Friday, July 2, 2010
More People to Travel this Holiday Weekend
After a record decline in travel over last year's Independence Day weekend, AAA is anticipating a surge this year as people get away for the long weekend. Beverley Powell, a spokesperson for the East Central Region says in 2009 travel dropped 20% nationally, but this year they're expecting an increase of 17% due to a brightening economic outlook and pent up demand last summer's "staycations." Across the country, 34.9 million people will get away for the weekend, including about 1.22 million Pennsylvanians -- 1.08 million of which will be driving to their destination. AAA says on average gas prices should stay around $2.70-$2.80 per gallon, but Powell recommends travelers check the AAA website to find where the cheapest gas is available. She also advises drivers to take to the roads during off hours, especially in the evening and make sure they have directions and alternate routes handy.
Rendell Could Veto Budget
Governor Ed Rendell says he can’t sign the state budget until an accompanying bill setting revenue levels has passed, as well.
House and Senate leaders are still negotiating the specifics of the fiscal code bill.
Top Republicans and Democrats are working out the details of Pennsylvania’s fiscal code behind closed doors.
One of the issues on the table is whether or not to create a Legislative Fiscal Office, which would function like the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, and counter-balance the administration’s financial analysis.
Rendell says he can’t sign the appropriations bill, which sets the state’s spending, until the General Assembly passes the fiscal code.
"I have a responsibility – a constitutional responsibility – to make sure that it’s a budget that is balanced and paid for. Until the fiscal code comes in, until I have an opportunity to sign the fiscal code – I won’t be assured of that."
Rendell has ten days to sign the appropriations bill, and warns he’d be forced to veto the budget if the fiscal code isn’t on his desk at the end of the window.
Top lawmakers are pushing for House and Senate votes on the measure before the Fourth of July.
Meantime, the governor is defending the decision to keep 850 million dollars of tentative federal aid in this year’s state spending plan.
Rendell says he and legislative leaders have developed a contingency plan, in case Congress doesn’t pass a bill authorizing the payment by months’ end.
"We’re going to monitor what goes on in Washington. If there’s no action on FMAP, or no concrete guidance that they can give us by the end of this month, I will meet with legislative leaders and begin going over the process of putting things in legislative reserve."
Rendell has warned thousands of state workers will lose their jobs if the federal bill isn’t passed.
House and Senate leaders are still negotiating the specifics of the fiscal code bill.
Top Republicans and Democrats are working out the details of Pennsylvania’s fiscal code behind closed doors.
One of the issues on the table is whether or not to create a Legislative Fiscal Office, which would function like the Congressional Budget Office in Washington, and counter-balance the administration’s financial analysis.
Rendell says he can’t sign the appropriations bill, which sets the state’s spending, until the General Assembly passes the fiscal code.
"I have a responsibility – a constitutional responsibility – to make sure that it’s a budget that is balanced and paid for. Until the fiscal code comes in, until I have an opportunity to sign the fiscal code – I won’t be assured of that."
Rendell has ten days to sign the appropriations bill, and warns he’d be forced to veto the budget if the fiscal code isn’t on his desk at the end of the window.
Top lawmakers are pushing for House and Senate votes on the measure before the Fourth of July.
Meantime, the governor is defending the decision to keep 850 million dollars of tentative federal aid in this year’s state spending plan.
Rendell says he and legislative leaders have developed a contingency plan, in case Congress doesn’t pass a bill authorizing the payment by months’ end.
"We’re going to monitor what goes on in Washington. If there’s no action on FMAP, or no concrete guidance that they can give us by the end of this month, I will meet with legislative leaders and begin going over the process of putting things in legislative reserve."
Rendell has warned thousands of state workers will lose their jobs if the federal bill isn’t passed.
Marcellus Workforce Training
The federal government has awarded a $5 million grant to train workers in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia for jobs in the Marcellus Shale drilling industry. The Allegheny Conference on Community Development (ACCD) is partnering with Westmoreland County Community College, 4 other community colleges, Workforce Investment Boards and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association to create a Marcellus training network.
Laura Fisher, ACCD Senior Vice President of Special Projects, says this is one of the last federal stimulus grants awarded by the Department of Labor and "they are very supportive of proposals that will put people into jobs quickly."
41 awards totalling $125 million were made nationwide for community-based job training for high growth industries. The "ShaleNet" proposal received the largest grant.
Fisher says a key factor in winning the grant is that much of the Marcellus drilling is in rural areas where there is higher unemployment and low income levels and that meshes with the goals of the Labor Department in job creation.
Fisher says that 70% of the drilling workforce is not local...many of those workers are from Texas, Oklahoma and Wyoming where there is much more experience in shale drilling. She says that the drilling companies would actually prefer to hire local residents because it would be more cost effective.
Fisher says the potential environmental problems is a concern and she's glad that the "bad actors" in the industry are being "called out" but there is also a high level of environmental responsibility among other companies.
"We feel getting local workforce into these jobs...these people live in these places, they're not going to want to have an environment polluted or damaged by irresponsible corporate behavior."
Westmoreland County Community College will help develop the criteria for training and certification programs. Fisher says some of the training will be at the drill sites and could be completed in several days to a week.
Listen to DUQ's Kevin Gavin's interview with Laura Fisher
Laura Fisher, ACCD Senior Vice President of Special Projects, says this is one of the last federal stimulus grants awarded by the Department of Labor and "they are very supportive of proposals that will put people into jobs quickly."
41 awards totalling $125 million were made nationwide for community-based job training for high growth industries. The "ShaleNet" proposal received the largest grant.
Fisher says a key factor in winning the grant is that much of the Marcellus drilling is in rural areas where there is higher unemployment and low income levels and that meshes with the goals of the Labor Department in job creation.
Fisher says that 70% of the drilling workforce is not local...many of those workers are from Texas, Oklahoma and Wyoming where there is much more experience in shale drilling. She says that the drilling companies would actually prefer to hire local residents because it would be more cost effective.
Fisher says the potential environmental problems is a concern and she's glad that the "bad actors" in the industry are being "called out" but there is also a high level of environmental responsibility among other companies.
"We feel getting local workforce into these jobs...these people live in these places, they're not going to want to have an environment polluted or damaged by irresponsible corporate behavior."
Westmoreland County Community College will help develop the criteria for training and certification programs. Fisher says some of the training will be at the drill sites and could be completed in several days to a week.
Listen to DUQ's Kevin Gavin's interview with Laura Fisher
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Pittsburgh Promise Says It Is Working
In its first two years of awarding scholarships the Pittsburgh Promise has given away $8 million to nearly 17-hundred students attending 46 different schools in Pennsylvania. Another 750 students are expected to grab a scholarship this year. Pittsburgh Promise Executive Director Saleem Ghubril says in those same two years the percentage of kids graduating from Pittsburgh public schools has increased to rates that are nearing the average rate for schools in Pennsylvania suburbs. If 95 Pittsburgh Public School seniors finish their course work this summer the graduation rate for 2009-2010 will stand at 71%. Ghubril says a recent study by CEOs for Cities shows Pittsburgh’s economy would grow by $1.8 billion annually if the percentage of residents with a college education grew by one percent from the current 27.6%. “That is an extra 16,500 college educated people, which the Pittsburgh Promise can deliver in the next ten years,” says Ghubril, “which does not seem terribly aspirational to me.” Pittsburgh Foundation President Grant Oliphant says he became interested in the Pittsburgh Promise because it had big goals. “They made this not just about a ‘scholarship,’ but about the kids, and how we transform the future of a community by helping all of our kids to do better in school,” says Oliphant.
On the money front, Ghubril says fundraising for the Pittsburgh Promise is doing well. The goal is to raise $250 million over ten years. That would allow the program to pay out funds to current students and still sustain the program for the next “32 to 36 years.” Last year $11.3 million was added to the fund through private, corporate and foundation giving. UPMC has committed $100 million to the Promise in the form of a $1.00 for every $1.50 raised grant.
Listen to much of Saleem Ghubril's 2009-2010 Pittsburgh Promise Report Card.
Less State Money for Libraries
Under Pennsylvania's 2010-2011 budget funding for the already strained library systems was further reduced. The cut is 8.4% in total state funding. That would mean a reduction of more than $600,000 for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
This is in addition to the impacts from last year's budget which cut library funding by $1.5 million.
Barbara Mistick, President of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh said these cuts are devastating when people are using the libraries more than ever and relying on libraries for services such as applying for jobs and finding health care and social service referrals.
The library is facing a multi-million dollar deficit if it cannot find a sustainable form of funding.
This is in addition to the impacts from last year's budget which cut library funding by $1.5 million.
Barbara Mistick, President of The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh said these cuts are devastating when people are using the libraries more than ever and relying on libraries for services such as applying for jobs and finding health care and social service referrals.
The library is facing a multi-million dollar deficit if it cannot find a sustainable form of funding.
Frankel Reaction to State Budget
Representative Dan Frankel of Allegheny County said he voted in favor of the state budget with mixed feelings. He said getting the budget signed in time was extremely important.
He said in past years when the economy has been bad a mixture of things have been done to balance the budget such as cutting appropriations and finding additional revenue.
"There has been no will in the legislature to find additional revenue in spite of the fact that there are sources of revenue out there that are, in my opinion, low-hanging fruit," he said. As examples, he mentioned enacting a gas extraction tax on the Marcellus Shale and taxing smokeless tobacco and cigars.
He said in past years when the economy has been bad a mixture of things have been done to balance the budget such as cutting appropriations and finding additional revenue.
"There has been no will in the legislature to find additional revenue in spite of the fact that there are sources of revenue out there that are, in my opinion, low-hanging fruit," he said. As examples, he mentioned enacting a gas extraction tax on the Marcellus Shale and taxing smokeless tobacco and cigars.
Pgh Receives Grant to Promote Volunteerism
Pittsburgh has been selected for a $200,000 Cities of Service Leadership Grant.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says he doesn’t know how many cities applied for the award, but he thinks Pittsburgh was chosen for extensive efforts to green the city.
Mayor Ravenstahl says the money will be used to hire a Chief Service Officer, who will oversee and initiate city service projects for one two-year term.
The mayor says in addition to greening efforts, the CSO will also focus on connecting college students with Pittsburgh Public Schools.
The Cities of Service program was created last year to promote volunteerism in cities nationwide.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says he doesn’t know how many cities applied for the award, but he thinks Pittsburgh was chosen for extensive efforts to green the city.
Mayor Ravenstahl says the money will be used to hire a Chief Service Officer, who will oversee and initiate city service projects for one two-year term.
The mayor says in addition to greening efforts, the CSO will also focus on connecting college students with Pittsburgh Public Schools.
The Cities of Service program was created last year to promote volunteerism in cities nationwide.
PennDOT to Raise the Roof in Squirrel Hill Tunnel
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plans to rehabilitate the Squirrel Hill Tunnel starting in 2012 in a three-year project costing about $55 million.
PennDOT spokesman Jim Struzzi says new lighting and a new ventilation system will be installed at night and on the weekends.
Struzzi says crews will also work on the tunnel’s ceiling.
“A drop-down ceiling was put in to hide the ventilation systems that are above the travel lanes. Those are necessary to keep the fumes from the vehicles traveling through the tunnels pumped out of the tunnel,” says Struzzi. “In looking at this rehabilitation project, we felt that we could put in new ventilation systems that would allow us to remove that drop ceiling.”
Struzzi says removing the drop ceiling will reveal the tunnel’s true arched ceiling, much like that of the Liberty Tunnel. The PennDOT spokesman says that measure would raise the roof of the tunnel by about a foot and would probably ease some people’s claustrophobia. Struzzi says he hopes that means less people braking before the tunnel and less congestion leading up to the tubes.
The higher ceiling may also reduce instances of over-height trucks stopping in front of the tunnel and backing up traffic.
PennDOT spokesman Jim Struzzi says new lighting and a new ventilation system will be installed at night and on the weekends.
Struzzi says crews will also work on the tunnel’s ceiling.
“A drop-down ceiling was put in to hide the ventilation systems that are above the travel lanes. Those are necessary to keep the fumes from the vehicles traveling through the tunnels pumped out of the tunnel,” says Struzzi. “In looking at this rehabilitation project, we felt that we could put in new ventilation systems that would allow us to remove that drop ceiling.”
Struzzi says removing the drop ceiling will reveal the tunnel’s true arched ceiling, much like that of the Liberty Tunnel. The PennDOT spokesman says that measure would raise the roof of the tunnel by about a foot and would probably ease some people’s claustrophobia. Struzzi says he hopes that means less people braking before the tunnel and less congestion leading up to the tubes.
The higher ceiling may also reduce instances of over-height trucks stopping in front of the tunnel and backing up traffic.
Updated HIV Training For Health Care Providers
A regional center based at the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health has been awarded a $23 million grant over 5 years to improve the health of people with HIV/AIDS by enhancing the training of health professionals who care for them.
The Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center provides HIV/AIDS-related training to clinicians and primary care professionals in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Project Director Dr. Linda Frank is an associated professor of infectious diseases and microbiology. She says the goal is to give updated training to those already providing primary care and to those new to the field......"It's targeted for clinical treaters that are involved in providing direct HIV care to people at-risk for HIV infection and those already infected. The goal of the program is to increase their ability to provide effective treatment and prevention in a clinical setting."
Frank says the program emphasizes support and treatment for the medically underserved, including women, gay men, minorities, prisoners, youth and substance users in urban and rural settings.
Frank says primary care providers need to be updated on current treatment regimens because over the last 10 years the mortality rate for people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. has dropped 50%..."And so we want to have the latest information in the hands of clinicians who are seeing patients coming into care regardless of whether it's in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, a community health center....we want them to be prepared to be able to offer the current standard of care for HIV treatment."
The Pennsylvania/MidAtlantic AIDS Education and Training Center provides HIV/AIDS-related training to clinicians and primary care professionals in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Project Director Dr. Linda Frank is an associated professor of infectious diseases and microbiology. She says the goal is to give updated training to those already providing primary care and to those new to the field......"It's targeted for clinical treaters that are involved in providing direct HIV care to people at-risk for HIV infection and those already infected. The goal of the program is to increase their ability to provide effective treatment and prevention in a clinical setting."
Frank says the program emphasizes support and treatment for the medically underserved, including women, gay men, minorities, prisoners, youth and substance users in urban and rural settings.
Frank says primary care providers need to be updated on current treatment regimens because over the last 10 years the mortality rate for people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. has dropped 50%..."And so we want to have the latest information in the hands of clinicians who are seeing patients coming into care regardless of whether it's in a hospital, an outpatient clinic, a community health center....we want them to be prepared to be able to offer the current standard of care for HIV treatment."
Spending Plan On Time, First Time in 8 Years
The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed a budget bill and sent it to Governor Ed Rendell’s desk last night, six hours before the deadline.
At six o’clock, the House of Representatives passed the budget with a 117-84 vote.
The 28.05 billion dollar compromise top Republicans and Democrats hammered out earlier this week is headed to the governor on time, a fact that triggered back slapping for House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and other lawmakers.
"This is a solid budget that is balanced and on time. And I have to tell you, there is a lot of pride in getting our work done on time this year. I think it really matters in communities – there were a lot of people who were dislocated last year. And I just think the work we’ve done is solid."
But many lawmakers say they’re worried about the spending plan’s implications.
Berks County Republican Sam Rohrer argues it’s irresponsible to bank on 850 million dollars in federal assistance that may not be approved by Congress.
"Mr. Speaker it is not a legitimate budget, under any set of circumstances, under any set of legitimate budgeting. It is not balanced, we know that. You cannot offer a balanced budget when you have at least 850 million dollars in revenue that depends on a fickle body in Washington."
Many Democrats said they’re angry about deep cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection, and the use of environmental funds to help fill the state’s 1.2 billion dollar revenue gap.
But there’s still more work to do. Lawmakers need to pass a revenue package, as well as the other bills that make up the full spending plan. Although the spending plan was passed on time, it won't be enacted on time.
Governor Rendell says he’ll wait to sign all the measures at once, but commends legislators for reaching across the aisle and avoiding the partisan wrangling that tied up last year’s budget process until October.
At six o’clock, the House of Representatives passed the budget with a 117-84 vote.
The 28.05 billion dollar compromise top Republicans and Democrats hammered out earlier this week is headed to the governor on time, a fact that triggered back slapping for House Majority Leader Todd Eachus and other lawmakers.
"This is a solid budget that is balanced and on time. And I have to tell you, there is a lot of pride in getting our work done on time this year. I think it really matters in communities – there were a lot of people who were dislocated last year. And I just think the work we’ve done is solid."
But many lawmakers say they’re worried about the spending plan’s implications.
Berks County Republican Sam Rohrer argues it’s irresponsible to bank on 850 million dollars in federal assistance that may not be approved by Congress.
"Mr. Speaker it is not a legitimate budget, under any set of circumstances, under any set of legitimate budgeting. It is not balanced, we know that. You cannot offer a balanced budget when you have at least 850 million dollars in revenue that depends on a fickle body in Washington."
Many Democrats said they’re angry about deep cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection, and the use of environmental funds to help fill the state’s 1.2 billion dollar revenue gap.
But there’s still more work to do. Lawmakers need to pass a revenue package, as well as the other bills that make up the full spending plan. Although the spending plan was passed on time, it won't be enacted on time.
Governor Rendell says he’ll wait to sign all the measures at once, but commends legislators for reaching across the aisle and avoiding the partisan wrangling that tied up last year’s budget process until October.
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