Editing Ed Rendell (section)

==Governor of Pennsylvania (2003–2011)==
===First term===
The first piece of legislation Rendell initiated was ''The Plan for a New Pennsylvania''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pahouse.com/budget2003PART2/index.asp|title=Overview|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030620171821/http://www.pahouse.com/budget2003PART2/index.asp|archive-date=20 June 2003|access-date=2016-02-07}}</ref> The plan proposed using [[slot machine]] revenue to reduce taxes by $1 billion<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2003-07-20-0307200359-story.html|title=Pa. House approves plans for slots at tracks, casinos|last=Bull|first=John M. R.|website=baltimoresun.com|date=20 July 2003 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> and included $687 million in increased education funding. The plan was to be paid for with a proposed income tax increase from 2.80 percent to 3.75 percent plus increased taxes on utilities and beer. The governor's plan passed but with a smaller tax increase to only 3.07 percent and increased education funding of $224 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/localnews/20031221statebudgetlocal1p1.asp|title=Senate passes 10% tax hike House, governor must approve increase in Pa. income levy; slot machine haggling fails|website=old.post-gazette.com|access-date=2020-02-25}}</ref> The final budget deal included additional taxes on cigarettes and utilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.state.pa.us/papower/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=435949|title=Official Website for the State of Pennsylvania|website=State.pa.us|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref> Later that year, the Rendell administration passed a prescription drug plan that covered older Pennsylvanians.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} In his first year, Rendell created the Office of Management and Productivity with the goal of cutting $1 billion in administrative expenses by the end of his first term. One of the most widely touted successes from Rendell's productivity initiative was [[strategic sourcing]] in which he overhauled the Commonwealth's antiquated procurement system, leading to $180 million in annual savings<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.governor.state.pa.us/governor/cwp/view.asp?a%3D3%26q%3D437328 |title=Governor: Thermometer Image map |access-date=2016-02-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017044206/http://www.governor.state.pa.us/governor/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=437328 |archive-date=2006-10-17 }}</ref> and a quadrupling of Pennsylvania's minority- and women- owned business participation rate.

Rendell proposed that the 8 cents per gallon tax on beer be raised to 25 cents per gallon.<ref name="Cosgrove-Mather">{{cite web|last1=Cosgrove-Mather|first1=Bootie|title=Beer Lovers Hopping Mad|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/beer-lovers-hopping-mad/|website=CBS News|date=3 April 2003 |access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> Brewery [[Yuengling|D.G. Yuengling & Son]] spokesman, David Casinelli, was a critic of the tax.<ref name="Cosgrove-Mather" /> Casinelli expressed his view on the tax increase proposal by saying, "it seems like every time the state needs money, they come to alcohol or tobacco, and, frankly, it's not fair."<ref name="Cosgrove-Mather" />

In 2004, Rendell persuaded the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly]] to pass measures to legalize and tax slot machine parlors, with the revenues from these measures to be used to reduce property taxes. Prior to this legislation, the only legal forms of [[gambling]] in Pennsylvania were [[horse racing]] and the [[Pennsylvania Lottery|state-run lottery]]. Rendell has been criticized by many opponents of legalized gambling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.casinofreephila.org |title=Roll Up Roll Up, Casino Free Breakfast In London's West End |website=Casinofreephila.org |access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Board |first=PennLive Editorial |date=2011-07-17 |title=Big money: The decision to include table games has been well worth state's gamble |url=https://www.pennlive.com/editorials/2011/07/big_money_the_decision_to_incl_1.html |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=pennlive |language=en}}</ref>

In a compromise with the legislature, Rendell accepted a provision requiring that tax reductions only occur in areas where local school boards voted to accept the funding. Act 72 funding, as it came to be known, was accepted by only one fifth of Pennsylvania's school districts.

Following Act 72, Rendell and the Pennsylvania legislature looked at other proposals to reduce [[property tax]]es, a key component of his 2002 campaign. The governor said he was willing to consider legislation that changes Act 72, and legislative proposals were made to force school districts to accept the money. Other proposed legislation would have required the issue to be voted on in each district as a ballot question, rather than decided by school boards. Property tax relief and Act 72 were issues of great controversy and have been subject to political gridlock, and it was unclear when changes would be made.
[[File:Ed Rendell 8-8-06.jpg|thumb|right|Rendell giving a speech in August 2006]]
In April 2004, Rendell confirmed reports that his state trooper chauffeurs regularly exceeded posted speed limits, and he claimed to be surprised to learn that they sometimes drove him at speeds in excess of 100&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.triblive.com/news/rendell-admits-frequent-flying-on-the-freeway/?printerfriendly=true|title=Rendell admits frequent flying on the freeway {{!}} TribLIVE.com|website=archive.triblive.com|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> He said that he initiated an investigation into the matter. Subsequently, in August 2004, the State Police announced a new policy that state troopers would no longer be allowed to exceed the speed limit, except in emergencies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1199994/posts|title=Rendell's security detail told to slow themselves down|website=freerepublic.com|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref> However, in 2007, following news that [[Jon Corzine|Governor Corzine]] of New Jersey was in an accident in a state trooper-driven vehicle that was traveling in excess of 90&nbsp;mph, Rendell was quoted as saying "I've told my troopers that I don't want them exceeding 80 unless they need to pass or unless there's some real exigent circumstance." At the time, the highest speed limit in Pennsylvania was 65&nbsp;mph, and the current 70&nbsp;mph limit was instituted in 2014 through legislation signed by Rendell's successor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2013/11/70_mph_speed_limits_coming_to.html|title=70-mph speed limits coming to Pennsylvania next year|last=Murphy|first=Jan|date=2013-11-22|website=pennlive.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref>

In early 2005, Rendell made statements that seemed to support President [[George W. Bush]]'s [[Social Security debate in the United States|Social Security privatization]] proposal. Rendell addressed this issue in later speeches, saying that he opposes social security privatization, and that his previous comments were meant to show admiration for President Bush for taking on a politically risky subject. Nevertheless, Rendell's initial statements cost him support among Democrats who are against Social Security privatization.

In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, Ed Rendell [[2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy|signed a bill into law that increased pay]] for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 am without public review or commentary. On November 16, 2005, Rendell signed a repeal of the pay raise after a near unanimous vote for repeal.<ref>Brown, David M. [http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/election/s_450776.html Veon's focal point of the pay raise race], ''[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]]'', 2006-05-06.  Accessed October 24, 2012.</ref>

===2006 reelection campaign===
[[File:Rendell and Baker Knoll.jpg|thumb|300px|Rendell and lieutenant governor Knoll after their 2006 reelection win]]
{{Main|2006 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election}}

Rendell won re-election on November 7, 2006, defeating [[Lynn Swann]], a former professional [[American football|football]] player for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]. by a vote of 2,470,517 (60%) to 1,622,135 (40%).<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID%3D12%26ElectionID%3D24 |title=Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information |access-date=2011-09-20|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529001955/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=24|archive-date=2008-05-29}}</ref>

During his re-election campaign, Rendell was instrumental in the successful Senate candidacy of [[Bob Casey Jr.]] who had run against him for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ga4.org/senate2006/pressreleases.html|title=Governor Rendell Endorses Bob Casey for U.S. Senate|website=Ga4.org|access-date=October 7, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017045919/http://ga4.org/senate2006/pressreleases.html|archive-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref>

===Second term===
Rendell was sworn into his second term as governor of Pennsylvania on January 16, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ed_Rendell |title=Second Term as Governor of Pennsylvania|website=Ballotpedia.org |access-date=July 25, 2016}}</ref> In 2007, as a residual effect of the potent political power the pay raise issue had in central and western Pennsylvania, Rendell stepped up criticism of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) and its executive salaries and expenses, following published newspaper reports, in an effort to leverage PHEAA's profits from federal student loan revenues to help finance the Commonwealth's need-based state grant program for undergraduate post-secondary education (both for grants and for the administration of the program).{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} PHEAA, however, was not directly under the control of the governor. The agency was created as an independent state agency in the 1960s by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to provide state funded scholarships. It eventually took on student loan servicing arrangements which generated non-public revenues which then were used, in part, to dramatically increase executive salaries. The PHEAA board is composed primarily of members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
[[File:Dwight Evans and Governor Rendell.jpg|thumb|right|Rendell and [[Dwight Evans (politician)|Dwight Evans]] at the annual Broad Street Run]]

In July 2007, Rendell ordered a state government shutdown following a dispute with the state legislature over legislative initiatives related to the state budget. Approximately 25,000 state workers were furloughed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/08/AR2007070801051.html?hpid=sec-nations|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Governor Orders Partial Shutdown of Pa. Offices|date=July 9, 2007|access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> The shutdown was resolved within eight days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2007/07/09/11833503/pa-leaders-work-to-resolve-government-shutdown|title=Kdka.com - Legislators, Gov. Reach Deal to End Budget Impasse|website=[[NPR]] |access-date=2022-07-04|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927024448/http://kdka.com/topstories/local_story_190221254.html|archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref>

A [[capital punishment]] supporter,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.issues2000.org/Governor/Ed_Rendell_Crime.htm |title=Ed Rendell on Crime|website=Issues2000.org|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref> Rendell signed 78 [[execution warrant]]s during his term,<ref>{{cite web|author=PA.gov Search|url=http://www.cor.state.pa.us/portal/lib/portal/Warrants_by_Governor.pdf|title=Home|website=Cor.state.pa.us|date=2013-04-29|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref> but none of them were enforced due to [[Stay of execution|stays]].

In 2008, Rendell backed the effort to proceed with the Delaware River Deepening Project.<ref name="Holcomb">{{cite web|last1=Holcomb|first1=Henry J.|title=Agreement signed to deepen Delaware River|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/business/jobs/industries/engineering/20080623_Pa__inks_agreement_on_Delaware_dredging.html|website=Philly.com|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> The project was planned to have been carried out by the [[Delaware River Port Authority]]. The Delaware River Port Authority board from New Jersey decided that they no longer wanted to be associated with the project.<ref name="Holcomb"/> Rendell then attempted to force New Jersey to back the project by exercising his Delaware River Port Authority board chairman power.<ref name="Holcomb"/>

In December 2008, Rendell received criticism for stating that [[List of governors of Arizona|Arizona Governor]] [[Janet Napolitano]] was "perfect" for the role of Secretary of Homeland Security because, "...for that job, you have to have no life. Janet has no family. Perfect. She can devote, literally, 19, 20 hours a day to it."<ref>{{cite news|last=Orr|first=Jimmy|title=Ed Rendell on Janet Napolitano: Perfect because she has no life!|work=The Vote Blog|publisher=The Christian Science Monitor|date=2008-12-03|url=http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/12/03/ed-rendell-on-janet-napolitano-perfect-because-she-has-no-life|access-date=2008-12-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Campbell|title=Commentary: Sexism sneaks in over open mic|work=CNNPolitics.com|publisher=Cable News Network|date=2008-12-02|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/02/campbell.brown.rendell/index.html|access-date=2008-12-03}}</ref>

Rendell drew some criticism following a late January 2009 preview of his budget proposal that would eliminate 100 budget line items, including programs such as the [[Pennsylvania Governor's Schools of Excellence]] and [[Drug Abuse Resistance Education]] ("D.A.R.E."). These program cuts are part of Rendell's proposal to cut state expenditures to a level 1 percent below the 2002-2003 budget in response to an expected 2.3 billion dollar budget shortfall.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/515622.html|title=Rendell previews budget plan - AltoonaMirror.com - Altoona, PA - News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information|newspaper=[[Altoona Mirror]]|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref> As a result of stress caused by the budget crisis, Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo resigned.<ref>{{cite web|author=Laura Vecsey|url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/07/rendells_spokesman_will_leave.html|title=Rendell's spokesman will resign after budget is passed|website=PennLive.com|date=25 July 2009|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref>

Rendell called for reinstating the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]] in the wake of [[2009 shooting of Pittsburgh police officers|a shootout in Pittsburgh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/236338|title=LancasterOnline.com:News:Mayor, chief: Ban assault weapons|access-date=2016-02-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420064910/http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/236338|archive-date=2009-04-20}}</ref>

Although adding tolls to Interstate highways was not an element of his 2006 re-election campaign, Rendell introduced a plan in 2007, following his re-election, to add tolls to [[Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania|Route 80]], which crosses the entire state from New Jersey to Ohio. This resulted in a complicated, multi-year battle fought at both the state and Federal level. The Federal Highway Administration rejected the plan for tolls on Route 80 in 2007, again in 2008, and again for the final time in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nussbaum|first=Paul|date=7 April 2010|title=Feds again reject plan for tolls on I-80|url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/homepage/20100407_Feds_again_reject_plan_for_tolls_on_I-80.html|access-date=2019-06-16|website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en-US}}</ref> Although the decision was made by an agency of the Executive branch, a bi-partisan group of Pennsylvania's members of the U.S. House of Representatives were on the record against tolling Route 80.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2010/04/07/No-tolls-for-Pa-I-80-leaves-huge-gap/stories/201004070175|title=No tolls for Pa. I-80 leaves huge gap|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en|access-date=2019-06-16}}</ref>

===Involvement in presidential elections===
[[File:RendellPA.JPG|right|thumb|Rendell speaking in support of Barack Obama in [[Horsham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Horsham, Pennsylvania]], on October 13, 2008]]
Rendell was a [[John Kerry presidential campaign VP selection process|potential candidate]] to serve as [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[John Kerry]]'s running mate in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/elections/2004/veepomatic_bios.htm|title=Who Will it Be?|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=October 7, 2014}}</ref>

Rendell's popularity, particularly in the suburban ring of counties around Philadelphia, was a key to Kerry's victory in Pennsylvania, one of the most hotly contested [[swing state]]s in the 2004 presidential election.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}

On January 24, 2008, Rendell announced his endorsement of [[Hillary Clinton]] in her [[Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign|race]] for the Democratic presidential nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_549028.html|title=Clinton receives Rendell backing - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|access-date=2016-02-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211153640/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_549028.html|archive-date=2008-12-11}}</ref> He stated that "[Hillary] really cares about moving this country forward. She also has the best health-care plan for America."{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

As one of Hillary Clinton's staunchest supporters, Rendell argued that many media outlets' coverage of her campaign were biased. On March 31, 2008, he congratulated Fox News on what he considered to be the best campaign coverage. Addressing ''Fox & Friends'' host [[Steve Doocy]], Rendell said, "I think during this entire primary coverage, starting in Iowa and up to the present, Fox has done the fairest job, has remained the most objective of all the cable networks ... You actually have done a very balanced job of reporting the news, and some of the other stations are just caught up with Senator Obama, who is a great guy, but Senator Obama can do no wrong, and Senator Clinton can do no right."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/31/clinton-surrogate-ed-rend_n_94280.html|title=Clinton Surrogate Ed Rendell Praises Fox News For "Most Objective", "Balanced" Coverage|first1=Danny Shea Editorial|last1=Director|first2=The Huffington|last2=Post|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=March 31, 2008}}</ref>

Rendell reached out to various Pennsylvania mayors in order to get them to speak out in support of Clinton.<ref name="Seelye"/> He assisted her with establishing her messages.<ref name="Seelye">{{cite web|last1=Seelye|first1=Katharine Q.|title=At Clinton's Side in Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell Is a Dedicated and Often Blunt Promoter|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/us/politics/15rendell.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=December 2, 2016|date=April 15, 2008}}</ref> Some superdelegates maintained a neutral stance prior to the Pennsylvania primary as a result of Rendell talking them into remaining neutral until the Pennsylvania primary was over. Clinton also benefited from televised endorsement ads Rendell made on her behalf.<ref name="Seelye"/>

After Clinton dropped out of the race, Rendell endorsed Senator Barack Obama in June 2008 and made several campaign appearances on his behalf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comment-blog.advance.net/cgi-bin/mte/mt-search.cgi?tag%3DEd+Rendell%26blog_id%3D794|title=Archived copy|access-date=2016-02-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211163909/http://comment-blog.advance.net/cgi-bin/mte/mt-search.cgi?tag=Ed%20Rendell&blog_id=794|archive-date=2008-12-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Rendell_Obama_hasnt_changed_his_mind_0629.html|title=Rendell: Obama hasn't changed his mind on telecom immunity|website=The Raw Story|date=2008-06-29|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/06/obama_philadelphia_fundraiser.html|title=Obama holds Philadelphia Fundraiser with Gov. Rendell|access-date=October 7, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415152554/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/06/obama_philadelphia_fundraiser.html|archive-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

As state governor, Rendell was one of the 768 [[superdelegate]]s to the Democratic National Convention.<ref>{{cite web |title=The expectations game |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/early-returns/2008/03/31/The-expectations-game/stories/200803310225 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=16 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Like In 2008, Ex-Pa. Governor Says Clinton Will Win State's Democratic Primary |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/04/26/475696028/like-in-2008-ex-pa-governor-says-clinton-will-win-states-democratic-primary |newspaper=NPR.org |access-date=16 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref>