West Penn Allegheny Health System's proposal for a medical school should be embraced throughout Western Pennsylvania.

The proposal is encouraging because of the potential for bringing more doctors to this part of the state, as well as keep some who might be considering leaving the region.

However, the plan carries a big “if.” The hospital system, which otherwise is downsizing and consolidating services because of financial issues, faces the big challenge of assembling a financial package that will allow it to make the plan reality.

A Pittsburgh newspaper quoted Chuck Moran, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

“We know from our research that the best way to get physicians here is to home-grow them — take Pennsylvania residents and educate and train them here,” Moran said.

Meanwhile, the medical society's president, Dr. Ralph Schmeltz, said statistics suggest as many as three-fourths of doctors graduating from the state's seven medical schools leave to practice elsewhere.

Christopher Olivia, the West Penn Allegheny chief executive officer, has said the University of Pittsburgh Medical School's growing international reputation could provide opportunities for the new school to train would-be area physicians who he said are squeezed out of Pitt.

Only 26 percent of those in Pitt's class that began last fall are from Pennsylvania.

Although West Penn Allegheny officials are for now declining to release details of their plan, the fact that the health system is pursuing such a venture should be met with enthusiasm.

Pennsylvania is an older state, population-wise. As the large baby-boom population continues to age, more physicians will be needed.

West Penn Allegheny deserves praise for trying to move its idea forward.

It's important for the Marcellus Shale gas drilling issue in Butler County to be built on a foundation of facts and understanding of what's involved and what's at stake.With that in mind, residents, governmental officials, businesses and organizations should welcome three sessions in March designed to address questions and concerns dealing with the drilling. All of the sessions will be held in Founders Hall at Butler County Community College.The session scheduled for 7 p.m. March 7 will be geared toward property owners, while a meeting at 6 p.m. March 8 will be for municipal officials. The daylong session starting at 8 a.m. March 9 will be geared toward businesses.Those partnering to present the sessions deserve praise. They include the college; Butler, Zelienople and Allegheny Valley chambers of commerce; Community Development Corporation of Butler County; Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau; and Penn State Cooperative Extension service.The one negative surrounding the sessions is that the meeting for property owners and the general public will carry a cost of $10. The general public should not have to pay to get the important information that undoubtedly will be presented.There are costs tied to the muncipal officials' and businesses' sessions, but those sessions include meals and/or other features.The more information that is presented about the upcoming drilling in this county and other parts of Western Pennsylvania, the better. Better understanding often translates to less controversy — and the drilling has the potential to be a volatile issue in some places.Those involved in the organization and presentation of the upcoming sessions are deserving of gratitude.

The message delivered by Pennsylvania voters in the Nov. 2 general election was that they wanted better service by their elected representatives in Harrisburg.However, judging from what some media have labeled a “boisterous partisan spectacle,” which took place Wednesday in the state House, it appears that the fall election’s message already has been forgotten.The basis for Wednesday’s controversy was Democrats’ allegation that Republicans were attempting to “muzzle” them by blocking their amendments to reform bills.A war of words began when Rep. Mike Vereb of Montgomery County, a House GOP leader, said the 42 amendments offered by Democrats were an attempt to thwart a package of seven reform bills.The questions from Pennsylvania residents’ vantage point are whether the proposed amendments were intended to make the bills better, or whether they were meant to derail the reforms or just gum up the legislative process of consideration of the measures.Republicans said they thought they had obtained agreement on the bills, most of which lawmakers approved last session but did not send to the governor’s desk.But Rep. Robert Matzie, a Democrat who represents parts of Allegheny and Beaver counties, said, “The actions by the House Republicans disenfranchise House Democrats and the 45 percent of Pennsylvanians we represent.”Beyond that, Democrats did not encourage House unity by erupting into shouted allegations including “kangaroo court,” “shame” and “Gulag,” a reference to the former Soviet Union labor camps.Commonwealth voters who might have shifted their attention from the goings-on in Harrisburg because of all that’s been happening on the federal government level need to once again focus on this state’s governmental happenings.Judging from what already has erupted, the voters might already need to start thinking about another message for the 2012 balloting.