RENDELL, THREE EX-GOVS PUSH JUDICIAL MERIT SELECTION

Is the support of four current or ex-governors enough to end a longer than four-decade standoff over whether statewide appellate judges should be elected or appointed?  Supporters of merit-selection hope so after holding a press conference Wednesday that featured Governor Rendell and former Governors Mark Schweiker, Tom Ridge, and Dick Thornburgh, each of whom decried judicial elections and the fundraising they require as unfair and corrupting. A better system, they said, would allow the state’s chief executive to appoint the most qualified person for the job.  “The time is now,” said former Republican Governor Ridge, who joined the Capitol press conference via phone. “The time is now for Pennsylvania to think about bringing a different approach to our democracy in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” Click here to read the News and Views story.

DEMOCRATS UNVEIL NEW TAX PACKAGE, INCLUDES SALES TAX VENDOR DISCOUNT

House Democrats unveiled a new tax package Monday that mixes an array of fees on tobacco products with a proposed levy on natural gas extraction and a diminished version of the sales tax vendor discount. The new taxes, which Democrats amended into House Bill

Continue reading Eye Opener – June 10, 2010