Meanwhile in Pennsylvania: Taxes, Jeeps, and Defiance

Allegheny County’s 36% Tax Hike and Immigrant Funding

Allegheny County recently jacked up property taxes by a hefty 36%, and some of that cash is now being funneled into defying the federal government. On December 3, 2024, the county council voted 10-5 to raise the tax rate from 4.73 mills to 6.43 mills as part of the 2025 budget, effective this year. The official line is that this increase—finalized to tackle a structural deficit and keep services like public safety and human services afloat—started showing up in mailboxes around mid-February 2025. But here’s the twist: on February 20, 2025, reports dropped that the county is earmarking $250,000 from its Department of Human Services (DHS) budget to prop up three refugee resettlement groups—Hello Neighbor, AJAPO, and Jewish Family and Community Services of Pittsburgh. This comes after the Trump administration slammed the brakes on federal funding for these programs with a “stop work” order in January 2025.

So, is this tax hike directly paying for immigrants? The county hasn’t drawn a straight line between the two—the budget was locked in before the federal cuts hit the headlines. The DHS budget, which includes this $250,000, pulls from county taxes among other sources. Whether you call it direct or indirect, that extra tax money is in the mix, helping cover the shortfall. Critics might say it’s a sneaky way to stick it to the feds, while officials claim it’s just part of keeping the county running. Either way, it’s got people talking.

Jeeps Without Doors: Freedom on Wheels

Over in the statehouse, Pennsylvania lawmakers have finally given Jeep and Bronco fans something to cheer about. Senate Bill 298, championed by Sen. Devlin Robinson, was signed into law as Act 61 of 2024 on July 15, 2024, and kicked in on September 13, 2024. Now, you can legally cruise in vehicles designed with removable doors—no more tickets for going doorless. Before this, Pennsylvania stood alone as the only state banning this on public roads, a relic of old vehicle codes. It’s a win for liberty on the highway, bringing us in line with most of the country.

Cell Phone Ban: Hands Off at the Red Light

But don’t get too comfortable. Those same lawmakers are tightening the screws elsewhere. They’ve passed a new law making it illegal to hold your cell phone while driving—yep, even when you’re stopped at a red light. No more quick texts or scrolling; if it’s in your hand, you’re breaking the law. It’s a safety move, sure, but it’s got some folks muttering about overreach. When is enough going to be enough with these rules?

Hunting Season Debate: Still Up in the Air

And if that’s not enough to keep Harrisburg busy, our lawmakers are also bickering over when hunting season should start. No resolution yet—just more arguing while the rest of us wait for them to figure it out.

Who’s Running the Show?

All this leaves a big question hanging: Are we, the citizens, supposed to tell them what to do, or are they just going to keep piling on these decisions? Between tax hikes funding controversial moves, doorless Jeeps, cell phone bans, and hunting debates, Pennsylvania’s a mixed bag of freedom and control right now. What’s next?