DEFENSE RESTS IN BONUSGATE CASE

According to an article in the Morning Call, The defense case in the legislative corruption trial is over without testimony by former state Rep. Mike Veon or his three co-defendants. Dauphin County Judge Richard Lewis told jurors Wednesday that final arguments would be held this morning. Prosecutors haven’t decided whether to put on any rebuttal witnesses. That means it’s probable that jurors will begin deliberating the theft, conspiracy and conflict-of-interest case before the weekend. Click here to read the Morning Call article.

FORMER CHAIRMAN OF TURNPIKE COMMISSION FACING FEDERAL CHARGES

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, federal prosecutors Wednesday charged the former chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and a close ally of convicted former state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo with obstruction of justice. In court papers filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, prosecutors accuse Mitchell Rubin, 58, of withholding information from when he was questioned in March 2006 about a $30,000-a-year contract his firm, B&R Professional Services, had with the state Senate. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

LOBBYISTS BATTLING PROPOSED SODA TAX IN PHILLY

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, The food and

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 11, 2010

LAWMAKERS PUSH FOR MORATORIUM ON STATE FOREST LEASING

A coalition of House lawmakers and environmental advocates said Tuesday that Governor Ed Rendell should abandon plans to lease more state forest land for drilling because the natural gas extraction could ravage the environment. But an administration spokesman countered that the plan to make more state land available for drilling is one of the few politically viable ways to raise badly needed revenue as Pennsylvania grapples with a multi-billion revenue shortfall. The governor proposes using $180 million from the leases to help fill next year’s budget, a plan similar to one used last year, when the state leased 32,000 acres to raise $60 million for the current fiscal year’s budget. Click here to read the latest News and Views article.

PENNENVIRONMENT CALLS FOR INCREASED UTILIZATION OF SOLAR ENERGY

PennEnvironment today unveiled a new report, Building a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes, Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy, that outlines a vision for utilizing solar power to meet ten percent of the country’s total energy needs by 2030.  Adam Garber, Field Director for PennEnvironment, explained solar is an increasingly cost competitive energy source that builds the economy, protects the environment, and reduces

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 10, 2010

NEWS AND VIEWS: GET THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

For years, you’ve relied on us to give you unbiased, accurate and timely coverage of committee meetings and important events in the Capitol. Now, get an insider’s look at the “story behind the story” with an exciting new feature: PLS’ News and Views. PLS’ Capitol Bureau Chief Alex Roarty uses his in-depth knowledge of government affairs, regular communication with the movers and shakers in the industry, and journalistic writing style to cover the hottest issues in state government. These breaking news stories seek to inform you of the latest from around the Capitol, giving you the knowledge of a true political insider. Click here to read the latest News and Views story.

LEGISLATOR PUSHES “THREE-PRONGED” APPROACH TO LEGISLATIVE REFORM

Rep. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) announced yesterday his intention to introduce legislation that would set term limits for House leadership positions and require members to submit receipts for expense reimbursements. He also called for a state constitutional convention “to address such issues as campaign finance reform, reapportionment reform, local tax reform and the size, scope and power of the General Assembly.” Joining Rep. Yudichak at the Capitol Hill news conference were Rep.

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 9, 2010

FEDERAL JURY AWARDS $6.5 MILLION IN DAMAGES FOR IMPROPER REGULATORY CONDUCT AT DEP

According to an article in the Times Leader, A federal jury is awarding $6.5 million in damages to the one-time operator of an industrial textile plant that accused four Pennsylvania environmental protection officials of improper regulatory conduct. The jurors concluded that the four officials didn’t believe their conduct was proper when they denied permits for the Bethlehem-area plant until it dealt with an odor it was allegedly emitting. The decision was filed Thursday in Philadelphia federal court. Click here to read the Times Leader article.

VEON DEFENSE TO PRESENT ITS CASE TODAY

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, over five weeks, jurors heard from a string of House aides who say they were part of an army of state-paid political operatives. Prosecutors rested their case Friday after five weeks, 29 witnesses and countless objections from defense attorneys who bickered with them, and glared and pointed fingers at them. Starting today, the defense gets a chance to present its case. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM SET TO START APRIL 26

According to an article in the Pittsburgh

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 8, 2010

EVANS CALLING FOR TAX INCREASE

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, state government risks slipping into insolvency if lawmakers don’t increase taxes in the next three years, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans said Wednesday. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to come up with more money,” Evans said. Erasing huge deficits — $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2011-12 and $5.6 billion the next year — require major cuts in things such as education or corrections, or a tax hike. “It’s not rocket science. It’s not complicated.” Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

POLL SHOWS MOST VOTERS UNCERTAIN OF THEIR CHOICE FOR GOVERNOR 

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, In the race to become Pennsylvania’s governor, a new poll showed that most voters simply don’t know for whom they will vote. A new Quinnipiac University survey found the response, “don’t know,” running ahead of all of the actual candidates in trial heats of both the Democratic and Republican primary contests. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

PERC APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP, DISCUSSES PENSION CRISIS WITH PSERS

The Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC) held its first meeting

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 4, 2010

SOLOBAY ANNOUNCES SENATE BID

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Rep. Tim Solobay (D-Washington) announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination to replace  Senator J. Barry Stout. “In recent weeks, there has been a serious drop-off in the degree of political clout on the state and national level in our area with the retirement of Pennsylvania Senator Barry Stout and the untimely death of Congressman Jack Murtha,” said Mr. Solobay. “But with my knowledge and 12 years of experience in working within the legislative system, I can continue to provide the type of leadership and political capital necessary to get things done for our area.” Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

ARWAY NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION

A 30-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has been chosen as the agency’s next executive director. During a special public meeting yesterday the Board of Commissioners selected John Arway to lead the Commission. Arway had served as chief of the Environmental Services Division within the Bureau of Fisheries. “I am grateful to the board for providing me the opportunity to lead the agency where I have devoted most

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 3, 2010

PART OF GOVERNOR’S TRIP TO HAITI FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS

According to an  article in the Patriot News, Governor  Ed Rendell has described his January rescue mission that brought 54 orphans out of earthquake-ravaged Haiti to Pennsylvania as one that cost taxpayers nothing.  But the state plane log for January shows there was a cost to taxpayers after all. The state Department of Public Welfare was charged $5,578.29 for use of the state plane to transport the governor and the state’s first lady, Judge Marjorie Rendell, to and from Pittsburgh. Once in Pittsburgh, they then boarded a privately funded plane to travel to Haiti. Click here to read the Patriot News article.

FORMER JUDGES LAUNCH DEFENSE

According to an article in the Times Leader, Attorneys for former judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella launched their defense with a blistering attack Monday, filing dozens of pre-trial motions that include allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and bias by the trial judge. The motions, filed by lead defense attorneys Al Flora and Philip Gelso, seek to dismiss the 48-count indictment filed in September. The attorneys argue that the U.S. Attorney’s Office engaged in “outrageous conduct” by utilizing attorney Robert Powell as an informant when

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 2, 2010

MCCALL SAYS HE’S CONCERNED ABOUT I-80 TOLL APPLICATION

Speaker of the House Keith McCall (D-Carbon) said Thursday that he thinks some of the state’s congressional delegation might be swaying the federal government’s decision on whether to approve of tolls Interstate 80, the centerpiece of a transportation bill passed by the General Assembly in 2007. It’s why he sent a letter recently to Ray LaHood, secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, that touted the importance of the tolls while emphasizing few other options exist to fund the state’s mass transit system and repair its aging set of roads and bridges. “When we first enacted this funding law in July of ‘07, we were at the very very last idea,” Rep. McCall told PLS in an interview. “It wasn’t like we didn’t consider gas taxes.” “This is basically plan B,” he said. “Everybody says go back to the drawing board. Well, we were at the drawing board for two years to try to solve this.” Check out the full story at www.fyibypls.com.

WHAT TRAVEL BAN?

According to an article in the Patriot News, On June 22, 48 state employees headed to destinations outside Pennsylvania’s borders. Nine months earlier, Gov. Ed

Continue reading Eye Opener – March 1, 2010

RENDELL’S HAITIAN CHILDREN HAVE UNCERTAIN LEGAL STATUS

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, A spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell says that any of the dozen Haitian children living at an Emsworth facility can go home if it turns out that parents or other relatives want them back and the parents haven’t already signed official releases. “They can be returned,” Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma said, “unless an official release has been signed.” Tuma said the governor and others on the mission knew that the dozen children didn’t have formal adoption documents. He said they did not know until later that the children were not even in “the adoption pipeline.” Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

DEBATE CONTINUES OVER I-80

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, With a federal decision due soon regarding tolls on Interstate 80, the top Democrat in the state House is urging Washington to reject the opposition from a “vocal minority” of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and approve the controversial tolls. House Speaker Keith McCall contends that Pennsylvania road and bridge repair projects, along with mass transit systems in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and other areas, urgently need the money

Continue reading Eye Opener – February 25, 2010

WAGNER: WE MUST DO BETTER GIVING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

Confusing reimbursement applications and a lack of state oversight are preventing hundreds of thousands of qualified homeowners from receiving property tax relief from casino slots revenues, according to a special report released Tuesday by Auditor General Jack Wagner. And in some cases, the general’s report said, homeowners aren’t even aware they need to apply for the relief, causing them to miss the money due to them. He recommended clarifying language on the applications, which every homeowner must fill out to receive property tax money, and giving the Department of Revenue oversight over the process. Several departments, including Education and Economic Development, and local county officials administer parts of the process now, a fragmented system of oversight the auditor general said causes confusion. Check out the full story at www.fyibypls.com.

STATE-RELATED UNIVERSITIES CONCERNED ABOUT FUNDING

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, financial pressure to increase student tuition at Pitt and Penn State will grow if state lawmakers adopt Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposal to “flat fund” the state-related universities in fiscal 2010-11, university leaders said Tuesday. Penn State President Graham Spanier told a House committee that he needs $331

Continue reading Eye Opener – February 24, 2010