The Current

“The future ain’t what it used to be.”

Yogi Berra certainly was the master of the obvious.  Yogi also once said, “It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future.”

But you know what, Yogi wasn’t from Pennsylvania…

In 1990, the late Governor Robert P. Casey was facing Auditor General Barbara Hafer in the general election. That year, the General Assembly and Governor Casey adopted an election year budget with no tax increases and with increased spending on “populist” programs. 

Hafer warned of election year politics and that financial disaster was on the horizon for Pennsylvania.  But nobody took her seriously.  Governor Casey won in a landslide and members of the General Assembly managed to maintain the status quo.

A year later, Pennsylvanian's faced the largest tax hike in history.

Within a year, Pennsylvanian’s became victims of the largest tax increase in history.

Fast forward 16 years….

Despite months of warnings that Pennsylvania has financial troubles that are rooted in Pennsylvania’s Medical Assistance programs, Governor Rendell introduces what he calls, “A terrific budget.”  Others caution that financially for the Commonwealth things aren’t as rosy as they are being portrayed.  But who do you think will prevail in the budget debate in an election year? 

My money (while I still have it) is on elected officials who will employ Yogi Berra’s philosophy of not wanting to make “too many wrong mistakes,” and the budget will fail to address costly programs and encourage economic growth.  And since I’ll need it for next year, I’ll take double or nothing that we’re all going to pay for the short-sightedness one way or another a year from now.

I promise you, Yogi was right about at least one thing, “This is like déjà vu all over again.”

So just remember to hold on to your wallets next year!

We Love Jerome Bettis!!

Jim will be returning soon to address the issues -- right after he recovers from his Super Bowl party which should be just in time for the Governor's budget address!

John Madden was in Atlanta to announce a football game one weekend when he noticed a special telephone near the Falcon's bench. He asked Dan Reeves what it was for and was told that it was the hotline to God. John asked if he could use it. Dan told him "Sure, but it will cost you $100." Madden scratched his head, then thought, what the heck. I need a break picking the games. He pulled out his wallet and paid the $100. Madden was perfect that week.

The next week Madden was in Florida when he noticed the same kind of telephone on the Miami bench. He asked Jimmy Johnson what the telephone was for and was told "It's the hotline to God. If you want to use it, it'll cost you $100." Recalling the previous week, Madden pulled out his wallet and made the call. Madden was perfect that week.

The next weekend Madden was in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field, when he noticed the same kind of telephone by the Steelers bench. He asked Coach Bill Cowher, "Is that telephone the hotline to God?" Bill said "Yes and if you want to use it, it'll cost 35 cents." Madden looked incredulously at Bill and said, " Wait a second, I just paid $100 at Atlanta and $100 at Miami to use the same telephone to God. Why does Pittsburgh only charge 35 cents?"

Bill looked at Madden and replied, "In Pittsburgh, it's a local call."