Mr. Boehner’s comments, recounted by multiple lawmakers, that he would use a combination of Republican and Democratic votes to increase the federal debt limit if necessary appeared aimed at reassuring his colleagues — and nervous financial markets — that he did not intend to let the economic crisis spiral further out of control.

The 26 states that have rejected the Medicaid expansion [including Pennsylvania] are home to about half of the country’s population, but about 68 percent of poor, uninsured blacks and single mothers. About 60 percent of the country’s uninsured working poor are in those states. Among those excluded are about 435,000 cashiers, 341,000 cooks and 253,000 nurses’ aides…

Despite their size, full-size pickups, which typical get gas mileage in the teens from their gas engines, can start “using less gas than a Prius” with plug-in capability, says Via Motors President Alan Perriton.

The plan merely kicks the can further down the road toward likely failure in the future, after having surrendered Harrisburg’s most valuable assets and prolonged the loss of decision making powers by its residents.

Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said they are satisfied with the current retail options for buying wine and spirits, but nearly half of that group said they still would prefer to have private retailers sell wine and liquor…

NEW YORK TIMES Editorial: …At any point, [House Speaker John] Boehner could have stopped it. Had he put on the floor a simple temporary spending resolution to keep the government open, without the outrageous demands to delay or defund the health reform law, it could easily have passed the House with a strong majority, with sizable support from Republican members, many of whom are aware of how badly this collapse will damage their party.

If President Obama spends what the law orders him to spend and collects the taxes Congress has authorized him to collect, then he must borrow more than Congress has authorized him to borrow. If the debt ceiling is not raised, he will have to violate one of these constitutional imperatives.

If you drive in Pennsylvania, look to pay 40 to 50 cents more per gallon, likely starting in 2014, certainly by the next year.
The movement to shaft the poor advances in Harrisburg when House Republicans trot out their version of the transportation-funding bill. Following passage this week, it will go to a conference committee to work out the differences between the “R” version in the House with the “R” version in the Senate.

Over the past week, the following front page articles appeared, all consisting of hundred of words (one a thousand) and portraying Mayor Rick Gray in a positive and sympathetic light: