PA LOSES RACE TO THE TOP
Governor Rendell held a press conference yesterday to announce that Pennsylvania’s application for the second round of Race to the Top grant money was rejected by the United States Department of Education. Governor Rendell said Pennsylvania lost by 24 points and missed out on the funds because the state does not have an alternative education certification procedure, did not have statewide participation, and does not have a teacher evaluation system tied to performance. Check out the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story.
OIL INDUSTRY SAYS PROPOSED PROFITS TAX IS ILLEGAL
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, a spokesman for oil companies in Pennsylvania today assailed Gov. Ed Rendell’s call for an 8 percent tax on the gross profits of oil companies. Rolf Hanson claimed the idea has been shown in the past to be illegal and a violation of federal rules on interstate commerce. He added that if it were enacted, it would financially hurt many small oil companies in the state and could cause them to lay off workers. “He’s just plugging an idea he first proposed in early 2007,” said Mr. Hanson, executive director of the Harrisburg-based Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania. “It wasn’t palatable to legislators back then and it won’t be any more attractive now.” Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.
ONORATO ASSAILS CORBETT VOTE FOR TAX INCREASE 22 YEARS AGO
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, twenty-two years ago Tom Corbett voted for a 20 percent property tax increase as a township commissioner in Shaler. That, argued fellow gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato, should raise red flags about the Republican’s ability to balance the state’s $28 billion budget. The Corbett campaign called Mr. Onorato’s claim “a desperate act by a desperate candidate.” The Allegheny County executive called a news conference in front of the Shaler municipal building to assail Mr. Corbett over the long-ago property tax vote and remind voters that he never approved such a tax increase as Allegheny County executive or as a Pittsburgh City Council member in the 1990s. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.
Upcoming Meetings
House Democratic Policy Committee
8:30 a.m., McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 450 Technology Drive, Suite 300, Pittsburgh
Joint tour of life sciences companies with the House Life Sciences Caucus and House Republican Policy Committee
