It would be fun for bloggers, but my quick trip to Philadelphia on our nation’s birthday involved reading the newspaper, and seeing two stories side-by-side that would turn the Virginia blogosphere insane, but got nary a whimper in ol’ PA.
First, the Pennsylvania General Assembly finally passed a budget Friday. It was late, but that wasn’t the story. The story was it was all done in secret. The House and Senate passed “placeholder” bills for the budget, then in one day substituted the “back room negotiated” budget, passed it, and the Governor signed it the same day.
What would happen if they tried that here? What if some citizen blogger wanted to read the budget before it was passed? Tough luck!
The same day everyone bid farewell to Philadelphia’s decades-serving state Senator Vince Fumo, a Democrat, who was retiring. Why? Oh, a little Federal trial in September.
He’s been indicted on 139 counts alleging mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and filing a false tax return. Claims have been made that Fumo used state workers to oversee construction of his mansion, spy on his ex-wife and work on his farm.
And the “stress” is causing him to retire. Not the 139 indictments. The stress!
Anytime anyone wants to complain about Virginia politics, come take a trip with me up to the “cradle of liberty” and learn how good we have it. Someone in Virginia tries to offer transportation solutions, and they get called every name under the sun. Virginia’s most frequently outraged cry wolf entirely too easily.
In Pennsylvania, there’s really something to cry wolf about!
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled. 
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Brian,
You should travel more and subject yourself to the “local politics” of other areas more often.
I have a folder with some sites bookmarked from the People’s Democratic Republic of Maryland:
1. The Daily Times still refuses to print the truth about local government.
2. Wicomico County is still a cesspool.
3. In Worcester County they’re still trying to make an economic case they were trying to 18 years ago.
4. The hotel company I once worked for is still run by the same arrogant a-holes.
While I’m not 100% happy in Virginia, if I ever do move, it won’t be back to my native Maryland.
That’s the thing. It wasn’t local. This was State politics. This was the Governor. This was a 30-year Senator.
And the newspaper printed it like no one cared.
PA ain’t much different than NY. Our budget is always late. It is negotiated by the governor, Speaker of the Assembly and the Senator majority leader. Since it is always late, these three men, having met in smoked filled rooms, push through the budget they want. The man who was going to reform this process is the now famous Eliot Spitzer.
We have a carpetbagger Senator who wanted to use the state as a stepping stone to the Presidency. Since she lost the 2008 bid, she made two appearance here in upstate NY last week–one to little Wayne County (where I live)–so she can keep her job and her 2012 or 20016 aspirations alive.
All of these examples, plus Senator Cold Cash, etc. are why I love the “Conservative. Because government will ‘f’ it up.” tagline.
Brian,
Well, if you right wingers ever expect to find common cause up there in Pennsylvania, every one of you needs to take the trip you took.
I will give you only one example. Pennsylvania wants to make I-80 a tollroad (to go along with their already expansive tollroad network) to fund increasing massive transit expenditures for Pittsburg and Philadelphia.
These people want to tax interstate commerce from a freight corridor that has nothing to do with the areas that will benefit! In my opinion, this violates the Constitution, but what do I know? I’m only an American citizen.
Thank God for the courts.