House Minority Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) and Rep. Mario Civera (R-Delaware) held a brief q and a session with reporters after the Civera Amendment to HB 1416 failed on the House Floor. When asked why they offered the amendment if they knew it would fail, Rep. Smith said “it wasn’t a foregone conclusion” and stated that it was “amazing” that House Democratic leadership got the Blue Dog caucus to go along with it by telling them it was a procedural move. In regards to higher education funding in HB 1416, Rep. Civera stated “the lies that came out of the podium were unbelievable.” Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
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By a vote of 13-13, with Philadelphia Democrats Mike O’Brien and Curtis Thomas joining with Republicans, HB 1317 was defeated in the House Gaming Oversight Committee this afternoon after hours of debate over the bill and amendments. Of the five amendments offered, only an omnibus amendment, A02810 by Rep. Flo Fabrizio (D-Erie), was adopted. Following the meeting Chairman Dante Santoni said he hopes to have the committee meet again today, and added he is confident it will be reported out. Listen to Chairman Santoni’s comments here: Santoni Comments Look for the full story in the Capitol Toolbox later today. UPDATE 4:44 p.m. – The committee will meet tomorrow, Friday July 17, at 9:30 a.m. Posted by mike | Tags: smoking ban, video poker | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Game & Fisheries, House Gaming Oversight | Comments are closed | Share:
The House bade farewell to Chief Clerk Roger Nick today. Paul Parcells will serve as acting chief clerk until Tony Barbush, who is expected to be nominated as the next chief clerk, is confirmed. Confirmation is expected August 3rd. Posted by Kim | Tags: business, chief clerk | Category: Senate Education, Update | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate is considering SB 1, which creates a Legislative Fiscal Office so that the legislative branch might determine the most cost-effective state programs and remedy their fiscal inefficiencies in an economy with limited resources. Senator Browne, who sponsored the legislation, thanked bipartisan cooperation in seeing the bill reach the floor for a vote. When Senator Williams asked for the cost to operate the office, Senator Browne replied that the full function of the office will be $4 million, and should begin operating in 2010-2011. While the Senate Democrats are arguing that the program funds a single program while the current budget cuts programs of value to millions of Pennsylvanians, the Republicans have responded that the establishment of the office will not be until the next budget cycle, when the legislature and the Governor have the determination on whether to fund it. UPDATE: The bill passed the Senate 30-19 with every Senate Democrat but Senator Boscola voting in the negative. Posted by lindsay | Category: Floor Update | Comments are closed | Share:
The Pennsylvania League of Urban Schools (PLUS), State Representatives, school superintendents, and other education advocates amassed in the Main Rotunda of the Capitol Building to emphatically urge legislators to not “roll back the clock on public education funding.” Representative Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia), Rep. Tony Payton Jr. (D-Philadelphia), Rep. James Roebuck (D-Philadelphia), and Rep. Thomas Houghton (D-Chester) joined the crowd to express their unwavering support for public education and superintendents from across the state gave warnings about how devastating Senate Bill 850 would be to their school districts. Check the Capitol Tool Box later for more information. Posted by intern | Tags: Department of Health, PACENET, public education | Category: Face to Face, Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 1859 which amends Title 34 (Game). Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by jeff | Tags: domestic violence, endangered species, Gold Star Mother's Day, hunting, non-preferreds, poaching, single payer | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Republican Policy, House Rules | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Insurance Committee held a public hearing this morning on a package of bills to address insurance reform. The committee heard from the PA Insurance Department, Insurance Federation, Highmark and Blue Cross of Northeastern PA, and PA Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority. There was general agreement among the testifiers that insurance fraud is a growing problem that needs to be addressed, although varying solutions were offered. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox late this afternoon. Posted by Kim | Category: House Health, House Insurance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee held a public hearing on “HB 1416: Elimination of Higher Education Funding.” Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York) called the legislation “smoke and mirrors” that would “leave higher education unfunded” in order for House leadership and the Governor to pass “a major increase in the PIT.” He called out “Blue Dog Democrats” saying that if they vote for HB 1416 they would be “voting for a tax increase.” Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lancaster) said the legislation is an attempt by the Administration and others to “dismantle the State System of Higher Education.” Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today to read the full story. Posted by matt | Category: House Professional Licensure, House Republican Policy | Comments are closed | Share:
AFTER RULES SUSPENSION, THURSDAY TO SHOWCASE BIG BUDGET VOTE Wednesday’s vote to suspend House rules and consider the new Democratic budget proposal early sets the stage Thursday for a pivotal next step in ongoing budget negotiations. Will House Democratic leadership have the votes to approve its new spending plan, which removes some higher-education funding from the budget while proposing to spend $27.8 billion on everything else, or will Republicans garner enough support for its roughly $27.3 billion plan? Click here to read the full story. SOUTH-CENTRAL REPUBLICANS LAY BLAME ON HOUSE DS FOR STATE WORKER PAY LOSS “We are over two weeks past the state’s budget deadline and there has yet to be any action taken on the House floor. Today I made every effort to stop this insanity,†an irate Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) said this afternoon in a prepared statement. Following a brief House session – in which a suspension of the rules to allow for an affirmative vote on a resolution that would have mandated SB 850 receive final passage vote on July 17 failed – Rep. Marsico and other members representing areas of South-Central Pennsylvania criticized House Democrats Continue reading Eye Opener – July 16, 2009 Posted by matt | Category: Eye Opener | Comments are closed | Share:
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