PBPC Podcast

PA Budget and Policy Center and Keystone Research Center staff appearances on the Rick Smith Show (ricksmithshow.com/). In 2005, The Rick Smith Show stepped into a local radio world devoid of progressive talk. Rick took his straight shooting no nonsense Teamster outlook to the air and started mixing it up with conservatives from one of the reddest areas north of the Mason Dixon line. His show grew steadily, attracting listeners starved for a voice that spoke to working stiffs who felt the economic floor crumbling beneath them. Five years after the start of his weekend program, Rick moved to new time slots and new stations. His show now airs Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm on several stations across the state of Pennsylvania where he offers hard truth and commentary with a unique blend of clear-headed, gruff analysis and bemused observation.

PA Budget and Policy Center and Keystone Research Center staff appearances on the Rick Smith Show (ricksmithshow.com/). In 2005, The Rick Smith Show stepped into a local radio world devoid of progressive talk. Rick took his straight shooting no nonsense Teamster outlook to the air and started mixing it up with conservatives from one of the reddest areas north of the Mason Dixon line. His show grew steadily, attracting listeners starved for a voice that spoke to working stiffs who felt the economic floor crumbling beneath them. Five years after the start of his weekend program, Rick moved to new time slots and new stations. His show now airs Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm on several stations across the state of Pennsylvania where he offers hard truth and commentary with a unique blend of clear-headed, gruff analysis and bemused observation.

PA Budget and Policy Center and Keystone Research Center staff appearances on the Rick Smith Show (ricksmithshow.com/). In 2005, The Rick Smith Show stepped into a local radio world devoid of progressive talk. Rick took his straight shooting no nonsense Teamster outlook to the air and started mixing it up with conservatives from one of the reddest areas north of the Mason Dixon line. His show grew steadily, attracting listeners starved for a voice that spoke to working stiffs who felt the economic floor crumbling beneath them. Five years after the start of his weekend program, Rick moved to new time slots and new stations. His show now airs Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm on several stations across the state of Pennsylvania where he offers hard truth and commentary with a unique blend of clear-headed, gruff analysis and bemused observation.

PA Budget and Policy Center and Keystone Research Center staff appearances on the Rick Smith Show (ricksmithshow.com/). In 2005, The Rick Smith Show stepped into a local radio world devoid of progressive talk. Rick took his straight shooting no nonsense Teamster outlook to the air and started mixing it up with conservatives from one of the reddest areas north of the Mason Dixon line. His show grew steadily, attracting listeners starved for a voice that spoke to working stiffs who felt the economic floor crumbling beneath them. Five years after the start of his weekend program, Rick moved to new time slots and new stations. His show now airs Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm on several stations across the state of Pennsylvania where he offers hard truth and commentary with a unique blend of clear-headed, gruff analysis and bemused observation.

PA Budget and Policy Center and Keystone Research Center staff appearances on the Rick Smith Show (ricksmithshow.com/). In 2005, The Rick Smith Show stepped into a local radio world devoid of progressive talk. Rick took his straight shooting no nonsense Teamster outlook to the air and started mixing it up with conservatives from one of the reddest areas north of the Mason Dixon line. His show grew steadily, attracting listeners starved for a voice that spoke to working stiffs who felt the economic floor crumbling beneath them. Five years after the start of his weekend program, Rick moved to new time slots and new stations. His show now airs Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm on several stations across the state of Pennsylvania where he offers hard truth and commentary with a unique blend of clear-headed, gruff analysis and bemused observation.

Christine Stone, Co-Chair of the Why Courts Matter - PA coalition (a project of the PA Budget and Policy Center) joins us to talk about the historic obstruction of Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland and how advocates and activists across PA are speaking up.

PBPC Director Marc Stier joins us once again to talk about the completed budget and the ground work that needs to be laid ahead of next year's budget negotiations.

Marc Stier, Director of the PA Budget and Policy Center, joins us to talk about the state of budget negotiations. With only days before the deadline for Governor Wolf to sign the appropriations bill, there is still no deal on revenue to pay for budget.

PA Budget and Policy Center Director of Outreach and Engagement, Jeff Garis, joins us to talk about the upcoming Pennsylvania's Choice campaign budget day of action. With events happening across the state, the day of action will center on a large rally at the state Capitol ahead of the PA budget deadline.

PBPC Director Marc Stier joins us to talk about a proposal to tax income from wealth that could begin to address the structural deficit and, in conjunction with a few other revenue mechanisms, could also address the need for adequate funding for public education and human services.

Marc Stier of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center and James Paul of The Commonwealth Foundation join "Rotunda Rumblings," the podcast of PLS Reporter, to talk about the budget, Pennsylvania's fiscal situation, and other issues on which they are focusing.

PA Budget and Policy Center Director Marc Stier joins us to talk about the magical thinking employed by legislative members of the "Taxpayers' Caucus" at their press conference this week. Their new report attempts to find budget savings, but instead shows that members of the caucus might not understand how budgets work.

Susan Spicka, Director of Education Voters of Pennsylvania, talks to us about how school districts are stretching every dollar but need more state funding, how Erie School District is a canary in a coal mine, and how the teacher layoff bill was a sham. Learn more about Education Voters of PA at www.educationvoterspa.org.

PA Budget and Policy Center and Keystone Research Center staff appearances on the Rick Smith Show (ricksmithshow.com/). In 2005, The Rick Smith Show stepped into a local radio world devoid of progressive talk. Rick took his straight shooting no nonsense Teamster outlook to the air and started mixing it up with conservatives from one of the reddest areas north of the Mason Dixon line. His show grew steadily, attracting listeners starved for a voice that spoke to working stiffs who felt the economic floor crumbling beneath them. Five years after the start of his weekend program, Rick moved to new time slots and new stations. His show now airs Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm on several stations across the state of Pennsylvania where he offers hard truth and commentary with a unique blend of clear-headed, gruff analysis and bemused observation.

PA Budget and Policy Center and Keystone Research Center staff appearances on the Rick Smith Show (ricksmithshow.com/). In 2005, The Rick Smith Show stepped into a local radio world devoid of progressive talk. Rick took his straight shooting no nonsense Teamster outlook to the air and started mixing it up with conservatives from one of the reddest areas north of the Mason Dixon line. His show grew steadily, attracting listeners starved for a voice that spoke to working stiffs who felt the economic floor crumbling beneath them. Five years after the start of his weekend program, Rick moved to new time slots and new stations. His show now airs Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm on several stations across the state of Pennsylvania where he offers hard truth and commentary with a unique blend of clear-headed, gruff analysis and bemused observation.