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March 9, 2010, 1:01 pm
This morning a number of lawmakers including Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Dave Levdansky (D-Allegheny) and Kate Harper (R-Montgomery), along with conservation groups ranging from PennFuture to the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, urged the governor and legislative leaders to favor a severance tax on Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction to generate budget revenue, and institute a moratorium on the leasing of state land for drilling purposes.
Rep. Levdansky warned that with over 620,000 acres of state forest land already available for drilling companies, “enough is enough.” Rep. Harper, the only Republican on hand to offer bipartisan support, said lawmakers have a constitutional duty, as written in Article 1, Section 27 of the document, to preserve the state’s natural resources for future generations. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
March 8, 2010, 3:46 pm
Rep. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) announced today a “three-pronged” approach to legislative reform including: term limits for leadership positions; per diem reform; and a constitutional convention. He said that “recent budget battles and a deepening recession have dimmed the light of reform and swept its agenda from center stage in the legislature. It’s time to bring reform back to center stage.” Joining Rep. Yudichak in the call for reform were Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D-Chester) and Barry Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause Pennsylvania. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
March 8, 2010, 2:29 pm
The PA League of Cities and Municipalities today called on the General Assembly to consider an array of local revenue options to enable municipalities to lessen their reliance on property taxes. Among the proposals discussed by the PLCM were an optional local sales tax, local liquor tax, and reimbursement for tax-exempt property.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon.
March 8, 2010, 2:11 pm
This afternoon, representatives of PSAYDN – the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network, rallied in the Main Rotunda of the Capitol to push for greater accessibility for afterschool programs around the state. PSAYDN Director Kacy Conley noted more than 500,000 youths in Pennsylvania go without adequate afterschool programming. Repeating the PSAYDN mantra, she intoned, “Afterschool keeps children and youth safe; afterschool inspires learning, afterschool helps working families.” Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
March 8, 2010, 12:05 pm
First Lady Judge Marjorie Rendell along with the Pennsylvania Commission on Women today celebrated Women’s History Month with a special program in the Main Capitol Rotunda. As part of the program, five women were honored for “making history in Pennsylvania.” The honorees included: Joan Benso, of Harrisburg, President & CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children; Cindy Little, of Philadelphia, a historian with the Philadelphia History Museum and one of the founders of National Women’s History Month; Rep. Kathy Manderino (D-Philadelphia); Thelma Price, of State College, a minister and civil rights activist; and Rabbi Sandy Roth, of New Hope, founder of the Kehilat HaNahar Synagogue. First Lady Judge Rendell said, “These women have demonstrated the potential we all have to make a difference in the lives of others.” Wyatt Beddow, a 4th grade student at Hoover Elementary School in Camp Hill, read an essay about his great aunt, Maize Beddow, who was a pioneer in coal mining.
March 8, 2010, 11:59 am
Rep. Grove was joined by President of the PA District Attorneys Association, Edward Marsico, Jr. to issue a press conference discussing legislation (HB 2189) related to the practice of “sexting.” According to Rep. Grove the new law would make “sexting” a misdemeanor of the second degree rather then a felony and is only applicable to minors. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for complete story.
February 23, 2010, 2:21 pm
At a Capitol Hill news conference, Auditor General Jack Wagner said that potentially hundreds of thousands of Commonwealth property owners are not receiving any property tax relief from the revenues from Pennsylvania’s slots casinos. In a special report issued today, General Wagner pointed to a “complicated, fragmented and cumbersome application process that discourages participation” as the cause. He called on the General Assembly and the Governor to extend this year’s application deadline from March 1 to April 15 to give property owners more time to learn about the program and apply for the tax relief. General Wagner also recommended the state designate a single agency to administer the program. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 23, 2010, 10:35 am
Clifford Haines, President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association announced a thirty-member commission that will conduct and in-depth study of the Constitution of the Commonwealth. Haines said the commission is made up of legal scholars, lawyers, judges, legislators, and the governor’s staff. He said the commission is needed because “government in the Keystone State clearly is not working for Pennsylvanians.” Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full details.
February 22, 2010, 2:19 pm
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition held a press conference to announce the annual recipients of research grant money obtained from state-tax refund donations. The donations are received by an indication on line 35 of the state income tax form. Six recipients each received grant money in the total of $50,000 each in order to research cures for breast cancer. The full story will be available later in the Toolbox.
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