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December 30, 2009, 12:02 pm
The House Judiciary Committee met this morning with officials from the Department of Corrections to discuss the upcoming transfer of 2,000 inmates to facilities in Michigan and Virginia. Officials assured the members that the inmates will receive the same level of services, supervision, and interaction with family as they would in PA facilities. Additionally, the per diem rate for these facilities is less than that of the same care at a PA facility.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon.
December 30, 2009, 11:04 am
Senator Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin) unveiled a legislative proposal at a press conference today that creates a new Education Empowerment Law. Senator Piccola said the proposal is “intended to strengthen the options, incentives, and penalties applicable to districts and schools that fail to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.” He indicated that districts that fail to make AYP for eight years or more will “fall under the control of a three-member School Reform Commission” which will report to the Secretary of the Department of Education. Senator Piccola, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said the committee will hold a series of hearings around the state on the legislation. “It’s time we realize that when our children fail, it’s often because the system failed. We must act to provide the children of Pennsylvania’s lowest performing school districts with the education they so very much need and deserve,” he stated.
December 30, 2009, 9:45 am
LENTZ WANTS EACHUS REMOVED AS LEADER
Rep. Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) yesterday released a statement calling for the removal of current Majority Leader Todd Eachus and for the election of new leadership in the House Democratic Caucus. “A cloud of corruption has hung over our Commonwealth for too long and we must take clear affirmative steps to regain the confidence of the citizens of Pennsylvania,†he stated, “The election of new leaders will show the people that our caucus is capable of self-correction and serious about cleaning up Harrisburg.†Check out the “Press Releases†section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full statement.
DECLINE IN PITTSBURGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the Pittsburgh region’s unemployment rate for November dropped to 7.9 percent, the first decline in two years and more than two points below the nation’s 10 percent rate, the state said. Job growth among retailers and education and health care providers offset job losses in construction and manufacturing, according to figures from the Pennsylvania Center for Workforce Information and Analysis. Department stores added 1,000 jobs in November from October, for example, and clothing stores added 800. “If people are spending, then
Continue reading Eye Opener – December 30, 2009
December 29, 2009, 12:05 pm
The House Judiciary Committee met this morning with the PA Bar Association to discuss the association’s legislative agenda. Discussion covered a gamut of topics, including constitutional convention, jury selection & compensation, live animal shoots, municipal consolidation, sentencing, and arbitration.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today.
December 29, 2009, 9:32 am
FORMER SENATOR TERRY PUNT PASSES AWAY AT AGE 59
According to an article in the Patriot News, Terry Punt, 59, who served as a Pennsylvania state lawmaker for 30 years, has died. The Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home in Waynesboro, which is handling arrangements, on Monday confirmed the death. The Republican started his service in the state Senate in 1989 after a decade in the state House of Representatives. He chose not to run for re-election in 2008, citing health concerns. His district at the end of his service included parts of Franklin, Adams and York counties. Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi released a written statement Monday calling Punt “a true statesman, a trusted colleague, and a good friend.†Click here to read the Patriot News article.
PA SUPREME COURT RULES AGAINST RENDELL ON PAYLESS PAYDAYS
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Pennsylvania’s highest court ruled yesterday that the state constitution does not prohibit the governor from continuing to employ and pay state employees during a budget impasse. The state Supreme Court sided with state workers’ unions and against the position that Governor Ed Rendell had taken in the months leading
Continue reading Eye Opener – December 29, 2009
December 28, 2009, 9:30 am
ORIE’S STAFF TO BE SUMMONED BEFORE GRAND JURY
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, investigators with the Allegheny County district attorney’s office questioned an aide to state Sen. Jane Clare Orie, R-Allegheny, for eight hours, according to her attorney, who says he expects the senator’s staff members to be summoned before a grand jury investigating her. At the core of the investigation is an allegation that Ms. Orie’s official office somehow was employed for political campaign purposes. The questioning, which was tape-recorded, apparently followed days of surveillance on Ms. Orie’s staff, her district office on McKnight Road and furtive photography of staff as they came and went, according to Ms. Orie’s criminal defense attorney, Jerry McDevitt. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette story.
INCREASE IN FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the number of Pennsylvanians receiving help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — commonly referred to as food stamps — has jumped since July. More than 1.5 million people are getting food stamps statewide, up more than 118,000, according to November statistics released by the state Department of Public Welfare. Those receiving food stamps increased during that
Continue reading Eye Opener – December 28, 2009
December 24, 2009, 9:02 am
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
The holiday season is a time of giving thanks, a time for family and friends, to reflect upon the past and to plan for the future. All of us at PLS wish to extend our very best wishes to you and your family in 2010 and all the years ahead. Our office will be open except for Christmas and New Year’s Day to provide you with assistance should you need it. Thanks for working with our company!
GOVERNOR HOLDS YEAR IN REVIEW
Governor Ed Rendell held his annual year end press conference yesterday. “Obviously this has been a difficult year for Pennsylvania,†he said. “Difficult first and foremost for our citizens who have suffered greatly in the economic recession.†He said that 500,000 citizens are unemployed, 450,000 are on unemployment compensation, 800,000 are without healthcare and 1.3 million are receiving food stamps. The governor touched on a variety of issues. Governor Rendell called the 101-day budget impasse the “standout story†of 2009. “While the budget delay is regrettable, I still think the end result of the budget was positive,†he stated. “We passed a budget that did not have any major across the board tax increase, reduced
Continue reading Eye Opener – December 24, 2009
December 23, 2009, 10:41 pm
An Allegheny County grand jury has opened a criminal investigation into State Sen. Jane Clare Orie, R-McCandless, the state senate’s third-ranking Republican, and detectives last week seized computers from her district office.
The investigation, confirmed tonight by Jerry McDevitt, who is representing Ms. Orie, apparently began a day before the November election when an intern at the senator’s district office in the North Hills complained to the district attorney’s office that political calls were being made there on behalf of state Supreme Court nominee Joan Orie Melvin, the senator’s sister.
On Friday, detectives executed a search warrant at Ms. Orie’s district office at the La Casa Blanca Building on McKnight Road. Earlier in the month, detectives had placed Ms. Orie’s office under surveillance, Mr. McDevitt said.
Read the entire Post-Gazette story here.
December 23, 2009, 12:03 pm
Governor Ed Rendell held his annual year end press conference today. The governor said it was a “difficult year for Pennsylvanians” and noted that 500,000 citizens are unemployed and 1.3 million are receiving food stamps. Despite the glum figures, Governor Rendell stated that “Pennsylvania’s economy  is doing better than most states” and highlighted several achievements from the 101 budget stalemate including a “substantial increase in education.” Governor Rendell touched on several issues such as infrastructure spending, transportation funding, health care, and property tax relief. “We’ve made remarkable progress in difficult times,” he stated. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
December 23, 2009, 9:49 am
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES NEW HOME-BUYING INITIATIVE
At a press conference yesterday, Governor Rendell announced a new $1.2 billion mortgage program intended to help spur home purchases in 39 counties statewide. The initiative, a partnership between PHFA, the US Treasury, FannieMae and FreddieMac will offer 11,000 long-term (30-year), fixed rate, low-interest mortgage loans, expand the Keystone First program with an additional $10 million in funding, and provide $50 million for approximately 450 new-home construction loans. More details on the program are available on PHFA’s website. Check the Capitol Toolbox for the full story, including the governor’s latest comments on table games, possible layoffs, and Bonusgate.
FUTURE OF STATE PARKS TIED TO TABLE GAMES
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the closure of state parks is inevitable if lawmakers fail to reach agreement on legalizing table games at casinos to produce $250 million in tax revenue needed to close the state budget, Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell said Tuesday. Rendell said state parks would close in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, along with layoffs of 1,000 state employees, and possible cuts in other programs, including state museums. The layoffs would begin to be processed the second week of January. Rendell’s comments
Continue reading Eye Opener – December 23, 2009
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