Here's some reading material to enjoy with breakfast as Tom Corbett fires a top gas regulator, 88,000 children lose Medicaid coverage and Republicans continue to refuse to hold gas drillers accountable. 

 Since August, 88,000 Pennsylvania children have lost Medicaid benefits (Philadelphia Inquirer) More children lost Medicaid coverage in Pennsylvania in December than in the previous three months combined, according to new Department of Public Welfare numbers that show a total of 88,000 cut since August.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120117_Since_August__88_000_Pennsylvania_children_have_lost_Medicaid_benefits.html

Corbett fires conservation official (Post-Gazette) The longtime head of the citizens advisory committee that has oversight of the state's parks and forests was fired Friday by the Corbett administration, a termination that council members say was illegal and raises concerns about reduced public accountability of Marcellus Shale gas drilling in state forests.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12016/1203845-454.stm

Enough with the scare tactics, Marcellus Shale drillers aren't leaving (Patriot News) But that doesn't mean we should give away our precious resources for the lowest price in America and ignore the potentially harmful environmental impacts. It is well past time to enact a severance tax. If Republicans want to call it an "impact fee," so be it. But it must be a fee that is implemented statewide and is not the lowest in the country.
http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/01/here_to_stay_enough_with_the_s.html