There were the usual stories in the newspapers today about the budget, nothing that I haven’t heard. More speculation and complaining about the process, etc. One local paper had a story about the bill by Senator Bob Robbins to allow local governments to put their advertisements on their website instead of in the local paper. This proposal, if adopted, would save tens of millions of taxpayer dollars each year in Pennsylvania. Everybody that I know likes the idea and thinks that it is long overdue, except, of course the newspapers. Some of them are more concerned about making money than doing the right thing. As their subscriptions deteriorate into oblivion, internet usage skyrockets. More people each day get their info on line and get it for free. Public information in a newspaper costs each member of the public twice, once to place the ad and once again to purchase the paper to read it. And if you advertise on Wednesday and don’t see the paper until Thursday, the ad you’re interested in won’t be there unlike an internet ad that runs 24/7. There are too many reasons for this change to stop it, I hope.

- John