ORIGINAL: no-time

pappy you are right on
to bad others can't see the nothing but what they want to see.

We know PA has issues, but creating more issues/problems is not the solution. And if you read today's article you will see the main hang up is the energy plan Rendell wants.

Yeah, Its all Rendell's fault. right moron!

Is name calling against the rules here?

If you don't agree with me fine but name calling is childish and immature.

Lets not forget over 24,000 people, that are already underpaid, getting laid off. The crazy thing is they will be able to collect unemployment $ which comes out of the state coffers, if you are going to pay them anyway....let them work.
 
STUPIDITY!!!!!

Would the last person leaving PA please turn off the lights.

Its official tonight on the news 24,000 without a job whats this country coming to when a state job is,nt safe

Quietman,
      Being a former resident of PA and an avid observer of the political maneuvering that has gone on there for the last 20 years I hae to say that Rendell is the absolute worst thing that could have happened to PA.  Maybe Swann "didn't have a clue"  but he vowed to be conservative with state spending for unproven ideas.  Rendell has a long history of trying to shove his programs down peoples throats (See Philidelphia) and then when things go to crap (again see Philly) blaming his and his cronies failures on others.  He had so many projects and schemes in Philly that it would make your head spin and all that came of them is higher taxes and economic flight from the philly area.  Oh, and before you label me; I am that rarest of creatures, a conservative Democrat.  I vote for the best person based on studying their performances and track records not their promises.
      It is an absolute shame that people have to be laid off.  But then again it will play in to Rendells' hands because:  Here's a prediction for you:  He will now have the opportunity to re-arrange these areas of government to suit himself and his political hacks.  Many people will find their jobs eliminated, or re-named and new people hired in their place, same job, same functions, just a new name; to fire people.
      I'm very sorry that you have to resort to making everything into a Bush bashing agenda.  He isn't the best we've ever had but he only fired 7 attorneys Clinton fired 132, and Bush only commuted 1 persons sentence  Clinton Pardoned over 150.  Yep Clinton, was better.  And have you noticed how nobody associated with the Bush administration has conveniently died.  With Clinton that number was 13 maybe it's just coincidence and maybe I'm paranoid but ...  As I have stated before you are entitled to your opinion.

Does this affect the access at the nut or any of the other PFBC facilities ?

Well, I'm not surprised by this. Talking with people, the bill is set but Rendell wants taxes raised (despite PA surplus) and the GOP does not want taxes raised.

Thanks indsguiz, you took the words right out my mouth. Rendell has a very bad track record but yet people of PA voted for him not once, but twice. Swann may have not been the best choice but if he was elected, we won't even be talking about a state shutdown and more then likely the bill would of been approved well before now.

quietman, do you even know what you are saying? A desperate act by republicans? I don't recall republicans being the ones shutting things down and laying off people to force people to accept his programs and tax increases. If you wish to pay higher taxes then figure out how much more money you will be spending on taxes and send that money to Rendell.

I pray GOP hold their ground against Rendell despite his dirty tactics.

From goerie.com

Residents feel government shutdown at parks, license centers

Published: July 09. 2007 9:15AM


HARRISBURG (AP) -- Far fewer potholes will be filled. The bass in state park lakes can swim without fear of anglers. And thousands of families have no idea when their paychecks will resume.

The furlough of more than 24,000 state employees and shutdown of many state government services that Gov. Ed Rendell announced just before midnight Sunday will have wide repercussions in Pennsylvania, not least the closing of museums and parks at the height of the summer tourist season.

Mark Tintle of Shady Side, Md., was packing up and leaving French Creek State Park in the Philadelphia suburbs Sunday afternoon. He and his wife drove 3½ hours on Friday night in a car packed with supplies for a weeklong camping vacation, only to be told they would have to leave Monday.


Visitors exit Presque Isle State Park on Sunday evening. The budget stalemate has forced the park to close and other state services to stop. (Rob Engelhardt/Erie Times-News)

Zoom | Buy this photo

"The most disappointing part is that it wasn't something that was uncontrollable," Tintle said. "It wasn't because of a fire, a flood, an act of God. It was just an act of bureaucracy, of Democrats versus Republicans."

At least gamblers and employees of the state's five slot-machine parlors got a reprieve when a judge late Sunday granted a request by the casino owners to remain open, at least until a Tuesday hearing.

Bobby Soper, chief executive of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs near Wilkes-Barre, said on his way into work Monday that he was pleased that the Commonwealth Court issued the preliminary injunction.

"Hopefully the budget impasse will be resolved and there will no longer be a question," Soper said. "Our employees are not state employees. We're like any other private entity."

He said he was concerned that patrons, there are usually about 5,000 on a typical Monday, may not get the message and would stay away.

"The fact that it occurred at the 11th hour made it somewhat difficult to get the message out," Soper said.

Rendell, whose last-ditch negotiations with the Legislature fell short of a budget deal that could have averted the furloughs and partial shutdown, said he hoped the budget impasse with the Legislature will be brief.

"I sincerely hope that this will be a one-day furlough and I have reason for optimism," he said, but declined to discuss remaining areas of disagreement.

A battle of wills between the Democratic governor and the Republicans who control the Senate has entered its ninth day since the new fiscal year began. Lacking an approved budget, the state has lost the authority to spend money on nonessential services and employees.

With Rendell's order, state workers whose jobs are not deemed to be essential to health and safety were furloughed without pay beginning Monday.

Pennsylvanians will be unable to take driver's license tests. A range of permitting and licensing functions will be stopped or severely curtailed. Even the lights illuminating the Capitol's dome are to be turned off.

Critical services, such as health care for the poor, state police patrols and prisons, are being maintained.

Republicans said they doubted that the furloughs were a legal necessity and repeated complaints that Rendell has included other priorities in the budget talks. Key sticking points include raising the state's debt ceiling and an energy plan that Rendell has insisted the Legislature approve before he signs the budget, they said.

"We have a $650 million surplus in Pennsylvania," said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware. "There's absolutely no reason why we can't have a budget agreement. We could have had a budget earlier but for these ancillary issues."

The centerpiece of Rendell's energy plan would place a surcharge on electricity use for a fund for alternative energy programs and electricity conservation. Republican legislators oppose the surcharge and accused the governor of holding state employees hostage to force them to approve it.

"I can't believe that a man who would call himself governor would do this to state employees," said Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson.

David Fillman, the executive director of Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said his union members, 14,000 of whom face furlough, should not have been caught in the middle of a political dispute.

"A lot of them live paycheck to paycheck, and even if it's a day's pay that they lose, it has an effect on their personal budgets," he said.

A legal effort by state employees' unions to put furloughs on hold failed Saturday, but a hearing was scheduled for Monday.

I doubt that we can blame this on Bush or the Republicans although some will certainly try.  I am so turned off on politics that I doubt I have the desire to vote anymore and I have always preached you vote or don't complain about what you get.

I remeber a family member that works for a state agency that was upset because they froze their cost of living increases or any pay increases planned however REndell (fast Eddie) took his increase and told them he tought he deserved it! I haven't seen a candidate I am excited about in a while.  Just my comments. 

"stay off the peninsula"
 
What if I have a boat docked at the marina on PI?  Am I SOL?...I plan on going perch jerkin' this afternoon. Guess I'll have to take the "master key" with me...a four foot set of bolt cutters.

I know...
funny how the park closes but the precious casino stays open.
 
 
so typical

Well, what do you expect. The legislators are better than us.  They get the best healthcare and the best benefits.  They sure work hard for us to make sure that happens!

I'll agree that there are some serious flaws in the system, but the real problem is US. A well informed electorate, that will get off it's butt and hit the polls, will overcome any flaws in the system. Sadly ignorance, and apathy tend to prevail. We have forgotten that it is WE, not the government, not the military, and not Wallstreet, that made America great. And only WE can restore that greatness.

ORIGINAL: storymaker

"stay off the peninsula"

What if I have a boat docked at the marina on PI? Am I SOL?...I plan on going perch jerkin' this afternoon. Guess I'll have to take the "master key" with me...a four foot set of bolt cutters.

We were talking about this at work today, what the heck are boat owners to do if they can't get to their boats on presque isle? Will the rangers let them in? I doubt it. Let us know what happens.