Pennsylvania: Off
By floor9 on Jul 9, 2007 in Central PA, Politics
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is now officially off. Thanks to some emergency funding for SEPTA, around 24,000 state workers have been temporarily laid off (sorry; “furloughed”, because there *IS* a difference). Critical agencies, including liquor stores and casinos, will remain open. I just can’t help but wonder — what about PHEAA?
EDIT: I was just watching PCN. I observed the Republican Senator from Allegheny county accuse the Democrats of getting up and walking out on the session. Dying for a sound bite and a press clip, she began repeatedly asking, “Where are the Democrats? Where are the Democrats?” She was immediately debunked by the senate president, who stated for the record that all Senators were present.
At the risk of opening a political can of worms on a nightlife blog, I’ll point out that the Republican grandstanding on this issue is both disturbing and sickening.
PHEAA employees are at work.
Bastet | Jul 9, 2007 | Reply
That’s good to hear. With all that money laying around, I’d hate to think of them as a non-critical agency.
floor9 | Jul 9, 2007 | Reply
I don’t think what they do qualifies as work.
Dre | Jul 10, 2007 | Reply
Dave, we usually agree on many things but I have to disagree with you in a major way here. To say these folks were furloughed “thanks to some emergency funding for SEPTA” is not even close to true, and there were MUCH bigger issues and reasons at work here.
But I guess there is no reason to get into a debate over this, as the matter is resolved. Even still, this is yet another black eye for PA and I am totally disappointed in our Legislators…once again.
dskillz | Jul 10, 2007 | Reply
dskillz, you are adding logic and reason to what is otherwise a witty oversimplification of the matter.
floor9 | Jul 11, 2007 | Reply
Okay, gotcha, but I think saying it was “witty” is being a bit generous.
ha ha j/k ;)
dskillz | Jul 12, 2007 | Reply