Fast Eddie Strikes Again!

Pennsylvania Governor Fast Eddie Rendell is apparently worried that most citizens think Philly mayor John Street is the worst politician in the state. Luckily for him, he just changed everyone's mind. It's also interesting that Rendell's party affiliation isn't mentioned until the fourth paragraph of the article. Read on.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The state museums didn't open Monday. State parks were closed to visitors at the height of the summer tourism season, and many state services were idle because of a government shutdown that kept about 24,000 workers off the job.

With Rendell's order, state workers deemed not critical to health or safety were furloughed without pay.

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

Among the key sticking points in agreeing to a new $27 billion-plus budget are raising the state's debt ceiling and an energy plan that Rendell has insisted the Legislature approve before he signs, they said.

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 and some Democrats oppose the surcharge and accused the governor of holding state employees hostage to force them to approve it. (H/T - Yahoo!)

Before my head explodes, I had a few thoughts:

• I love how everyone is claiming that state workers were "furloughed." They're not prisoners, morons. They were laid off!
  
• The article gets some terrific quotes from union kingpins, who are griping that their members live paycheck to paycheck. I would probably feel sorry for them, but they're the ones who are always voting with the DNC, because the Dems are for "the working man." Well, how's that vote "working" out for ya now? HA!
• And, finally, it appears that Manbearpig has come to The Keystone State. Rendell demands a "surcharge" - read: crippling Democrat tax - on electricity use. And he wants this approved on the hottest day of the year so far. What a scumbag!