FYI by PLS

Rally Held in Support of Marriage Equality

February 8, 2010, 4:17 pm

A group of supporters came to the capitol today to hold a rally in support of SB 935 and marriage equality. Members of the General Assembly spoke as well as community organizers. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

House Appropriations – Off the Floor

February 8, 2010, 2:35 pm

The House Appropriations Committee met to consider 9 bills. HBs 528, 1831, and 1993 were reported as committed along with SBs 237 and 605. HBs 1251, 2026, 2041, and 2066 were all reported as amended. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the rest of the story.

Senate Rules and Executive Nominations – Off the Floor

February 8, 2010, 1:55 pm

The committee met to consider two resolutions and certain executive nominations. SR 231, SR 244 and the nominations were unanimously reported as committed. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

Senate Appropriations – 12:30 p.m.

February 8, 2010, 1:37 pm

The committee met to consider six bills. Chairman Jake Corman (R-Centre) announced that the committee would pass over H.B. 281 amending Title 34 to allow the Game Commission to make exceptions in youth hunting prohibitions. He said the legislation would be considered when the Senate returns in March after the Appropriation hearings. Also passed over were SB 109 creating the “Taxpayer-Funded Advertising Transparency Act” and SB 629 adding “school social worker” to the definition of “professional employee”. Reported as committed were SB 260 amending Title 18 adding language that the Attorney General has concurrent prosecutorial jurisdiction in cases of sexual abuse of children and SB 766 amending the Public School Code establishing the Science Technology Partnership Program. SB 1077 amending the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act adding language relating to buildings with log walls was reported as amended. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

Regupol America LLC Executives Discuss Rubber Recycling in PA

February 8, 2010, 1:02 pm

George Soukas, president and John Aten, vice president of Regupol America discussed the rubber and scrap tire recycling markets and the operations of their company during an environmental issues forum hosted by the Joint Legislative Conservation Committee. Soukas explained that Regupol America, based in Lebanon, PA recycles 115 million pounds of rubber every year and stated that the company’s process began “green and will continue to be green.” Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

House committee meets with delegates from Iraqi Ministry of Interior

February 8, 2010, 11:56 am

The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee met today with representatives from Iraq’s Ministry of Interior, and discussed how the country’s own police force is working to provide security as US combat forces continue to draw down their military presence in the area. Hayder Faili, a civilian journalist for the Ministry, said through an interpreter that Iraqi security forces have improved their effectiveness drastically over the course of the last year. Lt. Colonel Saad Al-Musawi, a public affairs officer with the Ministry’s Internal Affairs Directorate, agreed there has been a wide-ranging improvement in the Iraqi government’s law enforcement efforts between 2006 and the current. He added an emphasis now is on improving relations between the police and the public as conditions continue to stabilize. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

DePasquale Unveils Tax Credit for Long-Term Care Patients

February 8, 2010, 11:26 am

Rep. Eugene DePasquale (D-York) held a press conference to introduce HB 1972. The legislation would provide a tax credit for the purchase of long-term care insurance. “The goal of this bill is to help our middle class afford long-term insurance,” he stated. “In this case, people who don’t qualify for long-term care under Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program are often force to purchase their own, very costly, insurance and subsequently have trouble paying their annual premiums.” Rep. Rick Taylor (D-Montgomery) was also on hand for the event as well as Dr. Stuart Shapiro, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today to read the full story.

Eye Opener – February 8, 2010

February 8, 2010, 9:07 am

Eye Opener

WAGNER LEADING VOTE GETTER AT DEM STATE COMMITTEE, DENIED OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, state democratic committee members voted the voted 152 to 76 in favor of endorsing Auditor General Jack Wagner for governor. His total, however, fell short of the two-thirds super-majority needed for an official endorsement. That means that the party apparatus will have no official candidate in the May 18 primary for governor. “The way I look at it, I won the endorsement vote,” said Mr. Wagner, who pointed out that before a 2004 change in party rules, his total would have been sufficient to win the endorsement. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

DEWEESE: I DON’T WANT TO BE ANOTHER RAMALEY

Former House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese (D-Greene) told PLS in an interview Thursday night that he will seek re-election this year because, among other reasons, he didn’t want to suffer the same fate as former state Rep. Sean Ramaley. Like the former Beaver County lawmaker, DeWeese faces charges connected to the attorney general’s public corruption investigation, known as “Bonusgate.” Although Ramaley was acquitted of all charges late last year, the indictments forced him to abandon his run for Senate and lose his seat in the House. “Sean Ramaley was one of the most wholesome, idealistic and talented young politicians that I ever served with,” Rep. DeWeese said. “And it is an absolute tragedy what happened to him.” Rep. DeWeese said he thinks he will similarly be found innocent, and until then, is innocent until proven guilty.

RENDELL TO SCALE DOWN GOALS FOR BUDGET

According to an article in the Morning Call, when Ed Rendell delivers his annual budget speech for the last time Tuesday, the governor known for bringing a kitchen-sink full of priorities is expected to outline a narrower set of goals. For one, the second-term Democrat has a short time to coax a politically divided Legislature. Also, Pennsylvania’s recession-ravaged tax collections are likely to leave little room for an ambitious agenda. And so, with massive financial problems looming for Pennsylvania after Rendell leaves office, legislators from both parties expect the governor to announce an approximately $29 billion spending plan for the 2010-11 fiscal year that begins July 1. Such a proposal would increase spending by $1.2 billion, or 4 percent, over the approved level this fiscal year. Click here to read the Morning Call article.

YUDICHAK WILL RUN FOR SENATE

According to an article in the Times Leader, Rep. John Yudichak is expected to announce Monday that he will enter the race for the 14th Senatorial District seat now held by Ray Musto. And as soon as Yudichak makes that announcement, Rick Arnold, a Republican from Mountain Top, will announce that he will run for Yudichak’s House seat. Yudichak will reveal his decision on Monday at noon in Nanticoke at the construction site of the new Luzerne County Community College Culinary Arts Institute. Click here to read the Times Leader article.

Upcoming Meetings

House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Prepared.
10:30 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
Informational meeting with a group of Iraqi military/transitional government officials to learn about the functions of government in a democracy, and the vital programs needed to serve the citizenry

House Health and Human Services
Subcommittee on Health
11:00 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building

Informational Forum/Roundtable Discussion
Joint Legislative Conservation Committee
12:00 p.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
Environmental Issues Forum featuring PA Rubber Recycler & Manufacturer, Regupol America of Lebanon to discuss the state of scrap tire & rubber recycling markets, manufacturing sectors experiencing growth, update on use of recycled rubber products in the building industry.

Senate Appropriations
12:30 p.m., Room 461 Main Capitol
To consider: SB 109 Folmer Act re notification in certain advertising SB 260 Baker, L Amends Title 18 re sexual abuse of children SB 629 Piccola Amends Public School Code re prof. employees SB 766 Robbins Amends Public School Code re Science grants SB 1077 Baker, L Amends PA Construction Code Act re log walls HB 281 Daley Amends Title 34 re hunting & furtaking.

House Appropriations
Off the Floor, Room 140 Main Capitol
Agenda to be announced

Would you like additional details about these stories and more? You can try PLS free for one month. Give us a call at 717-236-6984 or send us an email at mypls@mypls.com to sign up.

DeWeese: I don’t want to be another Ramaley

February 5, 2010, 12:49 pm

Like the former Beaver County lawmaker, DeWeese faces charges connected to the attorney general’s public corruption investigation, known as “Bonusgate.” Although Ramaley was acquitted of all charges late last year, the indictments forced him to abandon his run for Senate and lose his seat in the House.

“Sean Ramaley was one of the most wholesome, idealistic and talented young politicians that I ever served with,” Rep. DeWeese said. “And it is an absolute tragedy what happened to him.”

Rep. DeWeese said he thinks he will similarly be found innocent, and until then, is innocent until proven guilty.

House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Family Law – 9:45 a.m.

February 4, 2010, 3:31 pm

The House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Family Law held a public hearing on HBs 418, 463, and 1639. The lengthy and often times emotion-filled hearing heard from many parts of the community affected by the current domestic relations law as it relates to parental custody and domestic violence. The committee also took testimony from several members of the general public. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

Categories

Tag Cloud

Sponsored Links