LEGISLATURE TO BEGIN WORK ON TABLE GAMES
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, After a 101-day delay, the Legislature finally enacted a 2009-10 state budget in October. But its budget work is still not finished completely, and that’s causing problems for some major universities and cultural institutions, as well as for the state’s casinos. A month has passed since Gov. Ed Rendell signed the $27.8 billion spending package for the fiscal year that started July 1. Yet the Legislature still must take final action on some major items, including a bill to permit slots casinos to add table games such as blackjack, roulette, poker and dice. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.
NEW BONUSGATE INDICTMENTS MAY FOCUS ON REPUBLICANS
According to an article in the Patriot News, Some 16 months after a wave of charges were filed against a dozen House Democratic members and senior staffers, signs suggest Attorney General Tom Corbett’s prosecutors might be nearing the end of a second stage of their investigation of legislative operations. In the last two weeks, former Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, his longtime chief of staff, Brian Preski, Republican Chief Counsel Brett Feese and about a dozen others were invited to testify — without immunity — before the grand jury taking testimony on the case. Click here to read the Patriot News article.
ROHRER CLOSE TO ENTERING GUBERNATORIAL RACE
According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, State Rep. Sam Rohrer (R-Berks), a champion of abolishing the school property tax in Pennsylvania, is poised to enter what is fast becoming a crowded field of candidates for governor. A Republican from Berks County, Rohrer e-mailed contacts around the state yesterday inviting them to attend a town-hall meeting Nov. 17 in West Lawn at which he planned to announce his decision on a run for governor “and begin a statewide conversation” about issues. Rohrer, in a phone interview, played it a bit coy, saying he wasn’t quite prepared to declare himself a candidate. He clearly wanted to allow for a morsel of suspense. The two announced Republicans in the field – state Attorney General Tom Corbett and U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach – have far greater name recognition, an earlier start on raising money, and a bigger political-support base. And Rohrer’s 128th House District is mostly within Gerlach’s Sixth Congressional District. Click here to read the Philadelphia Inquirer article.
SEPTA STRIKE ENDS
According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia’s subways, buses and trolleys are back in service this morning after SEPTA and its largest union reached a tentative agreement to end a six-day strike. The deal, brokered in the early morning hours, now goes for ratification by the more than 5,000 members of Transport Workers Union Local 234 who walked off the job at 3:00 a.m. last Tuesday. Click here to read the Philadelphia Inquirer article.
Upcoming Meetings
House Appropriations
Off the Floor, Room 140 Main Capitol
Agenda to be announced
House Children and Youth
Off the Floor, Room 39, East Wing
To consider: HB 1977 Bishop Act re interagency plan for child day-care srv
