PA in the WSJ

This is a list of articles regarding Pennsylvania in this week's Wall Street Journal. Chances are I missed something, but these are the articles that caught my eye.

It should be noted that I routinely do not read the editorials in the WSJ. So any discussions of the state, its elected officials, businesses, or citizens, in editorials will not be mentioned here.

PA Politicians

In “Banks fear Democrat bids to aid mortgage borrowers,” by Damian Paletta,” (11/05) we find this paragraph:

Sens. Richard Durbin (D., Ill.) and Arlen Specter (R., Pa.) are working on a related bill in the Senate. The Senate Judiciary Committee may take it up early next year, according to a panel aid.

While she is not mentioned in “House appears poised to approve Peru trade deal,” by Gary Hitt (11/07), Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13) has said she helped lead efforts to pass the legislation.

PA Businesses

A holiday shopping tip in “Well wishes: Highmark’s gift cards can cover insurance, medical fees,” by Kris Maher (11/06). From the article:

Pittsburgh health insurer Highmark, Inc. is selling a Healthcare Visa Gift Card from $25 to $5,000 to cover prescription, co-payments, elective surgery, contact lenses and gym memberships.

Those of you who have watched comedian Wanda Sykes’ routine about health care in which she says she doesn’t want her auntie out “trickin’ for her ‘scripts” might see the potential for giving elderly or ill relatives health care gift cards.

“Nasdaq moves to buy Phil-Ex,” by Aaron Lucchetti and Jed Horowitz (11/07) looks at the sale of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

“Toll Brothers’ plunge in orders signals further housing woes,” by John Spence (11/10) has a self-explanatory headline.

Brief mentions: Medecision of Wayne (11/06)

Other PA

University of Pennsylvania Wharton School profs Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers are mentioned in “Marriage undergoes change, causing drop in divorces,” (11/05)

Norman Peltz, of Trian Fund Management LP, and Trairc Companies, is a Wharton School drop out. See “A bite at a time, Peltz reshapes food industry,” by Julie Jargon (11/07)

Even though I always state that I don’t read editorials, sometimes they jump out at me. Two this week focus on Philly. “Educational rewards,” by Paul E. Peterson and Matthew M. Chingos (11/07) looks at the city’s public school. “The other Philadelphia story,” by John J. DiIulio, Jr. (11/10) focuses on the city’s faith based initiatives.

The University of Pennsylvania and a Harriton (Rosemont) High School senior have unrelated mentions in “Big pain on campus: applying to multiple schools,” by Anjali Athavaley (11/08)

Other Interesting Tidbits

Of perhaps some interest to the blogosphere is “Whole Foods bars executives from web forums,” by David Kesmodel (11/07). Execs can no longer write about work on forums that aren’t sponsored by the company. This is in reaction to the current CEO’s past penchant to anonymously writing about Whole Foods and its competitors on stock market forums.

An interesting note on the effect of “paygo” on impending legislation in “Fiscal responsibility proves costly,” by Sarah Leuck (11/09)

Penn researcher and happiness expert Martin Seligman is quoted in “Except in one career, our brains seem build for optimism,” by Robert Lee Hotz (11/09). In case you couldn’t guess the one career where pessimists did better was law.