March 8, 2010, 4:13 pm
This afternoon at an off the floor voting meeting, the House Appropriations Committee voted out the governor’s proposed budget and its associated spending bills. The budget bill (HB 2279) was amended and then reported along a party line vote, with Republicans in the negative. Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) indicated the bills will now be in line for March 22nd floor vote to move them out of the House and before the Senate. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story
March 8, 2010, 12:56 pm
The Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission held a hearing on cost savings today with members of the Executive Branch. Secretaries Naomi Wyatt, Mary Soderberg, and James Creedon testified on the ways the Rendell Administration has focused on cost-savings. Of particular note was a discussion about reducing the commonwealth’s fleet of automobiles. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full write-up.
March 5, 2010, 5:02 pm
According to a tweet from House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans this afternoon, it appears he hopes to move both the budget bill (HB 2279) and related legislation out of the committee on Monday. The tweet reads as follows:
Getting ready to move the budget bill and related legislation out of the House Appropriations Committee as early as Monday!
A House Approp voting meeting is scheduled off the floor that day. Stay tuned to FYI on Monday for ongoing coverage. PLS Subscribers can check out the budget and all other bill texts right now on the Capitol Toolbox. Not a subscriber? Click here for a free trial.
March 2, 2010, 12:14 pm
Jeffery Beard, Secretary of the Department of Corrections, and Board of Probation and Parole’s Chairman Catherine McVey fielded questions from members of the committee regarding the upcoming budget. A number of issues concerning inmate recidivism to prisoner health-care and overcrowding were raised and addressed during the hearing. Corrections is requesting an 8% increase over the current fiscal budget raising their budget by $136.8 million. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
March 1, 2010, 11:59 am
This morning the Senate Appropriations Committee met with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to discuss its 2010-11 budget request. Chairman Greg Fajt told committee members the board is requesting an overall budget of $37.018 million; a 9.7.% increase over last year. Much of the increase, he said, is due to the additional staff needed to monitor newly legislated table games, and an additional three casinos expected to come online in the upcoming year. Check back later on the Capitol Toolbox for the full story.
February 24, 2010, 6:25 pm
The House Appropriations Committee concluded its scheduled budget hearings a day early with a late-afternoon hearing with the Governor’s Office, Office of the Budget, and Department of Revenue. The often times controversial hearing focused on all aspects of the budget and many members raised concerns about increasing spending in a recession and the Governor’s plan for the Stimulus Transition Reserve Fund. Budget Secretary Mary Soderberg calmly and methodically answered the questions of the members. The full story will be available as soon as possible in the Capitol Toolbox.
February 24, 2010, 3:21 pm
The committee met with representatives of PEMA and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner to discuss the upcoming budget. The committee inquired about numerous issues ranging from the rewriting of Title 35 to the pending snow storm that is approaching Pennsylvania. State Fire Commissioner, Edward Mann, reported on the status of the Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer Service Grant program (VFCVAS) as well. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 24, 2010, 1:15 pm
PA State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski was questioned by the Senate Appropriations Committee this morning regarding funding to the state police, the issue of municipalities relying on troopers for local services, the status of the 800 megahertz radio system that the agency has implemented, and the overall cost for state police services to entities across the Commonwealth. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 23, 2010, 3:31 pm
The committee held a budget hearing with the heads of Temple, Pitt, Lincoln and Penn State. There was healthy back-and-forth discussion on the seven-month delay of state funding due to last year’s budget postponement with numerous members. Other topics of interest included advertising and athletics expenditures and the “lost decade” of funding levels.
