PA Voters May Get Two Weeks To Vote

A group of Democrats have introduced a package of bill tat would eventually lead to early voting in Pennsylvania. Supporters say a major goal is to ensure Pennsylvania residents don't have to wait in long lines the next time there's a hotly contested election. One of the measures would let commonwealth residents request absentee ballots without justification, and another would open up polling sites two weeks before Election Day. Senator Daylin Leach says limiting voting to one day unintentionally disenfranchises Pennsylvania residents who can't be late for work. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi says Republicans are open to voting reform, but have some logistical questions, and would want to hold public hearings on the matter. Experts say a Constitutional amendment may be needed to enact some of the proposed changes.

Voting Groups Hunt "Phantom Ballots"

Some Allegheny County polling places are recording too many votes, according to voting rights advocates. They say one polling place in Wilkinsburg had ten so-called "phantom ballots," or votes in excess of the number of people who showed up on Election Day. The Pennsylvania League of Young Voters, VoteAllegheny and others will audit last November's voting records at the County Office Building to see how widespread the problem is. Mac Booker with the League says it's no coincidence that volunteers will be hunting down the "phantoms" on Friday the 13th. The groups have posted a video on YouTube describing the auditing process.

Poll workers are told to write an explanation for any overvotes. Booker says the explanations vary, but some poll workers have written that they just don't know. He says it's impossible to know whether these overvotes are empty ballots.

Booker says if phantom ballots are a widespread problem, he doesn't see any solution besides getting new voting machines. But he acknowledges that every type of voting system has its problems.

Global Warming Changes Bird Migration Habits

A study of 40 years worth of data by The National Audubon Society shows that the combination of global warming and habitat loss has drastically changed the migration habits of over 300 species of birds. Using data collected by "citizen scientists" during the Audubon's annual Christmas Bird Count reveals that more than 50 percent of observed species of birds are changing their migration habitats, moving northward and inland at greater rates. The Audubon Society is reporting that the overall temperature increase during the winter months plus the loss of habitat to human development is forcing many species of birds to migrate farther north and farther inland than they have in the past. This is threatening the range of movement available to the birds. California's Audubon society has predicted that many species of birds native to California may lose up to 25% of their movement range in the coming years if some conservation effort is not made. This can have a serious impact on the health of the birds and can result in large losses of bird populations.

Funding In Place For Hill District Grocery Store

With only a few days before a deadline to raise $2 million for a grocery store, the Hill House Association says it has closed its funding gap. With help from Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, State Rep. Jake Wheatley and various local sources and foundations, the Hill House plans to move ahead on the Kuhn's grocery store project. Onorato contributed $750,000 from the county in the form of a community development block grant, Wheatley was able to secure $500,000 in state money, and local foundations and supporters raised the final $750,000.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority had given the Hill House until Thursday to secure the funding. If it had not met the deadline, discount grocer Save-A-Lot would have emerged as the front-runner to build a smaller limited-service grocery.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and URA are contributing another $2 million to the store as part of a community benefits agreement that was reached last year.

Health Department Offers Free Smoke Alarms

Free smoke alarms are now available to all Allegheny County residents, thanks to an Allegheny County Health Department giveaway. Special priority will be given to elderly and disabled people, as well as citizens of 17 specific neighborhoods where fire rates are higher than the county average. These neighborhoods are Braddock, Duquesne, Etna, Forward, Homestead, McKeesport, North Braddock, Versailles, Wilkinsburg, Allentown, Beltzhoover, Carrick, Hazelwood, Homewood, Lincoln-Lemington and Perry South. Health Department spokesman Guillermo Cole says all recipients will get a smoke alarm for every level of their home, a free installation and a fire safety education session. Cole says smoke alarms reduce the chance of death in a fire by about half. The smoke alarm giveaway is an annual event made possible by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

PATH to Organic Farming In PA

A Berks County state lawmaker has introduced an organic farming transition program in Pennsylvania. The voluntary program includes $500,000 in state funding to help 15 farms of various types become certified organic. That means no pesticides, no chemicals and no synthetic fertilizers for at least three years. State Representative David Kessler says he worked with the Department of Agriculture, PennEnvironment and the Rodale Institute which has been researching organic farming for 27 years. Kessler says "PATH to Organic" will make farming more profitable and help the environment. He says in the first 2 to 4 years, farmers who switch typically see lower yields, but as the soil returns to more natural state, yields are the same as before or better. Kessler says that organic farming eliminates the use of pesticides and other chemicals and that means cleaner water and that organic foods are healthier and that means healthier people. Applications will be available from the Department of Agriculture March 30 for grants up to $7,500 annually for 4 years to make the conversion.

PA Appeals Court Decision Blocking Mercury Rule

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection has appealed a ruling by Commonwealth Court that blocked the state's mercury emissions rule that is stricter than federal standards. Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini called Pennsylvania's rule unlawful, invalid and unenforceable. Allentown-based PPL Corporation filed suit to block the rule claiming Pennsylvania can't enforce it because it is based on a federal rule which was overturned.
But D.E.P. spokeswoman Theresa Candori told DUQ News that the Pennsylvania rule is "a well-crafted, cost-effective program designed to protect Pennsylvanians from exposure to mercury emitted from coal-fired plants. Our rule accelerates adoption of proven technologies that will protect the public health and the environment."
Pennsylvania has 34 coal-burning power plants that emit 5 tons of mercury into the air annually. The Pennsylvania rule requires the coal-fired plants to reduce mercury emissions 80% by 2010 and 90% by 2015 from 1999 levels. The state rule also bans mercury emissions trading and that means older plants can't avoid installing expensive control equipment.

Specter Comes Under Fire

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter’s move to support the federal stimulus plan is drawing fire from his party. Specter is one of three Republican lawmakers to publicly support a federal stimulus package. Those votes ensure the measure will see a vote in the upper chamber. The move is generating some anger from conservatives who say the bill is filled with needless spending. Political Scientist Christopher Borick of Muhlenberg College says Specter's support for the stimulus package is one of the many times he's sided with the Democrats instead of his own party.
Matthew Brouillette of the conservative Commonwealth Foundation says he's disappointed by Specter's move, but wasn't caught off guard. Specter's support for the stimulus package is one of the many times he's sided with the Democrats instead of his own party. Not a single Republican voted for the stimulus when it passed the House, but Specter says it's needed to put Americans back to work.

Fumo Trial Calls Rendell

Governor Ed Rendell took the stand as a defense witness in the four-month corruption trial of former State Senator Vincent Fumo today. Governor Rendell's testimony lasted all of ten minutes. Turning to look directly at the Jury, Rendell spoke about his former rival's work ethic saying, ”His job became his life as it has with me and I have no regrets over that.” He told the jury it would not be unusual to get a call from the senator at 11:30 at night. But on cross examination by Assistant U-S attorney John Pease, the governor acknowledged that even successful, hard-working lawmakers must obey the law saying, “When you're elected as a lawmaker the public expects you to follow the law no matter how hard you work is that correct? No question, there are no exceptions for effectiveness and no exception for people who spend a lot of time on their jobs, the rules are the rules.” Former State Senator Vince Fumo is charged with defrauding the Senate, a charity and a museum of $3.5 million dollars.

Controller: More Reform Needed at PAT

Allegheny County Controller Mark Flaherty says The Port Authority of Allegheny County has a long way to go as it tries to right its financial house. The Controller issued a performance review today comparing PAT to other transit agencies. Flaherty says a statistical comparison to eleven of the most comparable transit agencies found the Port Authority considerably underperforms in operations based on “performance metrics.” And he says that gap is getting “progressively wider.” The controller says the Board of Directors and Management of the Port Authority need to adopt a "cut waste and inefficiency first, cut service last" philosophy. He does admit that since the audit was conducted, “the Port Authority has embarked upon various strategies for improvement.” Among the changes noted by Flaherty is an effort to cut top-level salaries, eliminate management positions, reduce management benefits and adjust service to more efficient levels in striving to control costs and enhance service. A new contract was also signed with mechanics and drivers. The audit went on to point out a need to replace the current fare box system with one based on smart cards. The Authority has also been investigating such a system. Heading in another direction, Flaherty says the Authority needs to address its unfunded retirement costs. He says the authority should drop its "pay as you go" approach. Finally, Flaherty analyzed the Authority's operations regarding the maintenance of its vehicles, operational expenses and bidding procedures. He says the work order system used by PAT is “obsolete.” He says. "It is critical that the Port Authority upgrade the current computerized maintenance work order system to maximize efficiency and ensure that its vehicles are being properly maintained and inspected."