The House Republican Policy Committee held a hearing on Green Energy and Technologies. The committee heard from a company that converts municipal waste into ethanol, and another that creates engineered fuel that is made up of coal fines, recycled binding materials and renewable biomass. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
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Posted by Matt | Category: House Professional Licensure, House Republican Policy, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The County Commissioners’ Association today called on the Governor to fund mandated services and stop passing costs on to the counties. CCAP President Dave Coder argued state cuts to mandated services will force counties to raise property taxes or cut health and human services at a time when they are most needed. Coder also called on the state to enact a tax fairness plan, which would allow counties to collect revenue from a combination of sources. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. Posted by Kim | Tags: committee chairmen, Counties, health and human services | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
Former House Speaker Bob O’Donnell was featured at today’s Press Club luncheon, and commented on topics ranging from his expectations his next session’s legislature, new Speaker Keith McCall, his relationship with Bill DeWeese, and what reform really means. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: Office of Small Business Advocate, Press Club | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
The new Senate Republican leadership team reflected on the outcome of today’s caucus elections this afternoon, and detailed their agenda for the upcoming session. Senator Joe Scarnati will serve as President Pro Tempore again, while Dominic Pileggi remains Majority Leader. Jake Corman takes over as Appropriations Chair, beating out Pat Browne and John Rafferty for the only contended position in the election. Jane Orie retained her position as Majority Whip, and Mike Waugh also held on to the Caucus Chairmanship. Bob Robbins will serve as Caucus Secretary, while Caucus Adminstrator and Policy Chair, which are appointed positions, will be named at a later time. Check the Capitol Toolbox for the full story on the press conference. Posted by Mike | Tags: homeland security | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
Senate leadership elections are expected to take place today. The Democrats vote at 11:00, the Republicans at 1:45. Senate Leadership Elections Senate Democrats Minority Leader: Bob Mellow (reelected at 11:45 a.m.) Appropriations Chairman: Jay Costa, LeAnna Washington (Costa elected at 11:45 a.m.) Whip: Mike O’Pake (reelected at 11:45 a.m.) Caucus Chairman: Vince Hughes, John Wozniak (Hughes elected at 12:00 p.m.) Caucus Secretary: Sean Logan, Lisa Boscola (Logan elected at 12:05 p.m.) Policy Chair: Rich Kasunic (elected at 12:00 p.m.) Caucus Administrator: Christine Tartaglione (elected at 12:56 p.m.) Senate Republicans President Pro Tempore: Joe Scarnati (Nominated at 2:19 p.m.) Majority Leader: Dominic Pileggi (reelected at 2:22 p.m.) Appropriations Chairman: John Rafferty, Jake Corman, Pat Browne (Corman elected at 2:40 p.m.) Whip: Jane Orie (relected at 2:43 p.m.) Caucus Chairman: Mike Waugh (reelected at 2:46 p.m) Caucus Secretary: Bob Robbins (reelected at 2:49 p.m.) Policy Chair appointed by leader (To be appointed at a later time) Caucus Administrator appointed by leader (To be appointed at a later time) Posted by Kim | Tags: homeland security | Category: Senate Education, Update | Comments are closed | Share:
The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee released six reports today. The committee also passed a proposed budget of $2.21 million for fiscal year ’09-10. The committee voted unanimously to authorize the studies in SR 363, SR 367, HR 824, and SR 309. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Matt | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, Joint Legislative Conservation Committee, LBFC | Comments are closed | Share:
Committee Republicans plus Senator Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) voted to recommend the Insurance Department disapprove the proposed merger between Highmark and Independence Blue Cross. The same Senators also voted to recommend what conditions should be placed upon the new entity if the merger should be approved by the Department. The other committee Democrats voted against both recommendations. Look for the complete story later this afternoon in the Capitol Toolbox. Posted by Jeff | Tags: Freeman | Category: Senate Banking & Insurance | Comments are closed | Share:
IRRC met to today to consider three regulations. Regulations 2706 (PGCB) and 2619 (EQB) were quickly approved by the commissioners, however 2659 (EQB) was ultimately disapproved on a 3-1 vote due questions surrounding the inclusion of standards for MO levels. In an attempt to help Boscov’s avoid having to liquidate and shut down its remaining stores, Governor Rendell announced this morning that the state is offering Al Boscov a $35 million HUD loan, contingent upon the company also acquiring bridge financing to exit bankruptcy and resume operations. The money would come from Pennsylvania’s allotment of funding from the Federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Boscov’s is also receiving smaller loans totalling $6 million from the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The company needs roughly $300 million overall to resume business. Governor Rendell emphasized no state money is being spent to prop up Boscov’s. The unencumbered real estate and inventory securitizing the loan are estimated to be worth three times the amount of the loan itself, and a complete default, which the governor and acting DCED Secretary John Blake consider extremely unlikely, would result in the state foregoing $3 million a year in CDBG funding for a period of time to pay debt service. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: Boscov's, LGBT | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
Governor Rendell today announced that he has signed an executive order extending the operation of the PA Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) until June 30, 2008. He also answered questions from the media about the executive order, budget cuts and other topics. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. Posted by Kim | Tags: early childhood, executive order, PHC4 | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
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