Ed Rendell and Marco Rubio

This Thursday, July 11, America's Mayor and former PA Governor Ed Rendell is in the news again.  This is the text of a press conference announcement.  The event is in DC so it may not get a lot of local press.

 former Pennsylvania Gov. and Co-Chair of Campaign to Fix the Debt, Ed Rendell, Sen. Marco Rubio, and Sen. Ted Cruz will keynote Concerned Veterans for America and The Weekly Standard’s second ‘Defend & Reform’ Breakfast Event.

The federal government will soon hit yet another grim fiscal milestone—$17 trillion in national debt.  Sadly, these milestones just tick past as Americans have grown accustomed to Washington's spending addiction.  However, this type of overspending cannot continue without threatening our economic health and ability to keep our country safe.  Concerned Veterans for America believes only spending reform—across the government and including everyone's “sacred cows”—can put this country on sound financial footing.

Murphy and Rendell on PoliticsNation

Ed Rendell, former governor of Pennsylvania and former mayor of Philadelphia, and Patrick Murphy, former congressman for Pennsylvania's 8th district (Bucks County) were on PoliticsNation (MSNBC) yesterday.  A transcript is available online.  (It must have been PA Day on the show, Congressman Chaka Fattah appeared on a later segment.)

Book Review: A Nation of Wusses, by Ed Rendell

The full title of Gov. Rendell’s book is A Nation ofWusses:  How America’s Leaders Lost theGuts to Make Us Great (Wiley, 20120.

This is not a tell all.  The governor clearly has another book (or two or more) in him.  This is not an autobiography but a series of vignettes and philosophical essays.  He touches very briefly on his childhood, and losing his father as a teen but otherwise skips to his first run for Philadelphia District Attorney.  He mentions his son and estranged wife in passing but doesn’t talk about them in depth.  

Rendell doesn’t dish on his colleagues.  Bob Brady is mentioned once, teaching Bill Clinton how to lean forward when eating a cheesesteak so he won’t drip on his suit and stain it.  There are no mention of Chaka Fattah or any other Philadelphia area congressional representatives.   

Emmet Fitzpatrick, who followed Arlen Specter in the Philly DA’s office, is mentioned, Mike Fitzpatrick, 8^th district conference isn’t.  George Schwartz, one time Philadelphia City Councilman is mentioned, Allyson Schwartz, current 13^th district congressional representative, is not.  No mention of Vince Fumo or John Perzel.  Michael Nutter and John Street each get a few mentions.

He does tell a few stories.  My favorite chapter is the one on rescuing orphans from Haiti after the earthquake in 2010.  Rendell gives some behind the scenes details, including he and his wife acting as flight attendants, going up and down the makeshift aisles in the plane, delivering the juice boxes and toys they brought with them.

Al Gore didn’t take kindly to Rendell’s suggestion they involve Bill Clinton in Gore’s presidential campaign more.   Gore chewed him out personally and then Gore’s staff uninvited Rendell and his wife from their Christmas party.  Since the Rendell’s hadn’t been invited in the first place it was not a hardship to be uninvited. 

Rendell takes some shots at the press, but also mentions some occasions where he manipulated the media.  He also references Buzz Bissingers book, A Prayer for the City, about Rendell’s early years as Mayor of Philadelphia. 

The governor does tout some of his governmental successes, and rightfully so.  For example he talks about his state budgets and budgetary priorities that helped public education.  As Mayor of Philadelphia he re-negotiated city worker’s contracts and re-negotiated office space leases.  Rendell writes as he speaks, bluntly, and doesn’t mince words. 

In some chapters he lists problems or solutions, mostly in government.   Again, he gives these opinions in a straight-forward fashion.  He says people respect elected officials who will explain and problem and proposed solutions in an honest fashion. 

This is a quick read but a good read.  I recommend it.  For a sampling, check out the excerpts at Philadelphia Magazine.

Rendell on PCN

from the inbox (PCN call-in number redacted):

Former Governor Ed Rendell will sit down with the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) to discuss his newly-released book, “A Nation of Wusses” during a special edition of “PA Books.” The program featuring the former governor is slated to air statewide on Tuesday, June 12 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Following the conclusion of this program, viewers will be given the chance to share their comments and questions with the former governor and author during a special LIVE PCN Call-In program at 9:00 p.m.

 “A Nation of Wusses” is now a new memoir penned by Rendell, but the phrase itself made national news after Rendell coined it when expressing his feelings after the NFL postponement of an Eagles game based on the threat of a snowstorm. Today Rendell uses “a nation of wusses” to describe how the nation’s leaders have lost their guts and the ability to face serious issues head-on. The former governor will share his thoughts during a candid one-on-one interview about his new book on this special “PA Books” episode.

 The hour-long LIVE PCN Call-In program which will follow the “PA Books” special will give viewers an opportunity to talk directly to Rendell.

“PA Books” airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. with weekday airings at 8:00 a.m. The interactive, LIVE PCN Call-In program is seen Monday through Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

GOTV Rally in Ambler with Rick Taylor and Rendell

This afternoon a number of elected officials gathered in support of State Rep. Rick Taylor (D-151), who is running for re-election this year. It was a beautiful crisp fall day. These are my notes from the rally.

Montgomery County Democratic Chair Marcel Groen started the festivities. He mentioned some of the local officials present, including Mayor Bud Wahl and Bob Pesavento, President of the Upper Dublin Township Board of Commissioners. Other local elected officials were present but not named. Groen introduced Ruth Damsker

Ruth Damsker, candidate for state senate in the 12th district. She said everyone knows what needs to be done. We need to preserve what has been done for open space. We also need to tax Marcellus shale.

Next up, State Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-153), whose district contains part of Upper Dublin Township. He said if the GOP wins a majority in the state house it will mean we didn’t go our job here. Rick Taylor is key. We need to make the gas drillers pay for cleanup. We need to keep communities safe.

Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel welcomed the crowd and introduced Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz.

Schwartz said we need everyone to come out and vote. Ambler is a great place. Rick Taylor is responsible to the community. She cited his work on the Willow Grove Naval Air Station as an example. Not only is Taylor a good legislator but a really good person.

Taylor himself took the microphone. We have the heart we have to get the votes. Nothing is more important than education. The GOP wants to gut education. On Marcellus shale, the state senate walked way without getting anything done. He and his campaign have knocked on over 30,000 doors.

Gov. Ed Rendell arrived in a big bus. He said Rick Taylor has the courage of the heart of a lion. On the statewide elections, Dan Onorato [Democratic candidate for governor] and Joe Sestak [Democratic candidate for Senate] are within the margin of error in polls and can win. We should go out and talk to people and motivate voters. Allyson Schwartz has done a great job with CHIP; 4 million more kids are now insured. With the Lilly Ledbetter Act women now can receive equal pay for equal work. Credit card reform means no more families put in the poor house. We took the middle man out of student loans. The health care reform bill isn’t perfect but it protects us in many ways.

Rendell continued, saying that, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus bill kept unemployment lower than it would have been otherwise. The stimulus worked. The GOP seems to think the health care reform bill was written by the devil. We are the only developed nation without universal health care. The Congressional Budget Office says the health care reform bill will cut the deficit 20 trillion dollars [not sure this amount is right and did not catch the time period this would cover.] With the bill, young adults can stay on their parents coverage until they are 26. There is no cap on coverage, and insurance companies can no longer drop people when they get sick. Let’s not be ashamed of what we’ve done.

He said we cannot even get a vote in the state senate on taxing Marcellus shale. Tom Corbett [Republican candidate for governor] is against a severance tax because he has received nearly a million dollars from the drilling industry. On the state level Rendell said he has targeted programs that work, pre-kindergarten and full day kindergarten, free after school tutoring; he said Pennsylvania is the only state to make substantial progress in all areas on educational tests. We’ve tone a good job. The tea party has some scary ideas. Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, in line to be chair of the government oversight committee under a Republican majority, has said she would issue subpoena after subpoena. President Obama didn’t do that when he took office. John Boehner, in line to be speaker of the house if the Republicans win a majority, campaigned for a candidate who posed in a Nazi uniform. Mitch McConnell has said his top priority is to keep President Obama from getting anything done.

Rendell ended by saying that like long distance runners we need to find the energy to sprint at the finish line.

Personal notes: I’ve been a fan of Rick Taylor since his first run for office in 2006. My favorite photo of him is when he took on Tom Corbett for using subpoena power to try and find out who owned a twitter account.

Virginia Thomas Points to Ed Rendell

Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is playing a leadership role in a newly created nonprofit associated with tea party groups. In a Los Angeles Times article ("Justice's wife launches 'tea party' group," by Kathleen Hennessey, 3/14)she is asked about the propriety of the spouse of a justice seeking and accepting corporate donations for possible political purposes she pointed to one of Pennsylvania's own power couples:

"I don't involve myself in litigation. Are you asking that because there's a different standard for conservatives? Did you ask Ed Rendell that question?" she said, referring to the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, who is married to a federal appellate court judge.

The article goes on to point out how the Rendells keep their marriage together and their jobs apart.

Gov Ed's Editorial

Gov. Ed Rendell is the guest-editor of the January 2010 issue of Politics Magazine. His editorial has been posted on the magazine's website. Check out "On Money and Politics."

Here is an excerpt:

Fundraising, like almost everything else in a modern campaign, is part art and part science—and is hard to teach. In many ways it is based on the candidate’s personality.

It is also clearly true that the influence of money on the political process is far too great and contributes to the undue power of lobbyist and special interests in state capitols and in Washington, D.C. I believe that campaign finance reform is essential for democracy to flourish.

Sneak Peak at Rendell-Edited Politics Magazine

The cover of the January 2010 issue of Politics Magazine, guest edited by Ed Rendell, is on Facebook. It's a sneak peek. The issue itself has not yet been released.

Daily Budget Rant: Foaming at the Mouth Edition

We already know that the state legislature is not willing to start add items like cigars, smokeless tobacco, candy, and gum, let alone legal fees, to the list of things and services that are charged a sales tax.

However, this week I learned that if my local elementary school parents' organization makes a profit on a fundraiser, it has to charge sales tax on the items sold. (Just a note: if anyone needs wrapping paper, let me know.)

So cheroots and bon bons are exempt, the money we raise that goes back into the school, that pays for the Weekly Reader, playground equipment, t-shirts for the Reading Olympics teams, and so on, that's taxable.

It sort of goes along with the idea that libraries and school budgets can be cut but there no need for a severance tax for drilling Marcellus Shale, or cutting back on legislative spending.

I cannot begin to tell you how peeved I am.

Rendell on Libraries

This morning Gov. Ed Rendell held a press conference to discuss the effect of the Senate Republican's proposed budget on Pennsylvania's libraries. PCN replayed the press conference this evening. I missed the first few minutes but here are my rough notes for the rest of it. A doctor (Besselman?) who volunteers in the library spoke after the governor and before the governor took questions, but, no offense to the good doctor, my attention was distracted and I missed it.

As always, I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions.

Rich Bowra, Dauphin County Library introduced the governor and discussed library services

State money pays for staffing, electronic resources, bread and butter items, Power library, resource delivery, and others

EGR: Library funding levels, cut would take up back 11 years. The best thing we’ve done in the Commonwealth over the last 6 years is for our young people. Many of our young people have learned to use computers in the library. In 6 years, 30% more proficient in reading and math. Education Weekly named us 10th best education system in the country. The budget is all about message. Many Republicans say we can just cut spending and not raise taxes. People don’t understand what the cuts would do. 57% to 37% in Quinny poll asked if they would pay more to keep education levels where they are. What I’ve proposed is not just raising taxes but 2.4 billion in cuts, including a cut to the libraries by 10%, but a 53% cut would decimate libraries. If we cut 53% 1000 employees lose their jobs [list of other effects of cuts]. We need to make our legislators understand that libraries are important. Libraries are a sanctuary where kids can get away from the rough tough aspects of life. They bring cheer and a sense of peace and calmness and peace. Maybe not life and death but life changing experiences. In many places they are the only community center the community has. Maybe we can pay sales tax on candy and gum because they aren’t really food anyway. Maybe pay sales tax on basic cable. Do we want to be a society that says I got mine, my kids are out of school. To be economically viable you have to have an educated workforce. We can’t sacrifice education; we have to be better than that.

Q: sales tax?

EGR: no, just hypothetical examples. If legislature covers education and solves this year and next year’s budget problems he will support.

Q: mtg with caucus committee

EGR: trying to urge them to get conference committee back and running as soon as possible. Rep. Evans had unexpected tragic death in family, down in George. Hoping in Thurs to get back to conf committee

Q: autism, libraries

EGR: Message from other side, just cuts. Our message is a harder sell.

Q: Evans stepping aside on conf comm.?

EGR: don’t know about that

Q: only politician in H’burg?

EGR: On Satuday and Sunday, yes. Some momentum on Philadelphia problem. Politicians back.

Q: is this resonating with Senate Republicans?

EGR: only if people communicate with them. I communicate with them all the time. They don’t want to hear from me, want to hear from ordinary citizens. People aren’t happy about paying more but will if that is what it takes to keep schools, libraries, and state police out there. Ask them to explain why they think it is a good idea to cut libraries 53%. Did you see what happened in the first two meetings of conf comm? [Makes joke about Goldfinger movie where people in room are gassed.] If we can get past the partisanship we can get things done. There are smart people in that room.

Q: critical of Sen Republicans for cutting libraries but you cut state library

EGR: That is more administrative. The people don’t use that as much. It is more of a repository.

Q: PIT

EGR: It was an increase of 70 cents a day. That doesn’t impact anybody’s quality of life.

Rendell to Edit Magazine Issue

In a blogger version of the Circle of Life, this afternoon I wrote a note on twitter rephrasing a tweet I had read, which was picked up by Capital Ideas, and now I am posting a full blog entry on it. Everyone feel free to hum the song from "Lion King."

The note that started it all, from FishbowlDC, states that Gov. Mike Huckabee and Gov. Ed Rendell have agreed to guest edit issues of Politics Magazine. Huckabee is slated to be Mr. October; Rendell some time after that.

Capital Ideas picks up on the irony of Rendell sitting behind the editor's desk instead of yelling at the editor:

He's never been shy about picking up the phone to scream about what he believes to be an unfair story or dressing down a reporter at a news conference. In fact, he once asked a reporter at This Very Newspaper whether it was "edited by penguins." The answer was, of course, "No," because awkward, flightless waterfowl are more often found in state government.

When I saw the penguins comment my first thought was that the governor though the paper was edited by nuns.

In any event, I look forward to the issue. In the past few months the magazine has had articles on dumpster diving (actually it was on opposition research) and how to effectively work a July 4th parade (they did not have my twitter note that female candidates should not wear tank tops if they can't keep track of their straps). It will be interesting to see what Rendell can solicit from his large circle of friends in the political industry.

Gov Ed Rides the Rails

from the inbox:

Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood challenged governors to think boldly when designing high-speed rail plans during a roundtable discussion at the White House today. The session was a unique opportunity for state leaders to share their ideas with the Obama Administration about the future of high-speed trains in America.

In April, President Obama released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high speed rail. The plan identifies $13 billion in federal funds -- $8 billion in the Recovery Act and $5 billion requested in the President’s budget -- to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future. Detailed guidance for up to the first $8 billion in federal grant applications will be announced later this month and the first round of grants are expected to be awarded as soon as late summer 2009.

In developing the high-speed rail program, Administration officials have sought extensive input from states, Congress, labor, industry, rail experts from countries with working high-speed rail networks, and other key stakeholders. Today’s roundtable follows Secretary LaHood’s recent fact-finding trip to several European countries where he met with transportation officials and rail operators and witnessed first-hand the operations of working high-speed rail systems. Other senior U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) officials recently hosted a series of seven regional workshops around the country.

“Everyone knows I’m a big believer in our nation’s rail system – I’ve devoted a big part of my career doing what I can to support it – and I’m proud that this Administration is about to transform that system fundamentally,” said Vice President Biden. “Thanks to an $8 billion investment from the Recovery Act, we’re going to start building a high-speed rail system that will loosen the congestion suffocating our highways and skyways, and make travel in this country leaner, meaner and a whole lot cleaner.

“America is ready to embrace a new level of passenger rail service that offers a safe, convenient, and sustainable way to travel from city to city, and region to region,” said Secretary LaHood. “President Obama has handed us an extraordinary opportunity – and now it is up to all of us to seize the moment. With creative input and contributions from governors across the country, I believe we’ll be able to do just that.”

President Obama’s vision for high-speed rail mirrors that of President Eisenhower, the father of the U.S. Interstate highway system, which revolutionized the way Americans traveled. Now, high-speed rail has the potential to reduce U.S. dependence on oil, lower harmful carbon emissions, foster new economic development and give travelers more choices when it comes to moving around the country.

In attendance for today’s roundtable: Governors Pat Quinn, Illinois; Sonny Perdue, Georgia; Deval Patrick, Massachusetts; Jennifer Granholm, Michigan; Jay Nixon, Missouri; Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania; Tim Kaine, Virginia; and Jim Doyle, Wisconsin. In addition, state transportation officials from California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Rhode Island and West Virginia also attended the roundtable.

Rendell on Maddow

This evening I watched part of the Rachel Maddow Show since Attytood blogger Will Bunch of the Inquirer was on plugging his new book. As a pleasant surprise it turned out to be a Pennsylvania two-fer. Gov. Ed Rendell was also a guest, to speak in favor of Pres. Obama's stimulus proposal.

Ed Rendell on "Money Matters"

Gov. Rendell appeared on CN8's "Money Matters" with Mary Caraccioli last Tuesday. They spoke about renewable energy at the beginning of the show, and politics at the end. In the middle a financial investor spoke about a selection of stocks. I did not transcribe any of the investor's remarks. They were interesting, to be sure, but that isn't the focus of the blog.

These are rough notes. My apologies in advance for any errors or misconceptions. You can watch the episode yourself on "On Demand."

M is Mary Caraccioli, ER is Gov. Rendell

M: Today I met Gov Ed Rendell at one of the two major wind manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania. They have a backlog of orders for their wind turbines.

ER: Gamesa came here because we passed Advanced Energy Portfolio Standards. We said by 2021 18% of the energy sold at retail must come from renewables, wind, solar, geothermal, clean coal. Prior to that happening PA was the lading state in the Eastern US in creating wind power but only barely. Gamesa came in and we are on track to produce 10 times as much.

M: Must be a market for it. When oil goes up the market goes up.

ER: Have to help create the market. Incentivize. Gamesa fairly mature already. Others are newer -- radiowaves off water, turn tobacco leaves into ethanol, microwave old tires. Incentivize early state industries. Tax advantage for investing in renewables for consumer. Right now congress considering extending tax credit for incentives. W/o that tax credit you won’t get investment in private sector. Govt won’t be enough to keep industry going.

M: timetable to get to 18% renewable in PA.. As a nation to get to a place where we are far more energy independent.

ER: 2021, some are other years. I think we can get there even faster. Boone Pickens thinks we can get 20% of our energy from wind in 5 years if we make the commitment. Helps environment. Could use natural gas now used for electricity for cars to decrease dependence on foreign oil. New president must convene Manhattan Project on first day. Cellulosic ethanol from wood chips agricultural waste, landfill waste switchgrass. Iowa is capitol of corn ethanol. We could be the capital of cellulosic.

M: How close are we?

ER: We have woodchips and wood fiber, a lot of agricultural waste, big landfill state, switchgrass and landgrass galore. Two cellulosic ethanol plants in construction. If they are successful in the first year then in 5 years you will see a lot more. We will have to call on everything. Solar, wind geothermal, clean coal, hydro. Everything’s got to be on the table. Rising demand in the world, India, China, Africa, means no matter how much we produce the supply will never meet the demand. C word, conservation. McCain made fun of Obama’s comment on air pressure. But Obama is right. Air pressure, air filters, drive speed limit

M: Jimmy Carter, wear sweater lower thermostat, perceived as a defeatist message.

ER: It’s how you sell it. President should say “are you ticked off about energy and gas prices?” The govt will do something but it will take time but if you want to send a message to the world, cut your consumption by 10%. It will send a message that will shake their eye teeth. If demand drops then price will drop.

[John Morris, principal, from Crestwood Advisors / investments discusses green stocks]

M: Millions of dollars already spent on presidential tv ads. In PA John McCain outspending Barack Obama. Can McCain win PA?

ER: McCain is the most attractive candidate in winning PA in 20 years. He can win it. We have to draw the difference between McCain and Obama on the issues. When they learn McCain, while a nice man, is a conservative not a moderate. Won’t play well in Philly suburbs. Will chose Supreme Court judges like the ones Bush chose.

M: need Hillary Clinton

ER: doesn’t need her but it would be easier to win PA with her. Obama must spend time here must spend money here. People start getting interested after the conventions and Labor Day. He has to deliver those messages, esp to moderates and Republican women. Best surrogate is Hillary Clinton. Spoke to her on Monday she said she would be back to campaign for Obama.

M: His vice president may upstage him

ER: Yes, if you listen to him talk, he talks in glowing terms about the book Team of Rivals, Lincoln put many of his primary rivals on his cabinet, 4 of chief rivals in primary. People thought he was crazy but he said the nation is challenged and he needed best people available. Willing to have Joe Biden as vp. Great foreign policy experience. Also best help other than Clinton in winning PA. Biden was born in Scranton and Joe’s commercials have aired in Philly for 20 years.

M; You are always mentioned for jobs. If you could pick your own job in Obama’s White House what would it be?

ER: I have an implied contract with the voters to serve out term as governor. If I finish my term in January 2011 and secretary of energy or transportation were available would like to do that. Would do virtually anything Obama asked me to do.

Gov Rendell on PCN Call-In Show

Last Thursday Gov. Ed Rendell appeared on the PCN Call-In Show. He took questions live from the station's Pittsburgh bureau.

Q questions are from host Kat Prickett. C questions are from callers.

As always, these are rough notes and I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions. The governor was, as usual, very well informed and had a number of facts and statistics in his answers. I just simply can't type that fast. In a few places you will see question marks; the governor mentioned a statistic and I caught the first part of the number but not the last.

Host Kat Prickett

Q: Where are we in the budget process?

ER: I laid out my priorities on Feb 8, but we have been having meetings, had one with leaders on June ? (early June). Started with work groups. By and large been positive. Think the attitude is people care very much about certain things. Understanding we need to get this done.

Q: possibility of state furloughs?

ER: If it happens at all it will happen after July 1. Should not be concentrating on this but on getting the budget done. We are the only big state with a surplus, about a $300 Million dollar surplus, most have deficits. We’ve managed our money well in PA over the last 5 years. According to labor standards act cannot pay state workers if no budget. Dwight Evans may have found a way to solve this whole problem, borrowing money from rainy day fund. That may solve the problem. Its time for us to get this done. We’ve just got to make some decisions.

Q: most important issues in budget

ER: Education. The results our early childhood program are showing . We have 10th best education program in county. We rank first in early childhood (?). 6 year phase in, historical level of funding based on real formula. Second priority is energy initiative that lets us get away from dependence on foreign fuel. Incentives for energy businesses to open here. Incentivize citizens. Energy rate caps come off. Economic stimulus plan. Recession upon us. Investments in our infrastructure.

C: Thank ER for taking on issue of PA funds public education. No one wants to own a home with high taxes and bad schools.

ER: I’ve told the general assembly that’s my number one priority. 350+ of our 500 schools districts are not spending enough money per student. Get enough phased in over the next 6 years to provide great education. Under Gov Shapp education spending was 50%, when I can in was 30?%, now 38%. In Upper Darby the millage is incredible. The state’s share has to go up. State funding would go to 40?%. When gaming money comes in will get property tax relief.

C: About 60 people were in your offices to discuss why we are 46th state for delivering special education. Would like to meet with you. Group called Alfie, Alliance for Inclusion Education.

ER: Happy to met with you. Biggest problem with special ed is with fed govt. Promised to pay 48% of cost but never have. Both Sen. Clinton and Obama have promised to increase funding.

C: Act 44.

ER: We can’t wait until change in administration; we have to know about polling of I-80 soon. If you read the Surface Transportation Report in Congress. If you read the dissent by Sec. Peters, it says it is the state’s responsibility, toll roads previously untolled. Sec. Peters also likes public / private partnerships. Given that it would be hard for them to turn it down.

Q: Where do we stand for bid on turnpike

ER: bid is over. Albertis, a Spanish company with projects around the world. Currently manage Orlando airport. Paired with Citigroup. Legislature would have to approve bid.

Q: movement in near future?

ER: No, with other issues, this will probably be put over until Sept.

C: What can we do about outrageous rate hikes in health insurance?

ER: What you are facing is what employees and employers all over are facing. There’s a bill that has passed the house and is now in the senate. Health insurance has to spend 85% of income has to be spent on health care, not advertising, etc. Can’t do demographic rating. Gives insurance commissioner right to set rates as they do for auto insurance. Stops any insurance company from denying reasonable coverage to anyone who is sick. We’ve created a system where everyone wants to insure the healthy 27 year old male and no one wants the insure the sick. Pass the Health Insurance Reform Package.

Q: What are different pieces of legislation on health insurance.

ER: Supports bill that passed the house. Paid for by increasing cigarette tax and starts taxing smokeless tobacco and cigars.

C: Senate Bill 509, House Bill 2002. Amends public school act of 1949 to train school employees in diabetic care and treatment.

ER: I do support the bills but would have to look at financial implications. Tries to avoid unfunded mandates.

C: 70 years old. Filled out form for economic stimulus rebate. Told not eligible.

ER: Leave number and I will look into this.

C: COLA for retired state employees.

ER: Retired state employees deserve some increase in their pension. Problem is in 2000 Gov. Ridge and legislature gave increase in pension to workers and legislators but not retirees. We do need increases especially to older retires. Action in 2000 cost so much that we can’t afford increase. In 2013 a big increase is coming unless flattening out bump. I have put money in but still a looming problem. Our pension fund simply can’t afford an increase. Looking to see if it can be done for oldest retirees.

C: Alternative fuels. Has 2 flex fuel vehicles but can’t buy ethanol in our area.

ER: Good question. Penn Security Fuels Initiative would require 1 billion gallons sold to be something other than petroleum (?). Problem is getting distribution up and running. Caller has E-85 flex car, can take 85% ethanol. Most pumps have 10% ethanol now. Incentivizing more E-85 pumps. Sunoco is vendor on Turnpike. Must make sure biodiesel available. Leading nation in number of gallons of biodiesel produced. Penn Security Fuels Initiative has passed house, currently in senate.

Q: gas prices going up

ER: Can’t do much in PA except up tempo our efforts to get alternative fuels at the pump. Philly gas a little cheaper because it includes more ethanol that in rest of state. Best thing we can do is be smarter. Get air pressure checked. Make sure it is at the right amount. Get oil filter checked. Slow down on the highway. Doing those three things will save you more than if we roll back gas tax.

C: retired state law enforcement officer. Opposed to more gun control, more emphasis on laws that are there.

ER: Assaults by firearms on police officers increased 85% statewide. Police chiefs across the state in favor of more gun control. Agree that more law enforcement is needed. When mayor partnered with NRA to work to send those caught with a gun if had a previous felony went to federal court not state. Sent 700 or 800 worst cases a year went to federal court. Nothing wrong with a law that says you can only buy one handgun a month. Why does anyone need more than12 handguns a year? Stops straw purchaser.

Q: How would that affect gun collectors

ER: Registered gun collectors are exempt.

C: green program?

ER: One of the advantages of doing alternative energy and green buildings is that it creates jobs. PA exports many jobs to buy and produce petroleum. Penn Security Fuels Initiative would implement training programs and create job opportunities. Want to really take off by 2010, 2011, 2012

C: gaming bill lets casinos operate with no regulation. Two bills, SB 423 and HB (???) requires casinos to send monthly statements

ER: First I’ve heard of it. Will look at bills, sound fair and reasonable.

C: Health care bill passed by the house. Has pre-existing condition. Can’t get insurance.

ER: Package of insurance reform bills, would make it illegal to deny coverage at a reasonable rate to someone with a pre-existing condition.

Q: How many currently uninsured?

ER: 120,000 children, hopefully reduced by CHIP program. 700,000 adults.

C: import / export of fuel? Can go through Canada waters now due to global warming?

ER: federal government and oil distribution companies aware of it. Sad opportunity.

C: thanks for smoke free legislation. Willing to advocate for Allegheny Co to implement more stringent regulations

ER: On record as supporting anyone to have stronger bill. Decent chance. Would sign it and work for it. Have been told that state bill almost modeled on Philadelphia plan which was considered pretty strong.

Q: what does smoking ban do?

ER: can’t smoke in public places unless exception carved out. Can smoke on casino floors, private places, [lists others] . Signing bill tomorrow, enacted 90 days after that, to allow businesses to gear up.

C: disabled woman veteran, under employed, now in debt. Worried about gas drillers, exempt from clean air and water acts.

ER: Leave name and number, someone will contact you. Not sure they are exempt from those rules.

C: run for senate in 2010?

ER: No, made a pledge to serve out term. Also could never run against Arlen Specter, gave me my first job, attended my wedding.

Q: throw whole support behind Obama?

ER: If you supported Hillary Clinton not only did so because admired her as a person but also because of her stand on the issues, the only way to see those issues addressed is to support Obama.

Q: be Obama’s vp?

ER: No, I couldn’t be a worse choice. Not a good #2 person, won’t stay on message, tell the truth, don’t spin well. If after leave office in 2011 some opportunity comes up then maybe look at that. Would suggest Joe Biden.

C: programs for young aspiring entrepreneurs?

ER: Suggest you call deputy secretary of dept of general services, helps minority business people.

Q: What would you like to say to people?

ER: Tell legislators we need to keep growing.

"If I Can't Persuade You....."

Several years ago a bank where I was living ran an ad campaign with the slogan "Someday we'll be your bank." I always found that a little threatening. What if I didn't want them to be my bank. Would someone show up on my doorstep and pry my passbook out of my fingers?

This comes to mind when I see some political quotations. For instance this gem from Gov. Rendell (via Pennsyltucky Politics):

"We look forward to making our voice heard in the coming days and playing our part in determining the Democratic nominee," he says of the April 22nd primary that is shaping up to be a battle royale. "And when we do, the people of Pennsylvania will send a clear message - we want a President who is ready, not one we hope will one day be ready."

Have we voted yet? Isn't he jumping the gun just a bit?

The January 28th issue of the New Yorker included an article by George Packer, "The Choice: The Clinton-Obama battle reveals two very different ideas of the Presidency." Packer quotes a phone conversation with Clinton:

“It’s also important to say, ‘Look, there are certain things we have to do as a country. You may not agree, but let me explain why, and let me try to persuade you. But if I can’t persuade you, we have to go forward anyway.’ And I think that that kind of understanding of the combination of using the bully pulpit but also producing results—managing the government so it doesn’t manage you, so it does act as an instrument of the policies you’re actually implementing—will give proof to what it is I’m saying.”

Granted, while Quakers may believe in consensus most of the world operates differently and you seldom find any group of people in agreement on anything. A leader has to proceed with what he or she things is right. Still, to me it sounds a lot like "Someday we'll be your bank."

[blogger's note: It should be noted that this quote is not verifiable in any other source; it originates with this article.]

The Book on Ed

Recently I ran across Apollo’s Fire: Igniting America’s Clean-Energy Economy, by Jay Inslee and Bracken Hendricks (Island Press, 2008, though it was actually released in late 2007). The title was intriguing so I picked it up.

Inslee is a congressman from Washington, with a long expertise in energy. Hendricks has a long history of policy work on energy, serving as a special assistant to then Vice President Al Gore. He was also a member of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s Energy Advisory Task Force.

Thus, it is perhaps not surprising to find some very positive mentions of Rendell’s energy work in the book. The longest is in chapter nine, “What’s it Going to Take?” Pages 231 – 237, a section called “From Steel Mills to Windmills: It’s All about the Jobs,” highlights the work done by Rendell, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

Here is an excerpt from pages 232-3:

The governor has created his own political space for moving an energy agenda through a combination of inspiration and vision, and a deft assemblage of constituencies. His vision has been way out ahead of the curve. He announced his Energy Harvest plan in the year 2000. He found a way to articulate how a state that led the world in the age of oil could not lead it into an age of new energy. He did it by investing a huge amount of his personal capital in the campaign, by using concepts like the Ben Franklin Technology Partners to link the history of Pennsylvania with its future. He fulfilled the first responsibility of a leader. He defined a vision.

Governor Rendell also built a political coalition on the self-interests of a multitude of players. He was able to demonstrate to utilities, unions, communities, miners, and investors why it was in their personal interest t buy into this vision. He was fortunate in having a progressive labor leadership that intuitively understood the power of clean energy to build well-paying jobs.

Finally, he understood that he needed successes to build on. He set realistic goals early on in his program, met them, and has now vastly expanded his program; in February 2007 he announced a major expansion of his energy independence initiative designed to save consumers $10 billion over ten years.

The passage also pays tribute to Kathleen McGinty, Secretary of Environmental Protection for the commonwealth. The section moves on to discuss their strategy of recruitment renewable energy companies to set up shop in Pennsylvania. Gamesa (wind turbines), Connergy (solar), and Iberdrolea (private electric utilities). All three located plants or corporate offices here.

The chapters of the book primarily concern various aspects of energy, wind, green-collar jobs, solar, reinventing cars, clean coal, and related subjects. The authors have an agenda, in more ways than one, but it is still nice to see the state getting good publicity.

Gov. Rendell on Comcast Newsmakers

This past weekend Gov. Ed Rendell (ER) was on Comcast Newsmakers. You can watch the video on Pennsyltucky Politics. I've typed up my rough notes of the interview. For convenience I have used the Democratic presidential candidate's initials (BO for Barack Obama and HRC for Hillary Clinton). As always, I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions.

Gov Rendell on Comcast Newsmakers (2/23/08)

Host: Did not catch his name

Interviewers: Brett Lieberman of the Patriot News (and Pennsyltucky Politics) and Charlie Mahtesian of politico. Their voices are similar so I just indicated questions and not who asked them. My apologies. In a few cases a follow up question was asked and I just folded that answer into the larger one.

Gov. Rendell is in Washington D.C. for the National Governor’s Association Meeting.

Q: April 22nd is the state’s primary, will PA be consequential?

ER: I believe HRC will win in Texas and Ohio that will keep her candidacy very very viable. Those are the states we have to win in the fall, the large industrial states. Then the nation’s attention will move to Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania state legislature declined to move up primary.

Q: Daily drip drip of bad news for HRC, once had big lead, how can she turn it around.

ER: Campaign on both sides have had hills and valleys. HRC won Super Tuesday. Then it hit a valley. You’ve got to give Obama credit, not exactly a pushover. He is a wonderful candidate, getting people stirred up and appealing to their better instincts. HRC has staying power because she’s so smart. I believe she has won every single debate. No one has the grasp on the issues that she has. I’ve been doing this for 31 years, had close contact with every potential Democratic presidential candidate, no one comes close to her on knowledge, look at her plans for energy, healthcare, education, economy, no one else is even close. Especially large states with economic challenges need that kind of leadership. If she wins March 4th she’s back in the game big time.

Q: Obama has had 11 consecutive wins, what does HRC need to do?

ER: She needs to win Texas and Ohio, if she does she’s back as a strong contender, if not she will have to make some decisions. March 4th is a deciding day.

Q: What does she have to do differently?

ER: That’s fodder for the media, what changes needed. The only thing I would like to see her do more of, we’re both policy wonks, she gets involved in nuances of health care and education. Important stuff, should be how we decide how to vote for, but we don’t, we do it more on an instinctual level, do I like this person, will they represent me, she needs to let people know who she is as a person. People who know her like her. Even Republicans like her. She needs to drop her guard and let people see who she is and how she feels. She’s got to do more of that. Also press her plans. Her plans are extraordinary.

Q: Is it too late for her? She showed emotion before New Hampshire, is that why she won?

ER: It might be. A lot of us wish she had campaigned that way from the get go, in this business its never too late. Most of us wish it had been a little different.

Q: Are you frustrated with the Clinton campaign?

ER: Most of us who know her and care about her as a leader are frustrated. Campaign has not served her well in expressing who she is and what she would do and what she really cares about. Yes we are frustrated because only because we know her more than the average voter. She has such a great command of the issues. I wish she had done town meetings from the day she announced. If you listen to one of those meetings you go away you won’t believe it. You won’t believe someone running for office actually knows that much.

Q: You refer to yourself as a policy wonk. What is the key to your success as 2nd term as governor of the 6th largest state

ER: I’m a little happier than usual policy wonk, that allows me to convey things to people and listen a little bit more. I’m lucky that I can communicate ideas. No one in politics today is universally popular. My dad died when I was 14. He told me FDR most popular politician in his lifetime and a third of the people hate him. If people got to know HRC there would be a different result

Q: Maybe people know her too well. HRC unfavorable ratings. Compared to Santorum?

ER: Those people have formed an opinion but an uniformed opinion, based on a few things, relationship with Pres. Clinton. They don’t know how smart and funny and warm she is. People say she would be divisive, but ask McCain and Orin Hatch. She has worked very well with Republican senators, and is a leader in the senate because she can form those alliances. She’s anything but divisive. In fact she’s proven, on the ground in DC, that she can surmount divisiveness

Q: Would she be a stronger top of ticket than Obama?

ER: Yes, no doubt of this, but no attempt to denigrate BO, also good top of ticket. A statistic from Wisconsin, 81% of all Democrats voting said they would be satisfied with BO as top of ticket, 79% said satisfied with HRC, two terrific candidates. I think Sen. Clinton has the best ideas.

Q: You said whites not ready to vote for an African America, common thought but not often spoken on the record. You thought opponent Lynn Swann had a vote drag due to race.

ER: I was talking about a general election not a primary. BO more than any politician in my lifetime has taken strides with his personality and presentation to surmount that. Just as many people worried about a woman has head of military, two trailblazers both have handicaps, but look at BO ability to bring new people into the process, people who have never voted or registered before. Said that comment about white voters as I was leaving the Post Gazette editorial board interview about education budget when they asked about the primary. I think BO has diminished that effect more than any other African American candidate. He counterbalances it by having gotten new people to register and vote. Thinks BO would carry PA in the fall. So would HRC.

Q: Many who do know HRC, Democratic leaders, are worried about her being drag on the ticket.

ER: Relevant point. In terms of political life span we don’t know much about BO yet. This has been a tremendously polite primary, every one very polite, no attack ads, no negative ads, no 527s. It’s been a remarkably positive campaign. It won’t be once we have a putative nominee, not because McCain will run a negative campaign but because of 527s. But as these 527s come out and as more and more things are brought to people’s attention, who knows. Can you predict will come out if BO is the nominee? We can predict what will come out if HRC nominee, we know about her, we don’t know about BO. There’s good stuff we don’t know but we don’t know other stuff as will

Q: It’s hard when 40% of the people say will never vote for her

ER: If you win elective office, you get paid the same if you win by 50.3% as if you win by 68%. You still take the same oath of office. You can make a case that both of our candidates have potential liabilities going into the race. I admire McC but potential negatives because of health and age. Hard to find a perfect candidate, particularly with the job you guys do. If Jesus or Moses or Mohammed came back to life and wanted to campaign for political office, imagine what the press would say.

Q: next year you will be chair of the National Governor’s Association. What’s on the agenda?

ER: energy and renewables and how we get going. Tom Friedman spoke. We can win the battle and become primary producer of renewable energy but have to get on the stick now. We have called on President Bush and next president to have a program similar to Marshall Plan to produce clean and renewable energy and quickly and price efficiently and environmental friendly as possible. Great minds should work on this. Coal producers know it is impossible to site a traditional coal burning plant. Coal producers understand clean coal production is their future. We are not about to discard coal. Got to find a way to produce it cleanly. Still enough coal in the ground in America to take care of our energy needs for the next 200 years if we can find a way to produce it cleanly

Q: Must the Democratic nominee pick a governor as vp?

ER: That is one argument. If HRC she might pick a governor or someone with executive experience. Maybe someone like Evan Byah. If BO, temptation would be to take a governor, but BO potential weakness is the doesn’t have a lot of experience in foreign policy and terrorism though he has great ideas on both, maybe pick Biden, who is arguably reigning Democratic senator on terrorism. Also want a good campaigner. Sen. Clinton could look at a governor a little bit more.

Q: what does she need?

ER: Many people believe she has great experience. She has more leeway and could pick a good campaigner, who can help geographically. Every one would love the perfect vp candidate but it’s hard to find, you have to find what are their assets, downsides and make your best choice. Both HRC and BO are responsible and serious enough to pick a good candidate, someone who could themselves be president, more important that geographic balance or other factors.

Q: what does McCain need

ER: Sen McCain has a big problem. Does he pick a vp to appease the conservative wing of the party, find someone who is younger more vital, maybe Tom Ridge, perfect fit except he is pro choice, not extremely pro choice but pro choice, would that enrage conservative wing? Ridge a great asset, very popular in PA. Or does he pick someone more traditionally conservative. Sen McCain will pick someone who is ready to be president.

Q: Do you want to be vp nominee?

ER: I think I have demonstrated that I would be a terrible liability. If asked a question I answer it and tell the truth. I’ve been very fortunate, I always run as top of ticket, if I say something politically incorrect it only affects me. I’m willing to win or lose based on that. I hate to think comments would hurt running mate who is running for president. Believe politicians make a contract, I ran for second term, will finish term. Feel strongly about that. I finished 2 terms as DA, 2 terms as mayor. During those terms I was rumored to be running for several offices. I love what I do, even love dealing with legislature, really is exciting. Vp does what president asks him or her to do. Not the primary driver. I would be much happier finishing out term. If in 2011 if then president HRC or BO asks me to be secretary of transportation or energy, but not until 2011. If PA were a sep nation it would have 19th largest economy in the world. This is a big state. Being governor is an important, exciting and energizing job.

Rendell in the Washington Post

Gov. Rendell has a starring role in today's "The Fix" column in the Washington Post. Chris Cillizza writes in "Rendell: 'the media does not like the Clintons'," that Rendell thinks the media treatment of the Clintons is the worst he has seen in his 30 years in politics. Video of the interview should be available today on postpolitics.com.

Rendell was also the featured guest on "Newsmakers" this past Sunday with blogger Brett Lieberman of Pennsyltucky Politics (and the Patriot News) asking some of the questions. Interview video on his site.

Checking On Health Care

As a people we like solutions that are BIG, BOLD, and JAZZY!!! Alas, all to often they are mundane, simple, and require a little effort on our part. (My favorite Thomas Edison quote: "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.")

Case in point, Gov. Ed Rendell's Prescription for Pennsylvania (81 page pdf). One of his initiatives is to reduce hospital acquired infections. Here is an excerpt from the state's website:

The second initiative focuses on improving patient safety and containing costs by eliminating hospital- and health-facility-acquired infections. The Governor noted that most hospital-acquired infections are avoidable. In Pennsylvania, however, the number of hospital infections reported last year was 19,154, which led to nearly 2,500 deaths and more than $3.5 billion in hospital charges.

One example of a hospital- and health-facility-acquired infection specifically addressed in the Prescription for Pennsylvania is MRSA, a type of drug-resistant bacteria that is commonly carried inactive on the skin but can be deadly if it is introduced into the bloodstream. In 2004, there were 13,722 hospitalizations in Pennsylvania in which the patient had an MRSA infection – a rate of 7.4 per every 1,000 inpatient hospitalizations. Data shows that 8.9 percent of those patients, or 1,221 people, died as a result of contracting MRSA.

MRSA can be virtually eliminated from health centers through simple patient-safety procedures. Groundbreaking work by Pennsylvania’s veteran’s administration hospitals has resulted in the near elimination of MRSA infections in those facilities.

The legislation introduced that pertains to this effort is SB 968. A simple explanation is offered, in addition to the full text of the bill. It was signed by the governor on July 20, 2007.

There are, however, even simpler ways of controlling hospital acquired infections. This past December 10's issue of the New Yorker included an article, "The Checklist," by Atul Gawande, that discussed the amazing success of having emergency room medical staff use checklists when treating patients. Yes, a piece of paper, a clipboard, and a pencil. Pilots use checklists, why can't doctors and nurses? (Top item: wash hands).

Here was the result of a pilot project that used checklist for putting lines in patients:

The results were so dramatic that they weren’t sure whether to believe them: the ten-day line-infection rate went from eleven per cent to zero. So they followed patients for fifteen more months. Only two line infections occurred during the entire period. They calculated that, in this one hospital, the checklist had prevented forty-three infections and eight deaths, and saved two million dollars in costs.

In another study:

In December, 2006, the Keystone Initiative published its findings in a landmark article in The New England Journal of Medicine. Within the first three months of the project, the infection rate in Michigan’s I.C.U.s decreased by sixty-six per cent. The typical I.C.U.—including the ones at Sinai-Grace Hospital—cut its quarterly infection rate to zero. Michigan’s infection rates fell so low that its average I.C.U. outperformed ninety per cent of I.C.U.s nationwide. In the Keystone Initiative’s first eighteen months, the hospitals saved an estimated hundred and seventy-five million dollars in costs and more than fifteen hundred lives. The successes have been sustained for almost four years—all because of a stupid little checklist.

And the cost?

I asked him how much it would cost for him to do for the whole country what he did for Michigan. About two million dollars, he said, maybe three, mostly for the technical work of signing up hospitals to participate state by state and coördinating a database to track the results. He’s already devised a plan to do it in all of Spain for less.

Unfortunately, in the time-honored fashion of bureaucracies everywhere, the program has been shut down because it is impossible to get the informed consent of all patients and doctors participating. Gawande outlines the problem in a Dec. 30th New York Times op-ed, "A Lifesaving Checklist," and suggests Congress step in.

This is the sort of thing that, if widely implemented, say in a state or commonwealth, could make a huge difference for a small amount of money.

I hope the informed consent issues can be worked out (let it be known that I formally grant my consent for a nurse to make sure a doctor has clean hands before treating me) and that the gov's folks take note of the possibilities inherent in mandatory medical checklists.