Giant Blood-Sucking Leeches? In Philly? No Way!

New Yorker July 25, "Bloodsuckers" by John Colapinto (p. 72-81)

The FDA has approved only two living animals to be used as medical devices. The first was the maggot, approved in Jan. 2004, to consume infected tissue around wounds. The second, last summer, was the leech, which has been very useful in translant or re-attachment surgery and recovery, as it creates an "artificial circulation" until the new or reattached appendage can grow new veins. (p. 74)

Creepy, but cool at the same time.

There is a Philly connection. Roy T. Sawyer is the world's leading leech specialist.

In the early eighties, he formed a partnership with Andrei Budzynski, a professor of biochemistry at Temple University School of medicine, in Philadelphia. Budzynski isolated an enzyme from the giant leech's salivary glands which he and Sawyer called hementin.( p. 79)

Hementin can dissolve clots and may be useful for cardiovascular problems.

Mike Fitzpatrick and CAFTA

Late this past Wednesday the Congress passed Cafta, the US free trade agreement with Central America. It passed 217-215, mostly along party lines (GOP for, Dems against). One interesting PA tidbit showed up in the Wall Street Journal. Fitzpatrick is the 8th district congressman mentioned in my previous post. His district is primarily in Bucks Co with one odd splotch in Montco.

Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, a freshman Republican from Pennsylvania, had a harder time resisting. The congressman represents a suburban district outside Philadelphia, and worried about the impact of Cafta on the region. But in the midst of the protracted vote, Mr. Fitzpatrick took a call in the Republican cloakroom from Stephen Hadley, the president's national security adviser. Mir. Hadley stressed Cafta would improve regional security, solidfying Central America's move away from instability. The congressman voted "yes," becoming one of the final Cafta supporters to step forward.

(source: Hitt, Greg, "Last-Minute Deals Put Cafta Over the Top," Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2005, p. A4. See the 3rd from the last paragraph.)

I wonder if he was able to get something in return -- a little push in favor of keeping the Willow Grove Air Base or something for the Central American population around Norristown and Kennett Square (not in his district but regional issues all the same)? I sure hope so.

Iraqi Vets as Candidates

The Inky had an article today on Iraqi vets running for national office. I thought this section was very interesting:

Eight Iraq war veterans have run or announced runs for political office across the country, according to the two major parties. Although all but one are Democrats, none has spoken out against the war or stated support for a troop withdrawal.

Where are all the Operation Yellow Elephant veterans? (This is a movement to get all those young conservatives in favor of the war to sign up themselves.)

Only one of the eight is in Pennsylvania. Patrick Murphy is running for the 8th Congressional District (mostly in Bucks Co, with a bizarre looking gerrymanded drop of sweat extending into Montgomery Co). Oddly enough, his only declared Democratic competition is another vet, Paul Lang, who was injured while on duty in the Coast Guard (I think in Alaska, but am not sure on this). The Republican incumbent is Fitzpatrick, but the seat is best known for former congressman Jim Greenwood.

Mayoral Candidate Websites

Politics Philly has done a great job looking at the campaign websites of possible mayoral candidates. If you have any interest in the mayor's race, it will be a very interesting post.

Demoted Legislators

The Inky and a few other papers (here and here, via PoliticsPA and Edico) have articles today on the removal of state reps who voted against the pay raise from subcommittee chairmanships. Here is a full list of those removed and the subcommittees they had chaired (from the Intelligencer). Please note that Greg Vitali has been replaced as chair of the subcommittee on energy by Alan Butkovitz who ran for Philly controller in the last race. I did a quick look into him and have no complaints about his overall work and am sure he does an admirable job, but I don't see any emphasis on energy in his activities.

Bill DeWeese, Demotions, and Other Crazy-Making Things

In today's Inky there is a story about House Minority leader, Bill DeWeese (the guy who talks like he has a dictionary taped to his tongue) removing legislators who were against the legislative pay raise from committee chairmanships and subcommittee chairmanships. (Keystone Politics has the full article; Young Philly Politics has additional commentary.)

Pardon me for a moment while the top of my head blows off and I count to ten.

What is wrong with PA Democratic leadership? Do we have to copy every stinking rotten thing the Republicans do? Don't we realize that we will NEVER EVER EVER have any sort of credibility if we keep doing STUPID IDIOTIC THINGS like this?? No wonder there is voter apathy when anyone willing to stand up on principle is slammed by those in power. How can we POSSIBLY expect to get good people to run for office when they have to deal with GARBAGE like this if they get into office.

The article has several quotes from Rep. Greg Vitali. I like Greg Vitali. He isn't my rep and I've never met him but I've read enough and seen enough to know that this is one good guy. If you see the PA Campaign Finance resource on my links list, a database that drastically simplifies your ability to track political donations for state races, you can thank Greg Vitali for that. Greg Vitali has worked on energy-related issues for years and he was just removed as chairman for the subcommittee on energy. Who you gonna put in, Bill? Someone like Rieger who seldom shows up for work but always toes the line? That will be so wonderful for the state (sarcasm intended). I'm sure the subcommittee will be so much more effective that way. (more sarcasm)

Bill DeWesse has no problem spending lots of other people's money. I wrote last fall about an October 2003 report that found:

These are not the actions of an organization with integrity or any sense of accountability to the rank and file. On October 2003, the AP reported that both party leaders spent an average of $5000 a month on lunches, or $60,000 in 12 months. That’s more than the average Pennsylvanian makes in a year! Honestly, how can party leaders think it is okay to call and ask for money without even making an effort to use it well? I don’t want one red cent from my pocket going to print and mail out known untruths or to pay for expensive meals. I’d be a lot happier and a lot more willing to give if the party sent around pictures of Bill DeWeese eating a brown bag lunch.

So, Bill wants to have a nice lunch out on loyal Democrats who send in money, and squash legislators who refuse a pay raise that is causing a lot of ruckus among the voters. I don't live in his district so I can't vote him out of office, but could we at least get him out of a leadership position? If I can't support Republicans because of political differences and I can't support Democrats because the state party leadership is living on Mars, or someplace far removed from Normal, Pennsylvania, what am I to do?

It is things like this which leave average voters feeling helpless. DeWeese & Co just shove their actions down our throat and don't give diddly how it looks or how it plays back home. They assume Democrats will vote for Democrats no matter what they do. One thing we can do, however, is support Democrats running for office against not only Republicans but also the Democratic machine. Case in point, Chris Bowers who has tossed his hat in the ring for Philadelphia War 27, Division 23 committeeperson. Good luck, Chris!

Latoyia Figueroa

Thanks to Matt (Tattered Coat) and Tulin (PoliticsPhilly), I have figured out how to post photos and do some other blogger tweaking. For the duration I will leave the photo and link for Latoyia on the right side of this blog.

[Note on 08/20/05 I deleted the existing 12 comments and am refusing to allow new ones. This is because those comments included profanity, personal attacks on the missing woman and on each other. These are not considered appropriate comments on this blog.]

MSM on Missing Philly Woman

A number of Philly area bloggers, including many of those on my blogroll, have posted the picture and information on Latoyia Figueroa, an area woman missing for 9 days. The MSM has been receiving a lot of criticism for focusing on wealthy, pretty, white girls to the exclusion of all other missing persons. Last night, though, I saw a note about Figueroa on the late night news and now there is a story about it on CNN. The work done by bloggers is mentioned, although no specific names are given. I didn't have a posting on it because I haven't figured out how to include photos yet. It is a sad excuse, I know.

Hospice Care at CHOP NICU

Today's WSJ, p. D1 has a story, "A New Approach for the Sickest Babies," on hospice care for terminally ill infants. One of the hospital's mentioned is CHOP.

At the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the two-year-old palliative-care service sometimes allows parents to choose to move their terminally ill babies to a slightly less effective type of ventilator, but one that will allow them to hold their children, sometimes for the only time.

My heart aches just to read it.

Santorum Interview

A Smoke-Filled Room has a link to the transcript of Santorum's online interview yesterday. Worth a look.

Cohen Updates Blog on Legislation

State Rep. Mark Cohen has updated his blog on PA legislation with 2 new postings. Take a look when you get a chance. And thanks again to Rep. Cohen for offering this service.

Santorum and Parental Support

I've been reading a lot about Senator Santorum's book but have refrained from commenting on it because I haven't read it myself, have no intention of buying it, and don't want to be on the waiting list at the library for it, not when there are some other good reads out there and I'm in the middle of re-reading a Robert Heinlein classic.

But I've seen noted in a number of places that the Santorum family receives financial help from his family. One example is here.

Now, I will freely admit that the rest of this post will sound self-righteous and priggish. It will, it will, so you might want to skip it.

When Mr. Jane and I married neither of us had expectations of any inheritance. In fact, we both expected that we would eventually have financial responsibilities for our parents. When my father died we received a bill for our share of the funeral costs. When Mr. Jane's father died we received a bill for our share of the funeral costs. For most of the past 13 years we have sent off a small check every month to help cover prescription costs, or for "creature comforts" (a room phone in a nursing home, money so someone could get their hair done once in a while, clothing costs, etc.). Before this became a regular expense we would sometimes receive a call that a parent needed one thing or another and what our share would be. Sometimes it was a small amount sometimes it would be higher. As first generation college students we understood that our household earning power was likely to be higher than our parents' ever had been or would be. This is just what you do. I know a lot of people in the same situation. My mother took care of her parents. My grandparents took care of their parents. People extend a hand to younger siblings. If you lived near a school or college you might offer free room and board to a sibling or other relative.

At one point we feared that a misalignment in medical diagnoses and insurance coverage would mean all the children in the family would need to pitch in $500 a month for several months. Fortunately the stars realigned and this wasn't needed. But we had planned for that eventuality. We have planned our life and finances so that we have a cushion in case of emergency. That means a smaller house than we could afford, and paying extra on the mortgage. Paying into a retirement fund so that our children won't have the same worries we do about parental support, saving for college costs, some investments. In times of trouble all this can be jettisoned and we can come up with more money each month. It isn't enough of a cushion for one of us to quit working but enough that we can relax and know we can handle a level of uncertainty should a problem arise.

When Sen. Santorum talks about two-income households and that being a sign of affluenza or extravagant lifestyles, I want to ask him what he expects people to do, leave their parents on the curb? Insist parents leave their own homes and move in with their adult children because it's more cost effective that way? Knowing you can lend a hand to a loved one or, hopefully, let your children graduate from college without debt, or give those children a future without worry about supporting their parents hanging over their heads -- these are extravangances in Rick Santorum's America? You do have to balance your obligations to your parents and your obligations to your children, and that is sometimes a hard balance, but he assumes we are all throwing way our money on diamond-encrusted computer games or 500 pairs of shoes. He needs to visit a few homes across the state and see how the people of Pennsylvania are really living.

I read that he is still taking money from his parents and my jaw hit the floor. People take money from their parents for college or maybe a house down payment, or ask for a loan if a financial disaster happens. But for him as an adult to still be even somewhat dependent on money from his parents? Where I am from that is downright embarrasing.

PA in the WSJ

I traded in some unlikely to be used frequent flier miles for a 3 month subscription to the Wall Street Journal. Often I don't get a chance to read it until the weekend so I don't always see things quickly. In a stack I went through recently there were a few interesting stories:

"Philadelphia Exchange is Courting Investors" (Tuesday July 12, p. C3). I dont' remember seeing this in the Inky but maybe I just missed it. Morgan Stanley and Creduit Suisse First Boston, and UBS Securities are considering buying a piece of the Philadelphia Exchange. If, like me, you were only vaugely aware that we had an exchange, you may wish to visit it's website here o rread a brief overview here.

The other story is quite timely. On Tuesday, July 19, p. B1, there is a story called "Keeping Up is Hard to Do," on a Pennsylvania couple having a hard time keeping up with bills. The Bellinis are a hard working couple with kids, who currently have trouble paying for gas. Mr. Bellini works for Comcast and hasn't received a raise in three years. Mrs. Bellini works for an eye doctor. I wonder what they think of the recent legislative pay raise, or the legislature's justification that it is doing a good job and deserves it? Isn't that a slap in the face to this family and all the others like it?

Geezer Girl Household Hints

Being one of the older female bloggers in the area, I feel it my duty to share some of the wisdom I have accumulated over the years. Thusly, I have selected 3 specific bits of information to share.

* Dried cherries are a great substitute for raisins, especially in baked goods. The texture is identical and raisin people often don't notice any difference while non-raisin people can tell that it doesn't have the raisin aftertaste but can't identify what, specifically, has changed.

* If you are at the beach with a small child who has finished or is eating vanilla ice cream and see a trail of white down the child's arm, DO NOT lick it off assuming it is ice cream. It takes DAYS to get the taste of sunscreen out of your mouth and off your tongue. You can try burning it off with spicy foods or freezing it off with icy foods. They will work for, oh, about 15 minutes and then you are back to sunscreen.

* To keep track of household linens put a sheet set inside one of the pillow cases that goes with it. It may not be up to Martha Steward standards as far as appearance on the shelf but is makes life easier (this one is not original -- I read it somewhere).

Cookin' in the Philly 'Burbs

Temple University - Ambler in Ft. Washington, PA. made the "Our Favorite College Cooking Classes" list in August's Cooking Light. Their programs include Easy French Dishes, and Matching Wines and Food. The hands-on classes are taught by chefs at Cravings Cafe. The magazine loves it because of the enthusiasm for local chefs' connection with the university.

Not sure what this means and it has nothing to do with politics but it jumped out at me nonetheless. (BTW, Mr. Jane tried out the Turtle Ice Cream Pie on page 134, to take to a pool party this weekend and it was pretty darn good. My contribution was shifting the dry ingredients with a whisk, as the recipe called for; Mr. Jane was going to stir them with a spoon and leave it at that.)

New Federal Legislative Resource

I just found something interesting on Fables of the Reconstruction, which I found on A Smoke-Filled Rooms blog list. CRS, the Congressional Research Service, prepares reports for (guess who!) Congress. Some of those reports are now freely available on the web. I've added it to my link list.

Another Legislative Update

I have been neglecting to include with my weekly legislative updates the exceptionally well done updates by the CPA group, PICPA. Here is their update for last week. They note they will be continuing to discuss legislation over the summer, even if the legislature is not in session. I will try to continue to post those links.

For my part, I hope to take a closer look at some of the bills passed or pending. I have been surprised to learn that bills were still being introduced to referred to committees even after the legislators left for the summer. I won't be listing those, though.

I'm also update my blog list. Blogs that have not been updated for two months or so are being masked (until they are maintained again) or deleted. I'm adding in one or two others, for example, politicsphilly.com, which has posted some really good information. There are other blogs I check regularly but won't be adding them to the list, as I'd like to keep the emphais on state politics.

Hope everyone is staying cool. It is supposed to be nicer this weekend.

legislative update / week of 7/04

This is a list of bills that passed the PA House and/or Senate the week of July 4th. Please note that the legislature was doing business both Sunday, July 3rd and Monday, July 4th. Not that that justifies some gigantic pay raise in my view, but still, it is evidence that many of our elected representatives are working hard. Of course, if they had managed to get themselves organized and together BEFORE the last minute they could have been home walking or riding in parades and what not, but I digress.

Standard caveats apply here. Only bills and not resolutions included. List of sponsors deleted if it runs over 2 lines (sometimes it looks like half the legislative body co-sponsored a bill).

HOUSE

HB 1690 Prior Printer's No. 2152. Printer's No. 2305. An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for unlawful devices and methods.

SB 126 By Senators WENGER, ARMSTRONG and BRIGHTBILL. Printer's No. 109. An Act designating a certain bridge carrying State Route 322 over Conestoga River in Earl Township, Lancaster County as the Representative Leroy M. Zimmerman Memorial Bridge.

SB 141 By Senators ERICKSON, THOMPSON and PILEGGI. Printer's No. 128. An Act designating a bridge in Westtown Township, Chester County, the L. Charles Scipione Bridge.

SB 565 Prior Printer's Nos. 673, 923. Printer's No. 1038. An Act amending the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code, further providing for qualifications, eligibility and compensation for district attorneys; and making repeals.

SB 677 Printer's No. 815. An Act designating a portion of State Route 322 in Delaware County as the Senator Clarence D. Bell Memorial Highway.

SB 361 Prior Printer's Nos. 366, 1049. Printer's No. 1066. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, further providing for home education programs, for cyber charter school requirements and prohibitions and for cyber charter school enrollment and notification.

SB 608 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 640. An Act making an appropriation from the State Employees' Retirement Fund to provide for expenses of the State Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

SB 609 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 641. An Act making an appropriation from the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund to provide for expenses of the Public School Employees' Retirement Board for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

SB 610 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 642. An Act making appropriations from the Professional Licensure Augmentation Account and from restricted revenue accounts within the General Fund to the Department of State for use by the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs in support of the professional licensure boards assigned thereto.

SB 611 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 643. An Act making appropriations from the Workmen's Compensation Administration Fund to the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Community and Economic Development to provide for the expenses of administering the Workers' Compensation Act, The Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act and the Office of Small Business Advocate for the fiscal year July 1, 2005, to June 30, 2006, and for the payment of bills incurred and remaining unpaid at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005.

SB 612 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 644. An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund and from Federal augmentation funds to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

SB 613 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 645. An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General.

SB 614 By Senator THOMPSON. Printer's No. 646. An Act making an appropriation from a restricted revenue account within the General Fund to the Office of Small Business Advocate in the Department of Community and Economic Development.

SB 147 Printer's No. 132. An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, providing for technical assistance and information provided by department.

SB 706 By Senator M. WHITE. Prior Printer's Nos. 850, 928. Printer's No. 1013. An Act designating the Main Street Bridge in Butler, Butler County, Pennsylvania, as the General Richard Butler Bridge.

SENATE

SB 196 Prior Printer's Nos. 185, 409. Printer's No. 1040. An Act providing immunity for physician reporting of suspected use of controlled substance for illicit purpose.

SB 669 Prior Printer's No. 780. Printer's No. 808. An Act amending Titles 2 (Administrative Law and Procedure) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for court and administrative proceeding interpreters; and repealing related provisions.

SB 712 Prior Printer's Nos. 859, 898. Printer's No. 1055. An Act providing for the notification of residents whose personal information data was or may have been disclosed due to a security system breach; and imposing penalties.

HB 612 Prior Printer's No. 685. Printer's No. 2100. An Act amending the act of March 1, 1988 (P.L.82, No.16), known as the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Act, further providing for definitions.

HB 1646 Prior Printer's Nos. 2075, 2303. Printer's No. 2433. An Act amending Title 3 (Agriculture) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for a prohibition against unauthorized local government unit actions; establishing a cause of action for unauthorized enactment or enforcement of local ordinances governing normal agricultural operations; providing for duties of the Attorney General and for hearings; consolidating the Nutrient Management Act; further providing for scope, for legislative purpose, for definitions and for administration; providing for manure application; further providing for nutrient management and odor management certification; providing for odor management plans; further providing for the Nutrient Management Advisory Board, for financial assistance, for unlawful conduct, for civil penalties and for local preemption; providing for other statutes and for regulations; and making a related repeal.

HB 1650 Prior Printer's No. 2061. Printer's No. 2489. An Act amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for resident, nonresident and tourist fishing licenses.

HB 86 Prior Printer's No. 80. Printer's No. 1945. An Act authorizing the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on behalf of the Commonwealth to agree to hold and save the United States Army Corps of Engineers free from certain damages arising from certain construction projects.

HB Prior Printer's Nos. 528, 2063, 2112, 2272, 2431. Printer's No. 2522. An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further defining "emergency vehicle"; further providing for application for certificate of title, for transfer of ownership of vehicle and for application for certificate of title by agent; providing for certain veterans plates; further providing for suspension of registration of unapproved carriers and for surrender of registration plates and cards upon suspension of revocation; providing for suspension of registration plates upon sixth unpaid parking violation in cities of the first class and for motor vehicle liability insurance for motorcycle marshals; and further providing for reinstatement of operating privilege or vehicle registration, for automated red light enforcement systems in first class cities, for operation of vehicle without official certificate of inspection, for conditions of permits and security for damages, for permit for movement of containerized cargo, for impoundment of certain vehicles and combinations for nonpayment of fines, for immobilization, towing and storage of vehicle for driving without operating privilege or registration, for disposition of impounded vehicles, combinations and loads, for prohibitions on ATV operation by persons under age 16 and for refunds of tax imposed upon liquid fuels or certain other fuels.

HB 1168 Prior Printer's Nos. 1374, 1873, 2432. Printer's No. 2560. An Act amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known as the Public Welfare Code, providing for use of medical expenses to establish medical assistance eligibility, for lifetime limit on unpaid medical expenses, for penalty period for asset transfer, for treatment of life estates and annuities, for community spouse income, for eligibility for home and community-based services, for verification of eligibility and for eligibility redetermination of persons for medical assistance; further providing for medical assistance payments for institutional care, for other medical assistance payments, for reimbursement for certain items and services and for relatives' responsibility; providing for medical assistance benefit packages, for coverage, copayments, premiums and rates, for definitions of limited applicability, for rebates, for pharmacy management systems, for enrollment limitation and for established drug regimens; further providing for other computations affecting counties, for special provider participation requirements and for third-party liability; and providing for data matching, for special needs trusts, for a health insurance premium payment program and for parity in insurance coverage for State-owned psychiatric hospitals.

SB 726 By Senators PIPPY and ORIE. Printer's No. 941. An Act amending the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the Second Class County Code, further providing for assessment limits on counties of the second class; and providing for effect of appeal, escrow and payment under protest.

HB 3 Prior Printer's Nos. 220, 622. Printer's No. 2571. An Act amending Title 27 (Environmental Resources) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for definitions, for allocation of Environmental Stewardship Fund and for administrative expenses; deleting provisions relating to environmental infrastructure grants; providing for fee deposits; authorizing indebtedness for environmental initiatives; authorizing sale of bonds, temporary financing and debt retirement; further providing for disposal fee for municipal waste landfills and deposit of disposal fee; deleting certain sunset provisions; and making a repeal relating to the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund.

HB 107 Prior Printer's Nos. 99, 1493, 1922, 2490. Printer's No. 2567. An Act authorizing the establishment and maintenance of health savings accounts; providing for special tax provisions; and imposing restrictions on health savings accounts.

HB 139 Printer's No. 1313. An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, codifying the Optional County Affordable Housing Funds Act; and making a related repeal.

HB 823 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's Nos. 856, 2389. Printer's No. 2569. An Act providing for the capital budget for the fiscal year 2005-2006, itemizing public highway projects to be constructed or acquired by the Department of Transportation, together with their estimated financial costs; authorizing the incurring of debt without the approval of the electors for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed or acquired by the Department of Transportation; stating the estimated useful life of the projects; and making appropriations.

HB 1802 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's Nos. 2340, 2401, 2452. Printer's No. 2566. An Act amending the act of February 9, 1999 (P.L.1, No.1), known as the Capital Facilities Debt Enabling Act, further defining "redevelopment assistance capital project"; further providing for procedures for capital budget bill and debt-authorizing legislation and for appropriation for and limitation on redevelopment assistance capital projects; and providing for quarterly reports related to redevelopment assistance capital projects and for the refunding of debt issued under previous authorized acts.

SB 63 Prior Printer's No. 187. Printer's No. 271. An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for, in child protective services, investigation of reports and for county agency requirements for general protective services.

HB 851 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's No. 884. Printer's No. 2547. An Act making an appropriation to the Everhart Museum in Scranton for operating expenses.

HB 852 By Representative FEESE. Prior Printer's No. 885. Printer's No. 2548. An Act making an appropriation to the Mercer Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for operating expenses.

Correction

A few weeks ago I had a posting on bloggers testifying in DC. There were some comments to the posting and I replied to them. In one of those comment replies I made this statement:

The rat**** diary recently became the ratbang diary
because some aggregators would not include it under
the old name.

It was based on something in the ratbang diary, announcing the name change (and please note that the previous name did not actually include four asterisks -- use your imagination and I'm sure you'll figure it out):

Because there are prissy twits out there, not to
mention mainstream rags, which would never read or
reference a blog called Rat****.

Recently the writer of that blog contacted me to let me know that I had misread her work:

You have made an inference that is not true. No one
has ever not included my blog anywhere because of the
old name Rat****. It seemed to me that this might
happen sometime, however. That is, if my blog became
popular enough to be noticed in the larger world. It
was a preemptive measure on my part. And I think, a
wise one.

But I would like to correct the impression you may
have that I felt pressured by negative comments or
people who were offended. I didn't feel that kind of
pressure at all. I am aware, though, that acceptance
in the Blogosphere does not mean acceptance in the
mainstream media. Therefore I took a prudent step.

Looking at what I originally read I can see that I did, indeed, make an assumption, and I stand corrected.

Dinner with the House?

Politicspa asked 50 women from the Pennsylvania political community which three Congressmen or state legislators they would most like to have dinner with (no indication that it would be anything other than a hypothetical business dinner). The winners and their responses are posted here. About half showed a sense of humor; the others need to relax a little -- I don't think anyone is really after them. (Truth in advertising -- I was one of the 50; some of my picks made the cut, some didn't.)