Forget the Battle of Gettysburg, which just happens to be celebrating its 150th anniversary as the defining moment of the Civil War.
The real action this week - as it is every year in the last week of June - will be in Harrisburg, where our elected representatives will hold their very own un-civil war.
They call it a state budget.
State law mandates it has to be in place by midnight on July 1. That gives the politicos about six days. I would take the over on that one.
The guy with the biggest stake in all this just might be Gov. Tom Corbett. He has challenged the Legislature to include action on privatizing the state liquor system, as well as a massive upgrade in transportation spending, and fixing that 'tapeworm' known as the public employee pension crisis, all as part of the budget.
I'd be surprised if any of them happens. And remember, I just happen to be the state's leading proponent of blowing up the LCB and turning the whole process of alcohol sales over to private enterprise. As happens with almost everything in the state Capitol, the amendments are flying. Anything that does get passed when it comes to getting out of the booze biz is likely to fall far short of what Corbett initially sought. But that won't stop him from taking credit if by some chance legislation actually passes.
Corbett desperately needs a win. His poll numbers continue to tank, and he has a re-election campaign on the horizon. A recent poll puts him well behind the front-running Democrat, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, by a 46-34 margin.
Of those who responded to the poll, 65 percent said the governor did not deserve another term. Making matters worse for Corbett, 44 percent of them identified themselves as Republicans.
The guess here is that some kind of a watered-down booze bill gets passed, one that expands beer and wine sales but does not blow up the LCB.
Pensions? Transit? I wouldn't hold my breath.
Neither should the governor. And that is not good news for a guy in desperate need of a life raft.
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