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January 28, 2010, 11:59 am
Budget Season 2010 began in earnest this morning as the House Appropriations Committee met with consultancy Global Insight and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia to discuss Pennsylvania’s 2010 economic outlook. Global Insight Group Managing Director Jim Diffley told members to expect continued negative employment growth in 2010, but positive income and retail sales growth. He noted Pennsylvania may not see a return to peak employment levels until 2012, but said there are encouraging signs beginning to emerge in the state and nationwide.
UPDATE – 12:57 pm: The second panel of today’s budget hearing featured members of the community bank industry as well as credit unions and the President of the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (GPUAC). Frank Pinto, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers stated “community banks are not the problem, they’re the solution.” He explained that community banks have $90 billion and “97 percent is spent and reinvested in Pennsylvania.” Pinto said the state treasurer puts $150 million into community banks but that is small compared to the amount invested in Wall Street. Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President of the GPUAC, explained how Community Development Financial Institutions have been ”a key player in helping to create jobs” and
Continue reading House budget hearings kick off with updates from Global Insight, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, community bankers and Administration
August 24, 2009, 1:23 pm
Governor Ed Rendell was joined by Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) Secretary Sandi Vito to announce positive economic development news today during the Governor’s press conference. Governor Rendell explained that an internal L&I memo showed that from July 25th to August 7th there were only five business closings as compared to 13 business expansions or openings, which will result in 1,852 jobs created. Governor Rendell also answered questions about the state budget, to which he said there has been slight progress on agreements to a state spending number but that agreements on new reoccurring revenue sources are still elusive. Check the Capitol Tool Box later for more information.
July 15, 2009, 3:34 pm
The committee voted unanimously to amend and then hold over HB 1828. As amended, the legislation implements a modification of the actuarial funding requirements applicable to the Philadelphia’s municipal employees’ retirement systems and allow the city to impose a temporary local sales and use tax of 1% to only pay the city’s Minimal Municipal Obligation. The committee also reported as amended SB 240 and reported as committed SB 84, SB 536 and SB 958. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 24, 2009, 3:17 pm
On a party line vote, the committee reported as amended, HB 174, Rep. Carroll’s bill amending Title 3 codifying the Public Eating & Drinking Place Law and the Food Act and providing for the protection of public health and regulations. The committee also unanimously reported as committed, HB 511, Rep. Cutler’s bill authorizing the Department of Agriculture to identify agricultural bio-security areas. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 10, 2009, 11:11 am
The House Commerce Committee met this morning in the offices of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Association to discuss banking, housing, economic development, and securities in the context of the economic recession. On hand to brief the committee were PHFA CEO Brian Hudson, Banking Secretary Steve Kaplan, DCED Deputy Secretary John Blake, and Mike Byrne, General Counsel for the Pennsylvania Securities Commission. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
February 5, 2009, 9:21 am
LEGISLATORS RESPOND TO GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET
Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-Chester) commenting on Governor Rendell’s proposal to legalize various video poker machines, Senator Pileggi said we need to look at how current gaming operates before it is expanded. He added he isn’t yet sure how licensing and enforcement details would work. Senator Robert Mellow (D-Lackawanna) discussed how this was the first year that he was given 29 “applause†points and hope that he will never see anything like that again. Senator Mellow outlined several problems during the Governor’s budget address including plans to close the Scotland School for Veteran’s Children and the Scranton School for the Deaf. Senator Michael Stack (D-Philadelphia) expressed his support for the higher education focus of the budget and offered his support for expanding video poker. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox for the full story.
CARING FOR ALL PENNSYLVANIANS BUDGET BRIEFING
The Departments of Public Welfare, Aging and Insurance and Governor’s Office on Health Care Reform (GOHCR) hosted the Caring for All Pennsylvanians Budget Briefing yesterday to review their respective parts of the Governor’s proposed budget. Secretary Richman proudly announced that DPW funding is no longer the largest piece of the budget
Continue reading Eye Opener – February 5, 2009
February 4, 2009, 2:02 pm
PDE Secretary Gerald Zahorchak highlighted the education components of Governor Rendell’s proposed 2009-2010 budget at an agency media briefing earlier this afternoon. Key features included:
$300 million increase in basic education funding
Creating a statewide school employee health benefit system
A legislative commission to study PA school district consolidation
Tuition assistance funded by legalized video poker
Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
June 27, 2008, 3:20 pm
House Commerce amended and voted out HB 2638, by Keith McCall (D-Carbon). The committee held a hearing on the bill yesterday. Rep. Michele Brooks (R-Mercer), who voted against the bill, noted she would be offering a number of amendments to the bill on the floor…
Check out the full story here.
(Note: You must be a PLS subscriber and logged into the Capitol Toolbox to view the full story)
June 26, 2008, 2:15 pm
House Commerce held a brief informational meeting on HB 2638 by Keith McCall (D-Carbon) this morning. The bill, known as the Legacy Accounts Economic Development and Infrastructure Act, would allow the Commonwealth Financing Authority to securitize roughly $45 million annually from gaming revenues to put towards a $760 million investment pool for economic development in tourism, independent higher education facilities, hospital facilities and medical technology, vital community assets, and economic development infrastructure…
Check out the full story here.
(Note: You must be a PLS subscriber and logged into the Capitol Toolbox to view the full story)
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