Wasting PA Taxpayers’ Money – This Weeks Examples

Item #1

Suppose you were faced with a major revenue shorfall and had to prioritize spending. Would you:

1) Give employees their promised raises or
2) Produce a website/video of man dressed in a groundhog suit being hit by a car to “promote tourism,” and send out a news release based on the belief that people will enjoy the site?

If this seems like a rhetorical question, you aren’t qualified to be Governor of Pennsylvania.

Thanks to Tony Phyrillas for highlighting this bit of absurdity.

Item #2

Despite a state hiring freeze, and an $814 million revenue shortfall, Governor Rendell has created a new position – paying $95,002 annually – for former state representative Dan Surra, who was ousted in the November election.

I am pretty cynical about politics/politicians, but the gall of this surprises even me. Special thanks to commenters on the news story,  GrassrootsPA, and Tony Phyrillas’ blog for reassuring me that I’m not the only one scratching my head.