Auditor General Jack Wagner announced the findings of a special performance audit of the State Civil Service Commission. The audit found that “25 state agencies filled at least 569 civil service employment positions without considering eligible veterans seeking employment, even though the agencies requiested empoyments lists that included these veterans with test score among the top three highest-scoring job candidates.” Wagner stated that 13 of 19 Department recommendations have been implemented by the Civil Service Commission. Wagner said “The State Civil Service Commission must tighten its oversight of this excellent program, as an instrument to aid in hiring qualified individuals to do the work Pennsylania citizens count on everyday.” Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
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Governor Rendell today announced that PA has received a bonus of $4.6 million for strong management of its Food Stamp Program for the third year of his administration. He explained when he became Governor, PA was sanctioned for its poor management, making these bonuses particularly exceptional. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. Posted by Kim | Tags: Crime, DPW, emerging contaminants | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Appropriations committee heard from the Budget and Revenue Secretaries, as well as the State Treasurer and Jim Diffley of Global Insight this morning on Pennsylvania’s reaction to the ongoing financial crisis. While the concensus is that Pennsylvania has thus far weathered the storm better than many other states, Diffley pointed out that at this point there will be no escaping a “deep” recession similar in severity to that of 1980-82. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: Budget, Department of Aging, Economy, global insight, PennTAP, recession | Category: House Agriculture & Rural Affairs, House Appropriations, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
Pursuant to Act 62, the committee decided to submit a cover letter and all of the testimony, comments and other information the committee received regarding the proposed Highmark/Independence Blue Cross merger to Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario for his consideration. Check for details later on the Capitol Toolbox. Posted by Jeff | Tags: Freeman | Category: House Health, House Insurance | Comments are closed | Share:
The 2009 House Democratic Caucus Leaders offered their first comments as a unit this evening, minutes after the conclusion of caucus elections. Forming the “new slate of Democratic leadership” are House Speaker-Designee Keith McCall (D-Carbon), Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne), Majority Whip Bill DeWeese (D-Greene), Caucus Chairman Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia), Caucus Secretary Jennifer Mann (D-Lehigh), Policy Committee Chairman Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster), Caucus Administrator Ron Buxton (D-Dauphin) and Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia). Speaker-Designee McCall and Majority Leader Eachus identified several areas of work in the upcoming session, including a return to property tax reform, rate cap mitigation, a renewed focus on working Pennsylvanians, and of course, dealing with the state budget. Check the Capitol Toolbox a bit later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: Budget, DGS, elections, PEMA, rate caps, rural affairs, taxation | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
HOUSE REPUBLICANS Minority Leader:John Perzel, Sam Smith (Smith reelected 2:53 p.m) Caucus Chairman:Sandy Major (reelected 1:50 p.m.) Appropriations Chair:Mario Civera, John Maher (Civera reelected 3:46 p.m.) Whip:Mike Turzai (Elected 4:05 p.m.) Policy Chair:Matt Baker, Dave Reed, Doug Reichley, Stan Saylor (Saylor elected 5:49 p.m.) Caucus Administrator:Brian Ellis, Merle Phillips (Phillips reelected 6:09 p.m.) Caucus Secretary:Ron Marsico, Jerry Stern, Kathy Watson (Stern reelected 6:48 p.m.) HOUSE DEMOCRATS Speaker: Keith McCall (Nominated 3:27 p.m.) Majority Leader: Todd Eachus, Frank Dermody, Kathy Manderino (Eachus elected 4:06 p.m.) Whip: Peter Daley, Bill DeWeese, Bill Keller, Joe Preston (DeWeese elected 4:29 p.m. with 55 votes) Caucus Chairman: Mark Cohen (reelected 4:32 p.m.) Appropriations Chair: Dwight Evans (Reelected 6:35 p.m.) Policy Chair: Mike Gerber, Mike Sturla (Sturla elected at 5:19 p.m. with 55 votes) Caucus Administrator: Ron Buxton, Thaddeus Kirkland, Jake Wheatley (at 6:20 p.m., Buxton upsets Wheatley and gets 54 votes to become administrator) Caucus Secretary: Jennifer Mann, Tim Solobay (Mann elected at 4:59 p.m. with 69 votes) Posted by Kim | Tags: homeland security | Category: Senate Education, Update | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate Republican Caucus is hosting a Transportation Funding Summit. Senator Roger Madigan (R-Bradford) stated that Pennsylvania’s transportation system is “the skeleton on which our economy stands.” The morning portion of the summit focused on understanding the funding environment, and examining state and national perspectives. Secretary of the PA Department of Transportation, Allen Biehler, gave an overview of PennDOT and discussed the transportation challenges facing PA. Dr. Martin Pietrucha, Penn State University, spoke about funding issues and provided a broader perspective on transportation, stating “transportation is an instrument of social change.” Dr. Jonathan Gifford, George Mason University, approached the issue from a federal and global perspective. There were many summit participants who spoke about transportation from a industrial, regional and personal level. PLS will continue to cover the summit throughout the day. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Matt | Tags: securities, Transportation | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference, Senate Community, Economic & Rec. Development, Senate Transportation | Comments are closed | Share:
From the Governor’s office - HARRISBURG – Funeral arrangements for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, who died Wednesday after a four-month battle with cancer, have been made. The Lieutenant Governor will lie in repose in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg from noon, Friday, Nov. 21, to 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22. She will return home to her beloved Pittsburgh on Sunday, Nov. 23, where she will lie in repose from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 108 N Dithridge St. The funeral mass and Divine Liturgy will be held at noon, Tuesday, Nov. 25. Funeral services and interment will be private. The family humbly requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Lieutenant Governor’s favorite charity, Angel’s Place, 2615 Norwood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15214 (888-975-6667) or www.angelsplacepgh.org. Attention Capitol Toolbox Users – Planning on adding any more tracks to the current session? If so, read carefully. PLS is beginning its transition into next session. Don’t worry, all of your existing tracks will copy over to next session (from 07R to 09R). But if you create any new tracks between now and November 30th when we’re still technically in 07R, those tracks will not automatically appear next session. You will simply have to create tracks twice if you intend to add any between November 13th-30th. E-mail mypls@mypls.com with any questions or call us, 717.236.6984. The House Education committee debated the merits of revisions to Chapter 49.2 – Teacher Preparation today, hearing from PDE Deputy Secretary Shaw and representatives from a number of colleges and universities, both for and against the plan. Secretary Shaw defended the proposal as a “significant but essential transformation in the way that Pennsylvania trains its new teachers,” while those against the plan accused it of adding another layer of bureaucracy to teacher training, and one that may discourage college students from choosing to become teachers. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: Game Code, Higher Education, safe staffing | Category: House Democratic Policy, House Education, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
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