Fruit Salad, Anyone?

Posted by Mark Price on March 14, 2011 10:30 am
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The Governor's speechwriter appears to love apples to pears comparisons, or maybe bananas to oranges.  But nothing so plain as apples to apples.

I'm referring to the following quote from Governor Corbett’s budget address last week:

In Case You Missed It: Third and State Blog for Week of March 7

Posted by Third and State on March 11, 2011 4:00 pm
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This week on Third and State, we blogged about Governor Corbett's state budget proposal, ways to grow the economy and promote broadly shared prosperity, "Mad Men" who like fast trains, and much more!

In case you missed it:

  • On the state budget, Sharon Ward explained why Governor Corbett's proposed 2011-12 budget should worry parents and property taxpayers, and Chris Lilienthal shared some budget resources and information from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center.
  • On wages and the economy, Mark Price challenged the notion that education alone is the cure-all for the economy's woes and instead invokes the employee-focused business model used by The Container Store as an example of how to boost economic growth and broadly shared prosperity. Mark also delved deeper into the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's business climate rankings in a post titled "You Will Never Be Poor Enough."
  • On other economic issues, Mark shared a 60 Minutes segment on homeless children, while Steve Herzenberg passed on a powerful story that conveys one of the most critical roles that unions play.
  • Finally, we continue a new weekly series we're calling "The Friday Funny." This week, "Mad Men" who like fast trains (with a hat tip to PennPIRG's Megan DeSmedt for passing along).

More blog posts next week. Keep us bookmarked and join the conversation!

Friday Funny: 'Mad Men' Who Like Fast Trains

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on March 11, 2011 11:36 am
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Anyone who has read my blogger's bio knows I'm a huge fan of the AMC series Mad Men. On more than one occasion, I've even requested that the Keystone Research Center hire me a secretary named Miss Blankenship, but I digress.

In the following video, two "Mad Men" stars show what big fans they are of high-speed rail. Hat tip to Megan DeSmedt of PennPIRG for passing it along.

Can Businesses Make More Money by Paying their Workers More?

Posted by Mark Price on March 10, 2011 10:48 am
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We spend a lot time around here worrying about rising profits and stagnant wages, but that doesn't mean we don't want businesses to earn profits. Broadly shared prosperity means growth in productivity, which translates into growth in wages and profits. In short, it means we all prosper together.

The CBS Sunday Morning program ran a great story on The Container Store's employee-focused culture which you can watch below.

Budget Should Concern Parents and Property Taxpayers

Posted by Steven Martinez on March 9, 2011 1:23 pm
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I have an op-ed in today's Morning Call of Allentown responding to Governor Corbett's budget proposal. It takes a close look at severe cuts to public schools and support for Penn State and other colleges and universities proposed by the Governor:

If you have children or pay property taxes in Pennsylvania, Gov. Corbett's budget proposal should trouble you. His budget cuts public school aid by a billion dollars, setting funding back three years. Support for Penn State and other colleges and universities is cut in half.

Governor Corbett Unveils 2011-12 Budget Proposal (Updated)

Posted by Christopher Lilienthal on March 9, 2011 12:53 pm
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Governor Tom Corbett unveiled a $27.3 billion spending plan for the 2011-12 Fiscal Year. His proposed budget would reduce 2010-11 spending by $866 million, or 3.1%, and cut 1,550 public employee positions.

The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center has a full analysis of the Governor's budget proposal and funding levels by department and for specific education, health care and other line items.

You can also read PBPC's media statement on the budget plan.

You Will Never Be Poor Enough

Posted by Mark Price on March 8, 2011 10:28 am
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Last week, I wrote about a U.S. Chamber of Commerce report that ranked the business climate in Pennsylvania as poor.

One of the states the Chamber ranks as having a good business climate is the low-wage and high-poverty state of Florida.

Wages and regulations, it seems, are even too high in Florida.

Hard Times Generation: Homeless Kids

Posted by Mark Price on March 7, 2011 11:13 am
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In case you missed it, CBS's 60 minutes ran a truly heartbreaking segment this Sunday on homeless kids. Take a break at some point today and watch the 13-minute segment.

Olbermann on Wisconsin and Unions

Posted by Stephen Herzenberg on March 7, 2011 11:05 am
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Keith Olbermann has posted on his blog a powerful story that conveys one of the most critical roles that unions play. A quick excerpt:

... 'The Union' is the only protection you have when the drunken boss comes in to fire you because he doesn’t like you ...

More important perhaps, 'The Union' represents the good faith of the nation.

In Case You Missed It: Third and State Blog This Week

Posted by Third and State on March 5, 2011 11:45 am
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This week on Third and State, we blogged about the upcoming state budget, the end of adultBasic, a questionable business climate ranking, and much more!

In case you missed it:

  • On the state budget and the economy, Sharon Ward shared a podcast featuring her and Jan Jarrett of PennFuture discussing the state budget principles that will create jobs and ensure the long-term economic success of the Commonwealth. Mike Wood, meanwhile, challenged comments made this week by Budget Secretary Charles Zogby that Pennsylvania's budget woes are due to overspending. Mike points out that nearly every state in the nation — low-spending and high-spending alike — is facing a budget shortfall this year thanks to a recession-driven decline in revenue collections.
  • On the economy, Mark Price blogged about the problems with a new business climate ranking from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that seems to favor states with lower wages and less human development. Mark also shared a funny but informative video of the Daily Show’s Jon Stewart discussing pay on Wall Street and for teachers. 
  • On health care, Chris Lilienthal highlighted a New York Times story on the end of Pennsylvania's adultBasic health insurance program this week and what that means for the more than 41,000 Pennsylvanians who lost their coverage.
  • Finally, on jobs and wages, Stephen Herzenberg noted that The Economist agrees with the Keystone Research Center on one thing: people don’t take government jobs to get rich.

More blog posts next week. Keep us bookmarked and join the conversation!

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