Power Switch; the Mayor Gets Real, and Prepares to Relinquish Power

Summary

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Last week, [Tom Murphy] turned to the last resort for any politician: governing responsibly. He submitted a budget plan to the ICA compiled by another financial oversight group, whose efforts Murphy called a "thoughtful, well crafted plan" to cut costs and raise taxes on workers and previously exempt businesses. But unlike previous budgets Murphy has submitted -- which outraged ICA members by relying on tax revenue that didn't exist -- this one includes a fall-back if new taxes aren't passed: a 49 percent hike in the property tax over the next five years. Compared to Murphy's earlier phantom budgets, this one has generated little outcry so far. Maybe he ought to recklessly engage in responsible budgeting more often.

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Power Switch; the Mayor Gets Real, and Prepares to Relinquish Power

Last week Pittsburghers were treated to an all-too-rare spectacle: Mayor Tom Murphy acting with prudence, restraint, and diplomacy.

So now we're probably really screwed.

In recent months, Murphy has struggled with both the c...

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