PA in Last Week's WSJ

Sorry this is late.

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

This is just sad, people, can’t someone do something noteworthy or scandalous? This week we have Carl Greene, head of the Philadelphia Housing Authority. See “Philadelphia’s housing woes may provide lesson for lawmakers,” by James R. Hagerty (6/24)

Among the top 10 self-funders in2008 house races were Matt Shaner (R-05), Dan Meuser (R-10), who lost their primary elections, and Chris Carney (R-10) who won his primary. From “Court voids law on self-funded campaigns,” by Susan Davis and Mark H. Anderson (6/27)

No PA politicians, but some politics in PA. According to “Obama leads McCain in key battleground states,” by June Kronholz (6/27), Obama leads in Pennsylvania.


PA Businesses

A spokesman for Pittsburgh-based Consol Energy is quoted I “Coal producers struggle to meet demand,” by Kris Maher (6/24)

From “Rising challenger takes on elder-care system,” by Lucette Lagnado (6/24):

Jeffrey Shireman, president of the not-for-profit Lebanon Valley Brethren Home in Palmyra, Pa., says she worked with Pennsylvania’s Health Department to build Green Houses at a cost of $1.7 million a piece with open kitchens, comfortable couches and electric fireplaces (real fireplaces are a regulatory obstacle).

Green Houses for the elderly sound like a great idea and I hope they are around when I need one.

Bart Blatstein of Tower Investments is quoted in “FBI, regulators probe Philadelphia loan broker,” by Jennifer Levitz and Steve Stecklow (6/25)

Hmmm, not sure how to take this, from “Will Amazon get a visit from the tax man?” by Lee Gomes (6/25):

New questions are being raised about an audacious legal strategy Amazon.com has used to avoid collecting sales tax in eight states where it has warehouses or distribution centers, including populous ones such as Pennsylvania and Virginia, Texas has been examining the issue since May.

Later in the article we learn that Amazon “has received promises of taxpayer-funded economic-development assistance” from Pennsylvania and other states.

“Toll Brothers, GM and UBS bounce,” by Rob Curran (6/25). The title says it all.

“Adelphia founder, son get sentences reduced by judge,” by Josee Rose. Another headline that says it all.

The editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has some unkind things to say about the Associated Press, and Pennsylvania newspaper editors look into forming a state cooperative, in “Shifts at Associated Press frustrate some members,” by Russell Adams (6/26)

Brief mention: Cigna (6/27)

Other PA

The chart accompanying “Government mortgage program fuels risks,” by Nick Timiraos (6/24) has Pennsylvania with less than 10% of FHA-insured home loans with down-payment funds from a non-profit provider

Pennsylvania ranks 10th in percentage of the population that is Muslim, as I interpret the chart accompanying “Obama walks a fine line with Muslims,” by Amy Chozick (6/23).

There is mention of Philadelphia reserve people in “Fed vacancies pose challenge for Bernanke,” by Sudeep Reddy (6/25)

Olympic swimming hopeful Cullen Jones recounts this childhood experience:

On a summer day when he was 5 years old, he went down an inner-tube ride at a Pennsylvania amusement park without knowing how to swim. The inner-tube flipped. He became trapped underneath it and didn’t emerge until his father and a lifeguard jumped in to save him

From “Cullen Jones makes waves,” by Matthew Futterman (6/27)

“Opting out,” by Geeta Anand (6/28) discusses the difficulties that arise when those like the Amish who do not have medical insurance but do have a lot of genetic problems, encounter the medical world.

Daniel UA over at Young Philly Politics is not the only noteworthy rowing name in the area. The battle over who will be the coxswain in the Olympics this year was between two locals, Marcus McElhenny (Monsignor Bonner High School and Temple) and Ned DelGuerico (St. Joseph’s Prep and Rutgers). See “In Olympic rowing, the race to fill the coxswain’s seat is tight,” by Barry Newman (6/28)

Other Interesting Tidbits

Blogger Matt Stoller is quoted in “Obama tilts toward center, irking some activists,” by Susan Davis (6/24)

“At the front of the front lines: tense sentry duty in Afghanistan,” by Michael M. Phillips (6/26) tells the story of 20-year old Lance Corporal Carlos Santiago who mans the outer security posts at a front-line patrol base.

“New GI Bill’s recruiting impact debated,” by Yochi J. Dreazen and Sarah Lueck (6/28)