Hey Fellow Pennsylvanians Don't Lose Your Shirts

Daily Missive: Wow it is a scorcher today here at the PennPatriot compound in Altoona. On tap? Finish painting my basement and then swimming in my little 2 ft pool for as long as I can.

Today's Rundown:

A Role Of The Dice: Today is the first day that you can play table games at various PA Casinos. Now the second most popular groundhog in PA, Gus, is urging all Pennsylvanians to lose as much money as possible so we can collect enough state revenue to prevent another budget shortfall next year. (Click Here)

Last year Governor Rendell and state lawmakers decided to legalize table games in a last minute budget deal as a way to plug projected revenue shortfalls in last years budget. The implementation was pretty much a debacle from the start. Debates over licensing fees and oversight made the process more difficult for Casino owners to implement the new table game law.

Since we were close to a billion dollars short last year and counting on federal stimulus money to bail us out this year, I guess counting on projected gambling revenue to balance a budget didn't work out so well. This also should remind us all just what a shame legalized gambling has become in PA. How is that promised property tax relief working out for you these days?

Take That State GOP Legislative Leaders: The quick passage of the state budget this year is continuing to fuel the fire of good government advocates in Harrisburg. At minimum I guess we can call the budget irresponsible for counting on close to a billion dollars of federal stimulus money that hasn't even been passed by Congress yet.

Some advocates have called this years state budget unconstitutional. I call this year's budget fiscally irresponsible, chalked full of shady projected revenue numbers. Basically this year's budget is a symbol of the lack of real leadership demonstrated by both GOP and Democratic leaders. This years budget simply does nothing to address our state's financial difficulties. But at least PA taxpayers can rest easy that their local school district got an increase in the basic education funding allocation.

The budget debate still rages on in Harrisburg and everyone seems to be in the cross airs of the opposition. Lowman S. Henry the founder of the Lincoln Institute takes a huge bite out of republican legislative leaders for allowing Governor Rendell to increase spending in a very tough economic conditions. (Click Here) Henry implies that the need to simply pass a budget on time in an election year compromised their republican principles. Got that Scarnati!!!

From the Rumor mill: The talk of the town in Harrisburg these days is reports that Governor Rendell is having an affair with his pretty blond lobbyist. (Click Here) Rendell's Apparent mistress is Dr. Kirstin Snow, the director of Commonwealth Media Services who was Miss Pennsylvania in 1994 and Mrs. Pennsylvania in 2005. I personally don't believe these rumors. I mean come on, Rendell a ladies man? He just seems too slimy to be attractive to Dr. Snow. Rendell is denying the reports fiercely. Apparently Harrisburg insiders are suggesting that Rendell's womanizing has gone on for quite a while during his two terms as Governor. I am just wondering how much of the womanizing and fraternizing has been paid for by state taxpayers? I just hope Ed's state health care plan isn't paying for the Viagra charges.

The must listen to song of the day? "Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)" by The Offspring