Clippings from September 15th

Here are some blog posts, article and links that you may have missed.

• GOP paid more than $1 million for additional voter data – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – State House Republicans spent more than $1 million on extra features for a computer tracking program that were scrapped last year after they weren't being used, a GOP spokesman said.

  The Republicans spent $1.8 million in 2006 on a program from Aristotle International in Washington, D.C., that in addition to tracking constituent contacts enabled lawmakers to get detailed information on voters.

• Pittsburgh Hoagie: All meat no filler: Black out – Even Matt H. is not happy with Pat Ford – "I don't agree with the "buyout" he got from the URA. If Ford has something to say about URA or the inner workings of government he should say it. This reeks of hush money. It just doesn't look good at all. If people are willing to let this story fly it makes you wonder what type of information Ford had on people.
  "
• Onorato withholding transit funds to pressure union – Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato is prepared to withhold millions of dollars in key county funds and allow Port Authority to go bankrupt — possibly by year's end — if the union representing bus and trolley workers does not reach a satisfactory agreement that must include significant concessions on post-retirement benefits.