Feeding at the trough

The Rooney family has done plenty for Pittsburgh over the years, but as of late they seem to be doing a lot of suckling at the public teat. The Trib reported yesterday that Gov. Rendell's latest spending spree, including $4 million for the Steelers' proposed amphitheater next to Heinz Field, has rankled some state legislators, who correctly believe that public money shouldn't be funneled to help private businesses. It was bad enough that tax dollars helped build Heinz Field and PNC Park; it's even worse that it's being used to underwrite commercial development between the two stadiums.