05/09

They're supposed to represent the people, but members of Congress have very little in common with the rest of us. One of the biggest gaps between constituents and their elected representatives appears to be income. While Americans struggle to make ends meet in the current 22-month-old recession, Congress resembles an exclusive country club, where millionaires hang out. The Hill, a newspaper that covers Congress, has published a new list of... read more »

New fiscal year, more red ink for PA

By Tony Phyrillas | 08/03/09

You keep taking the same road, you end up in the same place ... The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has released the tax collection numbers for July, the first month of the new fiscal year. But without an approved budget and with last year's budget ending up $3.25 billion in the red, it's kinda hard to figure out where the state stands financially. Let me just take a wild guess and predict that we are on the path to an ever bigger... read more »

Majority Say Obama Taking Country in Wrong Direction

By Tony Phyrillas | 07/21/09

The honeymoon is officially over. On the six-month anniversary of start of Barack Obama presidency, a new Associated Press-GfK Poll finds a majority of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Asked if they would say the country is heading in the "right direction" or in the "wrong direction," 54% of Americans say the nation is headed in the "wrong direction." That's up from 46% in... read more »

Jim Gerlach is making a big mistake

By Tony Phyrillas | 07/14/09

I like Jim Gerlach. He's been my Congressman for the past 7 years. I voted for him in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. He's done a good job. I've met him on several occasions. He's smart and affable. He knows the issues and has done a good job taking care of his constituents. I'd vote for him for just about any political office. Having said that, I believe Gerlach is making a huge mistake giving up his 6th District Congressional seat to run for... read more »

Rendell is 0-7 on state budget deadline

By Tony Phyrillas | 07/01/09

Welcome to July 1, 2009, the first day of the new fiscal year for Pennsylvania. Just one little problem. The state is beginning the new fiscal year without a budget. Don't fret too much. It's not like we haven't been down this road before. Ed Rendell has missed the budget deadline every year since taking over as governor in 2003. But there is something different about this year. Rendell is a lame duck and we are in the middle of the worst... read more »

Obama Honeymoon is Over

By Tony Phyrillas | 06/28/09

All the propaganda. All the back room deals. All the pork amendments to buy votes. And all Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi could get was a 219-212 margin to pass the cap and trade energy tax in the House? Don't be surprised if the $1.9 trillion global warming tax fails in the Senate. A 7-vote margin in the overwhelmingly Democratic House? That's pathetic. A total of 44 Demcorats voted against cap and trade! It took 8 GOP House members... read more »

Business leaders: Rendell tax hike will cost 24,000 PA jobs

By Tony Phyrillas | 06/17/09

Somebody should tell Gov. Ed Rendell there's a recession going on. With tens of thousands of Pennsylvania residents out of work and businesses closing their doors every day, the last thing the state needs to do is raise taxes on workers and small business owners. That's the message a group of business leaders want to send to Gov. Rendell and the Pennsylvania Legislature as state officials get closer to the state's annual budget deadline. The... read more »

County official eyes Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. seat

By Tony Phyrillas | 06/02/09

Republican Chester County Commissioner Carol Aichele has announced she plans to run for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor in 2010. "I've spoken with people statewide, grassroots folks, and the response has been really very positive," Aichele told reporter Michael P. Rellahan. "People said they found that I'd be a very positive balance to the ticket." Aichele, who is serving in her second term as a county commissioner,... read more »

PA Budget Deficit Tops $2.8 Billion

By Tony Phyrillas | 06/01/09

With one month to go in the current fiscal year, Pennsylvania's General Fund budget is $2.8 billion in the red. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the May tax revenue numbers today and the state's bottom line is not looking so good. Pennsylvania collected $1.6 billion in General Fund revenue in May, which was $287.5 million, or 15.1 percent, less than anticipated, according to Revenue Secretary Stephen H. Stetler. Fiscal... read more »

Education establishment opposes school consolidation

By Tony Phyrillas | 05/21/09

Pennsylvania State Rep. Tom Quigley, R- 146th Dist., brought the House Republican Policy Committee to Pottstown this week for a hearing on Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to consolidate most of Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. Three area school district administrators, the head of the commonwealth's largest teachers' union and a consultant who has worked throughout state government and now advocates for cyber charter schools testified before... read more »