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O'Connor, GOP meet
O'Connor is tending to Pittsburgh's ties to Harrisburg to draw a distinction between his administration and that of his predecessor Tom Murphy, who spurned such political overtures.
Republican Sens. Jane Claire Orie, of McCandless, and John Pippy, of Moon, and Reps. Michael Diven, of Brookline, Mark Mustio, of Moon, and Tom Stevenson, of Mt. Lebanon, met with O'Connor yesterday.
The mayor suggested folding Pittsburgh's ailing pension fund into the state's to keep it afloat. He also discussed the city's 50 percent parking tax, which is scheduled to drop by 5 percent a year from 2007 to 2010.
O'Connor is hoping that being "open and honest" and providing "accurate numbers" about the city's financial woes eventually will translate into a willingness from state Republicans to pass legislation to help Pittsburgh out of its financial mess.
Orie said she's willing to talk but that she has no plans to offer help to the city's pension fund or stop the parking tax from dropping.
"We all agreed that the parking tax has been a real negative for the city of Pittsburgh," Orie said, reflecting the views of her suburban commuter constituents.
Pippy said any help for Pittsburgh's pension would come from a statewide approach because the city's pension problem isn't unique.
"The pension is going to require legislative input," he said.
O'Connor is preparing a report on revenues the city received from higher taxes in 2004. City officials have argued that Pittsburgh didn't get all the money it was promised by the state.
The mayor also wants to do a "comprehensive analysis" of the city's authorities, such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority, in hopes of consolidating their financing and technology operations with the city to save money.
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