This morning a joint hearing of the House Finance and Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development committees heard testimony from various stakeholders on companion legislation HB 2340 and SB 1279, which would require DCED to submit a unified economic development budget and increase reporting on outcomes from government subsidies. The bills also include a provision tying subsidies to certain wage average industry levels – something the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry said it opposes. In addition to the Chamber and DCED, representatives from the Keystone Research Center, the AFL-CIO and the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association offered testimony. Check the Committee News section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story
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Posted by Mike | Tags: DCED, Economic Development, prevailing wage | Category: House Finance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing, Senate Community, Economic & Rec. Development | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate Republican Policy Committee conducted an informational public hearing on Senator John Eichelberger’s (R-Blair) term limit legislation. SB 1304 would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to limit an individual to serving no more than a total of 12 years in the House and a total of 12 years in the Senate over the course of his or her lifetime. Jennifer Drage Bowser from the National Conference of State Legislatures provided an overview of the history, status and effects of term limits in other states. Senator Eichelberger provided an overview and background on his legislation. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: term limits | Category: Public/Informational Committee Hearing, Senate Republican Policy | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee considered a number of bills this morning, dealing with several hot topics such as mineral rights and the creation of state offices for energy efficiency standards. The two most debated bills focused on the creation of an Energy Procurement and Development Agency and strengthened mandates on oil heating standards. While Chairman Camille George stressed the need to create job opportunities in the energy industry in state to ensure that they’re not moving out of state, several committee members argued that stronger regulations on the energy market is going to hurt the workers and consumers more than help them. HB 1436, HB 2601, HB 1909, HB 2578 and HB 2591 were reported as committed, and HB 1450 was reported as amended. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the complete story. Posted by lindsay | Tags: alternative energy, oil, Pennvest | Category: House Env. Resources and Energy | Comments are closed | Share:
LEADERS, GOVERNOR FACE MID-DAY TUESDAY DEADLINE FOR BUDGET Legislative leaders and Governor Ed Rendell are in a scramble to reach a budget deal by mid-day after negotiations that spilled into the early morning hours Tuesday failed to produce an agreement. If a deal is not reached by Tuesday afternoon, lawmakers will likely miss the budget’s June30 deadline, which could deal a serious setback to the negotiations. “The thought was if we don’t have an on-time budget, we would go back and renegotiate the elements we conceded to get an on-time budget,” Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) told reporters at about 2:20 a.m. after the night’s final meeting. “It’s still possible to get an on-time budget, but it would require a suspension of the rules.” Click here to read the News and Views article. PILEGGI FEATURED AT PRESS CLUB LUNCHEON Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi was the featured speaker at today’s Press Club Luncheon, and the Delaware County senator’s comments revolved mainly around the 2010-11 budget, whose deadline for passage is Wednesday. With less than sixty hours to go before the deadline hits, Senator Pileggi said negotiations with Governor Rendell, which broke down on Continue reading Eye Opener – June 29, 2010 Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi was the featured speaker at today’s Press Club Luncheon, and the Delaware County senator’s comments revolved mainly around the 2010-11 budget, whose deadline for passage is Wednesday. Senator Pileggi said negotiations with Governor Rendell, which broke down on Sunday, still have a chance at success before July 1. But he said regardless of any agreement with the governor, the Senate will pass a general appropriations bill by Wednesday. Of potentially even greater concern than this year’s budget, he said, is the $5-6 billion structural deficit that will be facing the newly elected Governor Corbett or Onorato in 2011. Check the Press Conferences section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. The PA State Government Management and Cost Study Commission presented their final report before the June 30th deadline, after a five month long study. Chairman David Argall said that the state could save hundreds of millions, if the proper cost cutting measures were enacted. Among some of the recommendations of the Commission were: - Standing Committees being required to annually propose one significant cost-cutting initiative - Reduction of State Vehicles - Investigation of the Department of Public Welfare programs For the full details on both total savings and individual program savings, check out the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. LEGISLATIVE LEADERS MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD BUDGET DEAL Legislative leaders emerged from a roughly tw0-and-a-half hour meeting with the governor late Saturday night to report progress, but no deal, on the budget. “We made further progress, but we still have work to do,” said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware). All leaders were brief with their remarks after leaving the Governor’s Residence and offered little to no detail about what was discussed or what progress was made, but Senator Pileggi did say new disagreements have not emerged. Click here to read the News and Views article. SCARNATI EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR GROWING GREENER According to an article in the Patriot News, some green advocates worry that Governor Rendell wants to tap environmental funds to help plug the funding hole created as Democrats and Republicans work toward a deal. Quickly stepping into the perceived breach as defender of projects green was Rendell’s second in command: Republican Lt. Gov. and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati. “I’ve said for some time the Republicans in the Senate need to lead on environmental issues,” Scarnati said. “It’s the perfect time for Republicans to show they do care about the environment.” Continue reading Eye Opener – June 28, 2010 The Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center today released a new report calling into question the “stripper well” exemption found in the proposed severance tax legislation on natural gas extraction as well as a natural gas industry proposal for a tax exemption for the first three years of well production. According to the report, the enactment of the exemptions would mean only one-third of total gas production at a typical Marcellus Shale well would be subject to the severance tax and companies would pay the tax for only nine of the 40-year life of the well. House Finance Chairman David Levdansky (D-Allegheny) expressed his concern regarding additional exemptions from the tax. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: marcellus shale, severance tax | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
Governor Ed Rendell and House Democratic leaders said Thursday after the latest round of budget negotiations that they can’t foresee supporting any budget that spends less than the $28.2 billion proposal Senate Republicans are now considering. How the $28.2 billion is allocated remains a subject of debate, they said, but Democrats have already trimmed $800 million from the governor’s original $29 billion proposal. Posted by Mike | Tags: Budget | Category: Capitol View, News and Views | Comments are closed | Share:
This morning the House Professional Licensure committee held a public hearing on HB 1521, legislation sponsored by Rep. Tim Solobay (D-Washington) that would provide for the licensing of interior designers. Contentious testimony was offered both in support and opposition to the measure, by groups representing the interior design community, as well as builders, architects and others. Ultimately Chairman Mike McGeehan (D-Philadelphia) indicated the bill should move forward, though it is “not there yet.” Check the Committee News section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: architecture, building, construction, interior design, licensure | Category: House Professional Licensure, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
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