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June 30, 2009, 7:58 am
BUDGET DEADLINE TODAY
Pending any unforeseen miracle, it is safe to say that the budget will not be done today. Stay tuned to PLS for complete coverage of the budget and negotiations between the governor and four legislative caucuses as all sides try to grapple with the $3.2 billion + revenue shortfall.
LATE-NIGHT BUDGET MEETING YIELDS SMALL COMPROMISES, CALLED ‘PRODUCTIVE’
Legislative leaders described a roughly four-hour meeting among themselves and the governor Monday night as a productive process that gave each side a chance to identify priorities and chances for compromise among half the state budget’s 800 line-item expenditures, which negotiators scrutinized line by line. The talks, held at the chief executive’s mansion a day before the budget’s statutory June 30 deadline, were part one of a two-night negotiation designed less to reach compromise on large issues – such as education or broad-based tax increase – and more to scrutinize every dollar of spending in spending. The second part is scheduled to take place Tuesday, although its time and place are still undetermined. Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), speaking to reporters afterward, said the negotiations lacked a “large-scale breakthrough†but called
Continue reading Eye Opener – June 30, 2009
June 29, 2009, 4:08 pm
HARRISBURG — Legislative leaders described a roughly four-hour meeting among themselves and the governor Monday night as a productive process that gave each side a chance to identify priorities and chances for compromise among half the state budget’s 800 line-item expenditures, which negotiators scrutinized line by line.
The talks, held at the chief executive’s mansion a day before the budget’s statutory June 30 deadline, were part one of a two-night negotiation designed less to reach compromise on large issues – such as education or broad-based tax increase – and more to scrutinize every dollar of spending in spending.
The second part is scheduled to take place Tuesday, although its time and place are still undetermined.
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), speaking to reporters afterward, said the negotiations lacked a “large-scale breakthrough†but called them “productive.†They allowed each side to identify the other’s priorities, he said
“I think the governor showed some flexibility in some spending items,†he said.
Speaker of the House Keith McCall (D-Carbon) said he and Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne) reviewed each line-item, identifying how many jobs would be cut without the spending. The size of the expenditures “ran the gamut,†he said, from
Continue reading Late-Night Budget Meeting Yields Small Compromises, Called 'Productive'
June 29, 2009, 12:12 pm
Keystone Progress this morning held a brief press conference to voice their outrage at comments by Senator John Eichelberger (R-Blair) that society is “allowing†gay couples to exist. Keystone Progress has collected hundreds of petitions calling on the senator to apologize for, or explain, his comments. Following the press conference the petitions were delivered to Senator Eichelberger’s office. Mike Morrill, of Keystone Progress, argued that the comments are “beyond the pale†and imply society has the power to deny them that existence, as is the practice in countries like Iran or Saudi Arabia. He said the outrageous nature of the comment is more apparent if “gay couple†was replaced with any other minority couple—black, Hispanic, etc—and as such he implied black couples or Hispanic couples are allowed to exist.
June 29, 2009, 12:03 pm
Governor Ed Rendell signed two bills into law today that will help prevent mortgage fraud. Senate Bill 170 will prohibit a mortgage broker or originator from being the sole recipient of communications from lenders, and House Bill 985 shields mortgage company employees who report illegal activity or take part in an investigation from retaliation.  ”Securing a home mortgage is the largest, most significant financial responsibility most people will ever take on,” the Governor said, “and these bills will help more Pennsylvanians secure their part of the American dream.” Secretary of Banking Steven Kaplan thanked the prime sponsors of each bill- Representative David Kessler (D-Berks) for HB 985 and Senator Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster)-for their time and effort. Sen. Brubaker introduced several Pennsylvanians who are victims of mortgage fraud, and Rep. Kessler explained that the legislation will “prevent mortgage fraud from hurting our citizens.” The Governor then took questions on the budget. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
June 29, 2009, 11:23 am
The House Select Committee on Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Inclusion held a public hearing today. Chairman Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny) said the purpose of the hearing was to “mainly focus attention on understanding barriers to participation, best practices for ensuring maximum diversity inclusion in government and industry, and recommending approaches to overcome identified barriers to adequate participation of minorities, women and disadvantaged business enterprises in contracts and employment in state government agencies, authorities and departments.” Members heard from the business community as well as Penn State University on ways to provide greater inclusion for Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
June 29, 2009, 9:21 am
The has sunshined Session days, along with Appropriations Committee meetings for every day in July, pending a budget agreement.
June 29, 2009, 8:03 am
RENDELL RELEASES LIST OF $500M IN FURTHER BUDGET CUTS
As anticipated, Governor Rendell delivered a list containing the next round of budget cuts Friday, totaling a further $500 million worth of line item reductions and eliminations. He also announced the Commonwealth has submitted its preliminary state fiscal stabilization application to the US Department of Education, in order to draw down $953 million in federal funding for the upcoming 2009-10 fiscal year. The list of cuts includes 45 outright appropriation eliminations, and many more reductions. According to the governor, 53% of the cuts are ones that were also proposed in the Senate Republican’s budget, SB 850. In many cases, lines are being cut for a second time, on top of initial reductions in the administration’s February proposal. The governor’s revised budget cuts or eliminates 80% of the General Fund’s 628 total non-legislative line items to the levels signed into law last year. 26% of all line items have been totally eliminated, while 70% of the remainder are reduced from their 2008-09 levels. A total of 229 lines in the budget are affected by the governor’s revisions, compared to 386 in SB 850. Some of the
Continue reading Eye Opener – June 29, 2009
June 26, 2009, 1:05 pm
Members of the Wounded Warrior Project held a press conference in the East Wing Rotunda to discuss the PA Hero Walk. Al Pulice, walk organizer, said they have raised nearly $10,000 in donations since the walk began five days ago in Philadelphia. Participants will walk 342 miles along Route 30 to raise awareness and funds for soldiers that have been wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pulice said the enthusiasm and support for the walk has been “nothing short of spectacular” and stated “Pennsylvania is famous for its patriotism.” Retired Staff Sergeant Chris Bain spent three years in Walter Reed Medical Center recovering from injuries he received during a mortar attack in Iraq. “Maybe I can’t wear a uniform and fight for our great nation anymore but I can still speak my voice and that’s my fight,” Bain said. Major Sergeant Dave Gorgoglione and his wife and children are spending their vacation participating in the walk said they have received encouragement from Vietnam veterans along the way, many of whom did not get the care they should have when they returned from war. “We all have to remember the sacrifice these brave men and women are making
Continue reading Pennsylvanians Walk for Wounded Warriors
June 26, 2009, 11:27 am
At a press conference this morning, Governor Rendell announced his latest round of budget cuts, reducing state expenditures by a further $500 million. Among the most painful to him, the governor said, is the 100% cut to Classrooms of the Future, a pet project of his. A full spreadsheet of the cuts is available now on the Capitol Toolbox, while the full story will be posted later in the day.
June 26, 2009, 9:43 am
The PA School Funding Campaign this morning had a teleconference to discuss how the state budget and federal stimulus money will affect school district budgets. Speakers from the PA Assn of School Business Officials and PA School Boards Assn, as well as representatives from three school districts, explained federal stimulus money in the form of Title I and IDEA funding will not help schools plug budget holes this year. Additionally, all three school districts recently passed their budget based on the governor’s proposed budget and in the mean time are proceeding cautiously until they know how much money they will actually get. All of the speakers agreed that while this year is bad, next year will be much worse.
Look for the story in the Capitol Toolbox this afternoon.
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