Pennsylvania’s projected deficit: $2.3 billion

2008 salary of former Lycoming County state rep. Brett Feese, as chief counsel for the House Republicans and highest paid PA government staffer: $203,459

Salary paid to Governor Rendell last year: $174,914

Average salary in PA: $43,500

Percentage increase in salary paid to Rod Corey, deputy counsel to the Republican caucus, over the past 2 years: 48%

Amount paid so far to outside lawyers investigating state reps’ alleged use of taxpayer dollars to run political campaigns: $1.4 million

Number of job cuts announced one January day by Home Depot, GM, Spring, Texas Instruments, Caterpillar and Pfizer: 71,000

Approximate job losses projected for each month this year: 600,000

Amount in the stimulus plan that Chris Carney says will go to rural transit in the 10th Congressional District: $7.3 million

Amount in the stimulus plan that will go to the City of Williamsport: $283,814

Amount Chrysler paid for full-page “Thank you America” ad in the Wall Street Journal one week after taxpayers’ $4 billion bailout of the auto company: $200,000

Estimated value of minerals mined from public lands since 1872: $408 billion

Share of revenue hard rock mining companies pay for operating on public land: 0%

Percentage rise in food prices worldwide since 2002: 130%

Percentage of rising food costs the World Bank estimates are due to demand for ethanol and other biofuels: 75%

Amount the U.S. government spent on food aid in 2008: $1.5 billion

Amount the U.S. government spent on ethanol subsidies in 2008: $9.2 billion

Percentage by which middle-class Americans saw their incomes rise between 2000 and 2007: 3%

Percentage the wealthiest 5% saw their incomes go up between 2000 and 2007: 9%

Percentage of millionaires worried they won’t be able to sustain their current lifestyles: 55%

Number of people who came to Joe the Plumber’s book signing at Washington, D.C. Borders Books: 11



Sources: Philly.com, The Progressive Populist, constituent letter from Rep. Chris Carney 2/6/09, Mother Jones magazine, alternet.org