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 (http://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 (http://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 (http://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 (http://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 (http://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.

Jeff Garis, Outreach and Engagement Director for PA Budget and Policy Center, joins us to talk about the recently-launched Pennsylvania’s Choice campaign. He outlines how the campaign has organizers across the state who are engaging their communities around how budget investment in schools, service providers and other government agencies are an irreplaceable part of promoting thriving communities. You can learn more about the campaign at www.pachoice.org.

Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, Staff Attorney at the Public Interest Law Center, joins us to talk about his new report about plans submitted by PA school districts last spring, which detailed how they would use new state funding. The report provides vivid proof of how persistent underfunding has damaged the ability of districts to provide even the essentials of a good education. Learn more at www.pubintlaw.org.

Tom Herman, President of SEIU Local 668, PA's social services union with over 20,000 members statewide, joins us to talk about how state budget uncertainty affects his members and why they felt it was important to join the PA's Choice campaign.

Susan Spicka, Director of Education Voters of PA, joins us to talk about how parents and community members are speaking out against funding cuts for public education, and why their organization jumped in with 30 other groups on the new "Pennsylvania's Choice" campaign.

Jeff Garis, Outreach and Engagement Director at the PA Budget and Policy Center, talks to us about how advocacy groups and advocates are engaging in the public dialogue about the Pennsylvania budget.

Christine Stone, Co-Chair of the Why Courts Matter - PA coalition, joins us to talk about the work of her coalition, the nomination of Merrick Garland, and how her and her partners are activating Pennsylvanians around Senate obstruction.

PBPC Director Marc Stier talks about HB1801 becoming law, why Governor Wolf vetoed the fiscal code, and where we go from here.

PBPC Director Marc Stier talks to us about where we should be placing blame when it comes to the budget mess in Pennsylvania. He talks about a short-term and long-term view of budget policy and how addressing the structural deficit is critically important.

PBPC Director Marc Stier talks to us about what the budget impasse in Harrisburg means for Pennsylvanians, and what citizens can do to move the ball.