Fast Eddie flunks finance

Gov. Ed Rendell has received a failing grade for his handling of state finances.

The Washington, D.C.-based Cato Institute last week released its seventh biennial fiscal policy report card on the nation's governors. To any rational observer of Rendell's first two years in office, it should be no surprise the governor received an "F."

Grading was based on 15 objective measures of fiscal performance. Governors who have cut taxes and spending the most received the highest grades; those who have increased spending and taxes the most received the lowest grades.

Others sporting the fiscal dunce cap were Republican Bob Taft of Ohio; former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden , a Democrat, and former New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey , a Democrat.

Receiving an "A" grade were Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger of California; Republican Bill Owens of Colorado, Republican Judy Martz of Montana and former New Hampshire Gov. Craig Benson, a Republican.

DON WALKO WATCHDOGGING TOM MURPHY: NOW, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN 'RUFF'. Pittsburgh City Controller Tom Flaherty hasn't even won one of the Democrat nominations for Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, let alone actually been elected to the bench. But already people are lining up to succeed him.

One person interested in the position is Democrat state Rep. Don Walko of the North Side.

We're disappointed with Walko's timing. A longtime nemesis of Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, Walko would be the perfect foil and watchdog for hizzoner. Trouble is, Murphy is leaving office at the end of the year, so Walko would be far less likely to have an adversarial, and therefore interesting, relationship with the new mayor.

Also reportedly interested is former Pittsburgh City Councilman Ben Woods , now Democrat chairman of the city's 27th Ward. Woods was considered a possible mayoral contender in the 1980s before being convicted in federal court on 17 counts of racketeering, income tax evasion, extortion and conspiracy.

The convicted felon getting the controller's job would beg the question: While Woods was watching over city finances, who would be watching over Woods?

MAN OF MANY HATS. We received a perplexing news release this week from Pittsburgh City Councilman William Peduto regarding the staffing for his mayoral campaign.

Peduto announced that his campaign communications director would be someone he's very close to: Pittsburgh City Councilman William Peduto.

"Unlike some other candidates, Bill has chosen to speak for himself during this campaign," Peduto the candidate said in the release undoubtedly approved by Peduto the communications director. "Bill has a reputation for thoughtfully speaking out on many issues. In addition, Bill has a lifetime of experience speaking for himself."

But if you wanted additional information on the release, you were instructed not to turn to the candidate or his communications director. No, any follow-up questions were directed to campaign manager P.J. Lavelle.

Probably just an internal campaign miscommunication.

COZY CHARACTERS. Sen. Arlen Specter has given a job to the wife of a man who once hired Specter's wife.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Specter recently hired Carolyn Short to serve as counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee, which Specter chairs.

It's probably just a coincidence that back in 1998, Short's husband, National Constitution Center executive director Joseph Torsella, hired Joan Specter as a $75,000-per-year fund-raiser for the center. Torsella was a longtime aide to Gov. Ed Rendell when Rendell was the mayor of Philadelphia.

Specter said in a prepared statement that Short's hiring had nothing to do with his wife's work at the center.

What Short will actually be doing for the committee remains to be seen. Blain Rethmeier, Specter's press secretary for the committee, declined to reveal Short's salary, specific duties or hours she will work.

HOEFFEL'S NEW HOME. Former Democrat U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel, who unsuccessfully attempted to knock off Specter last year, has landed a new gig. He's been hired as special counsel with the Philadelphia law firm Kohn Swift & Graf, and will launch a government relations consulting practice.

Hoeffel, of Montgomery County, has been mentioned as one of the people Rendell might appoint to Specter's seat if he is unable to complete his term. The ailing senator is suffering from Hodgkin's disease.

IMMIGRANTS AND IRONY. Anyone find it mildly amusing that 15 illegal aliens were set free by state police in Somerset County last week because a bureau within the federal Department of Homeland Security -- Immigration & Custom Enforcement, or ICE -- didn't want to drive through the snow and ice to pick them up?

LIMELIGHT. Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht just can't steer clear of being the center of attention.

Although it was nothing he did, Wecht's presence in a Westmoreland County courtroom during a murder trial last month resulted in a juror being dismissed.

The juror, apparently a fan of the forensic pathologist, asked court officials to have the high-profile, verbose coroner place his John Hancock on a copy of his latest book.

The problem was, Wecht was a key prosecution witness called to testify about the autopsy on a beating victim. The juror's infatuation with Wecht resulted in her dismissal from the case. But happily, she received a nice parting gift - a signed copy of Wecht's book mailed to her home by court officials at the conclusion of the trial.

NEVER TOO LATE . Republican state Sen. Bob Regola , of Hempfield Township, just two months on the job, is already loading up his campaign war chest.

Regola held a $250-a-plate fund-raiser last week at Mountain View Inn to give his campaign some working capital.

Last fall, Regola defeated two-term incumbent Democrat state Sen. Allen Kukovich in what may have been the most expensive campaign ever in Westmoreland County. Regola and Kukovich spent a combined $1.5 million in the race.

Several prominent county GOP members played host to the recent event, including former party chairs Kim Ward and Debbie Irwin. Ward served with Regola as a member of the Hempfield Township Board of Supervisors before he resigned to take the Senate seat.

RON WHO? Uniontown Mayor James Sileo proclaimed at a recent city council meeting that March 13 would be L. Ron Hubbard day in Uniontown.

Sileo called Hubbard a science-fiction writer and humanitarian, although Hubbard is perhaps best known for founding the Church of Scientology in 1954 and Dianetics.

Scientology is considered a religion that includes such members as actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Critics charge that it is little more than a cult.

Sileo said he received a letter from Hubbard asking him to issue the proclamation for "an acclaimed American writer and humanitarian."

"I don't even know the man," Sileo said. "It's not really my idea. He sent us a resume and letter for a resolution. He had asked us to do it. I don't know who the person is."

Sileo can be excused if he doesn't know who Hubbard is. He's been dead since 1986, but his books still appear in bookstores under his name.