A bill changing the way casino license applicants are screened has passed the Pennsylvania House 126-72 and is moving to the Senate.
The measure eliminates the Gaming Control Board’s investigative unit, and shifts its responsibilities to the Attorney General’s office.
Many Democrats argued the change would add politics to the investigative process. “Many of my constituents to not believe that the Attorney General’s office is, in fact, nonpartisan or bipartisan,” said Representative Margo Davidson of Delaware County, alluding to the AG’s investigation of petition fraud by Congressman Patrick Meehan’s campaign. Some Democrats have argued the investigation was less than thorough, due to the fact Meehan is Republican.
The bill’s author, Republican Mike Vereb, responded by pointing out Gaming Board members are all appointed by lawmakers or the governor. “We elect our courts, we elect our governor, we elect our Attorney General. The State Police Commissioner is appointed by the governor. At some point, someone who’s elected has a role in making sure these units operate,” he said
The change would cost $2 million, which many Democrats say the state can’t afford. Republican supporters point out the money comes from gambling revenue, and not the state’s general fund, and Majority Leader Mike Turzai of Allegheny County questioned the figure’s validity.
Republican Senator Jane Earll of Erie has said she opposes the shift. She chairs the Senate’s Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, which oversees gambling. Turzai insisted he’s confident the bill can still move forward. “We’re going to be prioritizing legislation for both houses to look at, and our relationship with the Senate leadership and their team, I think, is very very good. And I think any proposal gets an opportunity to be heard and voted on by the House is certainly something that everybody will take a look at,” he told reporters.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Hearing Scheduled Over Marcellus Drilling
Marcellus Shale protest groups gathered at Allegheny County Council’s meeting at the County Courthouse Tuesday evening to voice their concerns to council members and to call for a public hearing. Council agreed to do so and scheduled the hearing for March 10 at 5 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Courthouse.
Elizabeth Schneider of Marcellus Protest requested that all thirteen members be in attendance for the entirety of the hearing.
“This is a very, very important issue and your constituency deserves full attention as elected officials,” Schneider says. “Part time job or not your have three weeks to clear your schedules, 1.2 million people’s future depend on it.”
Not all council members attended the last public hearing on the issue in July.
Many constituents expressed concern about the effect drilling might have on water quality, and the health effects of chemicals that may become present as a result of drilling. The majority of those who spoke last night considered it a lapse in thought by council to consider allowing the Southwestern Pennsylvania region to fall into a similar polluting trend as those that the turn of the century steel mills produced.
Bradley Wilson said it is against Pittsburgh’s “green” standards to move forward with potentially polluting drilling.
“It is amazing to me that in this so called age of the green revolution in which we find ourselves building green arenas and convention centers, how quickly we fall into old industrial habits,” Wilson says. “We found a way to extract gas and generate a lot of money and jobs for the region, but this is a problem. It always is about money and jobs first, and about environment and our health second.”
The residents also spoke of the need to maintain the 2000 foot area between drilling wells and public residences should drilling not be halted altogether. There are proposals for 200 or 500 foot minimum distances from residences.
Elizabeth Schneider of Marcellus Protest requested that all thirteen members be in attendance for the entirety of the hearing.
“This is a very, very important issue and your constituency deserves full attention as elected officials,” Schneider says. “Part time job or not your have three weeks to clear your schedules, 1.2 million people’s future depend on it.”
Not all council members attended the last public hearing on the issue in July.
Many constituents expressed concern about the effect drilling might have on water quality, and the health effects of chemicals that may become present as a result of drilling. The majority of those who spoke last night considered it a lapse in thought by council to consider allowing the Southwestern Pennsylvania region to fall into a similar polluting trend as those that the turn of the century steel mills produced.
Bradley Wilson said it is against Pittsburgh’s “green” standards to move forward with potentially polluting drilling.
“It is amazing to me that in this so called age of the green revolution in which we find ourselves building green arenas and convention centers, how quickly we fall into old industrial habits,” Wilson says. “We found a way to extract gas and generate a lot of money and jobs for the region, but this is a problem. It always is about money and jobs first, and about environment and our health second.”
The residents also spoke of the need to maintain the 2000 foot area between drilling wells and public residences should drilling not be halted altogether. There are proposals for 200 or 500 foot minimum distances from residences.
Corbett Fires 6 State Workers Over Clinic Controversy
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is making 18 changes to Health and State Department policies, in response to an investigation of why state inspectors ignored warning signs about a Philadelphia abortion clinic where a doctor allegedly killed live babies.
Corbett’s new policies will require annual inspections of abortion clinics, and the public posting of the reports on the Department of Health website.
Regulators will need to review complaints of serious events at any clinic within 48 hours of an initial report, and then visit the facility on-site within five business days.
Corbett is also ordering the Health and State Departments to share information with each other on a monthly basis, and work toward conducting joint investigations of facilities.
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams says he applauds Corbett’s actions.
The governor calls Health and State Department regulators’ failure to follow up on complaints about Kermit Gosnell’s clinic “despicable.”
The Administration has fired six state workers, and action is pending against eight others.
"People died because people did not a) follow the law, and agencies of government did not do their job and inspect to protect those individuals."
The Administration has fired six state workers, and action is pending against eight others.
"People died because people did not a) follow the law, and agencies of government did not do their job and inspect to protect those individuals."
"We boiled it down to this: people need to do their jobs. It’s not enough to prosecute the wrong-doing. We need to change the culture. That starts here. That starts now."
Corbett’s new policies will require annual inspections of abortion clinics, and the public posting of the reports on the Department of Health website.
Regulators will need to review complaints of serious events at any clinic within 48 hours of an initial report, and then visit the facility on-site within five business days.
Corbett is also ordering the Health and State Departments to share information with each other on a monthly basis, and work toward conducting joint investigations of facilities.
Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams says he applauds Corbett’s actions.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Promise Scholarships Going Up
The Board of Directors of The Pittsburgh Promise has approved doubling the potential dollar amount of scholarships from the current maximum of $20,000 per student over 4 years to a maximum of $40,000 beginning with the class of 2012.
Promise Executive Director Saleem Ghubril says they committed four years ago to the doubling of the maximum amount...
"We stipulated that the additional 20 thousand would be given to those who provide evidence of...this if the language of the agreement...'mastery of subject matter.' So, we're ready now to say alright folks show us the proof of mastery."
To qualify for the first $20,000, the student must be a resident of Pittsburgh, graduate a city high school with at least a 2.5GPA and have a 90% attendance record.
To receive the second $20,000, the student must score "advanced" on the PSSA reading, math and writing tests. Ghubril says if they don't score "advanced," the students can still qualify for the addition scholarship money by scoring 600's on their SAT's in reading, math and writing.
Ghubril says in the first 3 years of The Pittsburgh Promise, they've given scholarships to more than 2,400 students who are "performing at (delightfully) high levels."
Promise Executive Director Saleem Ghubril says they committed four years ago to the doubling of the maximum amount...
"We stipulated that the additional 20 thousand would be given to those who provide evidence of...this if the language of the agreement...'mastery of subject matter.' So, we're ready now to say alright folks show us the proof of mastery."
To qualify for the first $20,000, the student must be a resident of Pittsburgh, graduate a city high school with at least a 2.5GPA and have a 90% attendance record.
To receive the second $20,000, the student must score "advanced" on the PSSA reading, math and writing tests. Ghubril says if they don't score "advanced," the students can still qualify for the addition scholarship money by scoring 600's on their SAT's in reading, math and writing.
Ghubril says in the first 3 years of The Pittsburgh Promise, they've given scholarships to more than 2,400 students who are "performing at (delightfully) high levels."
Reduced Funding for the Allegheny
The President's 2012 budget provides $76 million for the Army Corps of Engineers low use navigation projects -- last year it was $140 million. In the Pittsburgh region that reduction will hit the Allegheny River System the hardest, cutting funding from $8 million to $4 million. Army Corps spokesman Jeff Hawk says that's because the Allegheny is such a small player when it comes to commercial traffic, "One facility at Emsworth, which is the first lock on the Ohio River, locks approximately ten times as much cargo through its chambers each year than does the entire Allegheny River system." On average, the Allegheny contributes about 2.5 of the 630 million tons of cargo that travel the nation's inland waterways. Because of the funding cuts, the Army Corps is considering how to reduce service on the Allegheny; one option is to provide full service on Locks 2 and 4 with no recreational traffic lockages available at Locks 5-9. The other option is to reduce shifts and limit operating hours at the first three locks and provide limited recreational service at Locks 5-7, while Locks 8 and 9 would only serve commercial vessels by appointment. Hawk says recreational users will feel the brunt of the funding cuts, but he notes that the river system has plenty of benefits that never factor into the funding equation, "these pools are used for water supply for sanitary treatment and for drinking and hydro-power, they provide a stable pool for riverfront development, and they provide a sustained aquatic environment." Hawk says the rivers belong to the public and it's important they have a voice in what the river system looks like in the future.
The Army Corps will hold two public information sessions on the Allegheny River System:
February 22 at O'Hara Elementary School at 6 p.m. and February 24 at the West Kittanning Fire Department at 7 p.m.
The Army Corps will hold two public information sessions on the Allegheny River System:
February 22 at O'Hara Elementary School at 6 p.m. and February 24 at the West Kittanning Fire Department at 7 p.m.
PA Farmers Encourage Healthy Eating on Low Budget
Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) members are celebrating "Food-Check-Out Week" by vocalizing across the Commonwealth that raising healthy and wholesome foods is their top priority. The Bureau's spokesperson, Mark O'Neill, says that PFB's goals are to create a bond with consumers and helping them to eat healthy while on an affordable budget.
"The family may not be making as much money as they had or their bills are higher and they have to really look around for what they buy in the store. We want to make sure that they aren't just buying a bunch of junk food that, they're buying good nutritious food, and we're letting them know that they can do that on a healthy budget."
O'Neill says that along with bonding with consumers, the PFB wants to give back to the community, so they have been collecting items such as food, money, and gift cards for the Ronald McDonald Houses in Pittsburgh, Danville, Hershey, Philadelphia, and Scranton. O'Neill says the Ronald McDonald House is a perfect collaborator in giving back to people.
"They feel that they can do something to help families and kids who are ill and need help in these facilities. That's part two of the whole thing. One is connecting with consumers, the other is giving back to the community and we believe that the Ronald McDonald Houses do such a great job."
Over the past twelve years, the PFB has collected over $656,000 in donations for the Ronald McDonald Houses.
"The family may not be making as much money as they had or their bills are higher and they have to really look around for what they buy in the store. We want to make sure that they aren't just buying a bunch of junk food that, they're buying good nutritious food, and we're letting them know that they can do that on a healthy budget."
O'Neill says that along with bonding with consumers, the PFB wants to give back to the community, so they have been collecting items such as food, money, and gift cards for the Ronald McDonald Houses in Pittsburgh, Danville, Hershey, Philadelphia, and Scranton. O'Neill says the Ronald McDonald House is a perfect collaborator in giving back to people.
"They feel that they can do something to help families and kids who are ill and need help in these facilities. That's part two of the whole thing. One is connecting with consumers, the other is giving back to the community and we believe that the Ronald McDonald Houses do such a great job."
Over the past twelve years, the PFB has collected over $656,000 in donations for the Ronald McDonald Houses.
Hearing on Privatizing State Stores
The debate over selling off Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores is officially underway. The first day of a State Senate hearing didn’t break much new ground on whether or not to privatize Pennsylvania’s state stores.A few Democrats voiced concern private stores wouldn’t screen for underage drinkers as vigorously as state employees do. Leonard Gilroy of the libertarian Reason Foundation argued the opposite, pointing out the private owners will have just shelled out hundreds of thousands of dollars for a license.
"You’ve just paid for that, and you have the risk of losing it? I would argue on balance the profit and private sector incentives are going to align. That you’re not going to really want your employees there to be loose on those sort of things, and you certainly are not going to take that risk, because you have a ton of capital at play. Not only the license itself, but the whole business."
Witnesses also offered differing takes on whether or not a sell-off would lead to increased drinking, and whether the one-time revenue would be worth reduced future income. Supporters of selling the stores said, in the end, Pennsylvania’s government shouldn’t be in the business of selling alcohol.
That rankled Allegheny County Democrat Jim Ferlo.
"They’re great stores. Well-stocked, great prices, great staff, union jobs, great wages. What’s broken in the system, other than broad philosophy, that makes you want to come here today to say, ‘let’s throw this great system out'."
It’s not clear when a House or Senate committee will vote on a privatization bill.
"You’ve just paid for that, and you have the risk of losing it? I would argue on balance the profit and private sector incentives are going to align. That you’re not going to really want your employees there to be loose on those sort of things, and you certainly are not going to take that risk, because you have a ton of capital at play. Not only the license itself, but the whole business."
Witnesses also offered differing takes on whether or not a sell-off would lead to increased drinking, and whether the one-time revenue would be worth reduced future income. Supporters of selling the stores said, in the end, Pennsylvania’s government shouldn’t be in the business of selling alcohol.
That rankled Allegheny County Democrat Jim Ferlo.
"They’re great stores. Well-stocked, great prices, great staff, union jobs, great wages. What’s broken in the system, other than broad philosophy, that makes you want to come here today to say, ‘let’s throw this great system out'."
It’s not clear when a House or Senate committee will vote on a privatization bill.
Leach and Farnese Propose Same Sex Marriage Bill
State Senators Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) and Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia) are proposing a bill that would allow Pennsylvania to offer full and equal marriage rights to same-sex couples in the Commonwealth as well as recognition of same-sex marriages conducted in other states. The "Marriage Equality" bill is appropriately proposed at the beginning of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) week. Leach says that allowing same-sex couples to marry will not hurt anyone. "Once people can get married everyone else goes on living their lives the way they did before. Which is why the longer that this goes on, the less controversial it will become; to the point where a few years from now we are going to wonder what all the fuss ever was." If passed, the bill would not require religious institutions to perform or recognize any of the marriages. Farnese thinks marriage equality is inevitable in the future, "It is my hope that years from now people will react with disbelief when they hear that there was a time when it was against the law for some people to marry the person that they love, or that people suffered any discrimination because of their race, creed, or sexual orientation." Leach agrees that times are changing in the country, and says that the proposed legislation would dissolve all of the barriers same-sex couples face when trying to build a family.
Scarnatti Ripped For Free Super Bowl Trip
Government reform advocates say Super Bowl perks enjoyed by top Pennsylvania lawmakers expose shortcomings in the state’s ethics laws.
Natural gas drilling company Consol Energy footed the bill for Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati’s trip to the Super Bowl, according to a story first published in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Republican has since said he’ll reimburse the company.Other lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, attended the big game as a guest of the Steelers.Barry Kauffman of Common Cause Pennsylvania says the situation shows a disparity between Pennsylvania and other states.
"This situation would appear to be illegal in about 35 – or perhaps even more – states, based on their bans or limits on gifts."
In fact, former New York Governor David Paterson was fined more than 60-thousand dollars last year for soliciting and accepting free 2009 World Series tickets from the Yankees.
That wouldn’t be a problem in Pennsylvania, according to Kauffman.
"There are no limits in Pennsylvania on gifts whatsoever, unless they’re flat-out bribery or something like that."
Pennsylvania law does require lobbyists and lawmakers to disclose physical gifts of more than 250 dollars, and travel and entertainment perks that exceed 650 dollars a year.
Natural gas drilling company Consol Energy footed the bill for Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati’s trip to the Super Bowl, according to a story first published in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Republican has since said he’ll reimburse the company.Other lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, attended the big game as a guest of the Steelers.Barry Kauffman of Common Cause Pennsylvania says the situation shows a disparity between Pennsylvania and other states.
"This situation would appear to be illegal in about 35 – or perhaps even more – states, based on their bans or limits on gifts."
In fact, former New York Governor David Paterson was fined more than 60-thousand dollars last year for soliciting and accepting free 2009 World Series tickets from the Yankees.
That wouldn’t be a problem in Pennsylvania, according to Kauffman.
"There are no limits in Pennsylvania on gifts whatsoever, unless they’re flat-out bribery or something like that."
Pennsylvania law does require lobbyists and lawmakers to disclose physical gifts of more than 250 dollars, and travel and entertainment perks that exceed 650 dollars a year.
Monday, February 14, 2011
State Senator Would Halt Tax Code Change
A measure in the Pennsylvania Senate would stop a 2009 business tax code amendment before it goes into effect.
The upcoming change to the state’s Sales and Use Tax would double the amount of business tax collections in a year, requiring businesses to file for taxes twice a month.
Senator Jim Ferlo says while that’s not a problem for big companies with plenty of resources, small companies that do their own accounting will see a sharp rise in “administrative costs.”
Ferlo says his new bill to stop this change would maintain the current method of filing taxes once a month.
“It does mean that the Revenue Department has to wait longer, longer being a month’s period of time, in order to receive the receipts of that revenue for investment and for obligations the state has incurred,” says Ferlo. “We are continuing to be in a financial dilemma, but I don’t know that that burden should rest solely on the shoulders of the small business community.”
The Highland Park Democrat says he’s heard outcry from several small businesses in his district, like The Original Mattress Factory and 43rd Street Concrete. His bill is currently in committee.
The upcoming change to the state’s Sales and Use Tax would double the amount of business tax collections in a year, requiring businesses to file for taxes twice a month.
Senator Jim Ferlo says while that’s not a problem for big companies with plenty of resources, small companies that do their own accounting will see a sharp rise in “administrative costs.”
Ferlo says his new bill to stop this change would maintain the current method of filing taxes once a month.
“It does mean that the Revenue Department has to wait longer, longer being a month’s period of time, in order to receive the receipts of that revenue for investment and for obligations the state has incurred,” says Ferlo. “We are continuing to be in a financial dilemma, but I don’t know that that burden should rest solely on the shoulders of the small business community.”
The Highland Park Democrat says he’s heard outcry from several small businesses in his district, like The Original Mattress Factory and 43rd Street Concrete. His bill is currently in committee.
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