State Will Give Harrisburg $4.3 Million To Cover Debts, Hire Advisor
Includes $850,000 in taxpayer funds for private firm

SEPTEMBER 12, 2010 | by ERIC BOEHM

Gov. Ed Rendell announced a $4.3 million taxpayer-funded aid package for Harrisburg on Sunday, which will help the city meet bond obligation payments, pay bills, and hire a financial advisor.

The governor said the payments were "not a bailout" because more than $3.5 million of the money is in the form of expedited payments already budgeted to the city this year, including $1 million in state taxpayer funds for fire protection and $2.6 million from the state's Municipal Pension Assistance Fund. Rather than being used for fire protection and pension payments, the funds will be used to cover the city's $3.3 million in general obligation bond payments due Sept. 15.

"It is, in my judgment, extraordinarily important that the city make this payment to the general obligation bond holders," said Mr. Rendell. "For many of the same reasons, it is important the city does not fall into bankruptcy." Click here to read more.

Unemployment Filings Average One for Every Six Pennsylvanians
Food stamps, medical assistance, weeks on unemployment on the rise

SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 | by DARWYYN DEYO

With 9.2 percent of Pennsylvania's workforce still unemployed, state Department of Labor and Industry (DL&I) data show unemployment compensation claims on the rise, averaging one for every six Pennsylvanians, and unemployment compensation payments per capita more than doubling since 2007.

When the recession started in December, 2007, the state paid an average $180.34 in unemployment compensation per capita. In 2009, it rose to $398.78.

In 2007, there were 1.25 million filings for unemployment, averaging about one in 10 Pennsylvanians. In 2009, it had risen to one out of six, at 2,026,055 initial claims, a 62 percent increase.

In contrast, the amount paid out in state funded cash assistance, more commonly known as welfare, has gone down from $626.2 million during 2006-2007 to $447.2 million for 2008-2009, a 28 percent cut. Click here to read more.

All Stories

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Onorato Vows Money For Transportation Without Tax Hikes | September 16, 2010
Caucuses Lack Common Ground on Gas Pooling Legislation | September 15, 2010
Environmental Activists Not Terrorists, Says Governor | September 14, 2010
New Education Reports Show Progress Across Grade Levels, Subgroups | September 14, 2010
House Democrats Craft $1.286 Billion Alternative Transportation Funding Plan | September 14, 2010
Unemployment Filings Average One for Every Six Pennsylvanians | September 13, 2010
Teamsters May Drive Philly Papers Back To Court | September 13, 2010
Toomey: Sestak Should Return Contributions From "Global Government" Group | September 13, 2010
State Will Give Harrisburg $4.3 Million To Cover Debts, Hire Advisor | September 12, 2010
Senator: Cut Off Unemployment Debit Cards in Casino ATMs | September 10, 2010
Facing Conflicting Orders, Dept. of State Asks Supreme Court for Help | September 10, 2010
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