It happens every year, but it never fails to leave me shaking my head.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Pennsylvania is facing its share of problems.

The state budget is not yet complete. There is crucial legislation to expand legalized gambling at state casinos to include table games.
State-related universities say they are being held hostage by budget talks. The state public employees pension plan is something of a ticking time bomb that no one seems terribly anxious to talk about. Certainly not Gov. Ed Rendell, who seems willing to let this slide onto the plate of his successor.

With all this and more going on, you would think there would be plenty to keep our elected representatives busy in Harrisburg. So where did they spend the weekend? The Big Apple, of course.

Yes, the Keystone State’s movers and shakers headed off to New York City for a weekend of partying, wheeling and dealing.

They do it every year for a gala of the Pennsylvania Society. And every year I just have to sit and shake my head.

Look, I know this is the way things get done, with a lot of back-slapping, drinks and cigar smoke. Fine, go ahead and have a party.
But if you have to rub our faces in the fact that you are different than us, could you at least do it here in Pennsylvania?

What, they could not convene in Philadelphia one year, Pittsburgh the next?

No, it’s not the Big Apple. Too bad. It’s Pennsylvania. Remember us? The people you were elected to represent?

I didn’t think so.