GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES SQUARE OFF
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, in their first gubernatorial debate, Attorney General Tom Corbett described Dan Onorato, the Allegheny County executive, as a “career politician” who tells “you half the story.” Onorato, meanwhile, touted his record running Allegheny County and said he doesn’t need to take the “hokey” anti-tax pledge Corbett embraces. Last night’s debate in the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center featured Corbett, a Shaler Republican and Onorato, a Brighton Heights Democrat, before the state Chamber of Business and Industry’s annual dinner. A second debate is scheduled next month in Pittsburgh. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF ADJUTANT GENERAL WRIGHT
Governor Ed Rendell announced the resignation of Adjutant General Jessica Wright, effective October 29. As adjutant general, Wright also serves as secretary of the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs. The governor named Major General Stephen Sischo as Acting Adjutant General. The governor praised General Wright’s service to Pennsylvania, stating her “performance as the state’s top National Guard commander, and service to the commonwealth, has been nothing short of exceptional.” General Wright is leaving the administration to serve as the principal staff advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs in the United States Defense Department on all matters pertaining to manpower, personnel, compensation and medical coverage. She is expected to begin her new role November 8. Check out the Press Conferences section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story.
PA HOMELAND SECURITY DIRECTOR APOLOGIZES
According to an article in the Morning Call, Pennsylvania’ s homeland security director testified before a legislative committee Monday to explain why information about citizen-activists was shared with natural gas drillers by a government contractor. Homeland Security Director James F. Powers told the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs that he “sincerely apologized” if state residents included in the bulletins compiled by the Institute of Terrorism Research felt as if their constitutional right had been infringed upon. Click here to read the Morning Call article and check out the full coverage of yesterday’s hearing by going to the Committee News section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox.
ONORATO SPEAKS AT PRESS CLUB LUNCHEON
Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato spoke at the Pennsylvania Press Club Luncheon yesterday to discuss his agenda for Pennsylvania and the differences between himself and Republican Gubernatorial foe Attorney General Tom Corbett. Onorato began his remarks by arguing the stakes in this campaign could not be higher, and he noted there are only five weeks left in the election campaign. He stated he and Tom Corbett differ in many ways, but in particular, their resumes differ. Onorato pointed out Tom Corbett has been a prosecutor, while he has been running the second largest county in the commonwealth. Onorato noted he came into office with Pittsburgh “on its back” and has turned it around to be a “bright spot.” He stated he has done this by eliminating row offices (from ten to four) and by consolidating duplicative services. He said “my workforce is significantly smaller than it was seven years ago.” Check out the Press Conferences section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story.
Upcoming Meetings
House Tourism and Recreational Development
9:00 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
To consider: HR 762 Clymer Resolution re statue of Chuck Bednarik HR 884 Levdansky Resolution re LBFC; recreational water trails
10:00 a.m., East Wing Rotunda Humane Society (unconfirmed)
10:00 a.m., Main Rotunda PA State Alliance of YMCAs
10:00 a.m., Rotunda Porch Rep. Krieger to Unveil Legislators-First Solution to PA’s Public Pension Crisis
House State Government
10:00 a.m., Room 205, Ryan Office Building
To consider: HB 2479 Metcalfe Act re law enforcement & safe neighborhoods
House Professional Licensure
10:00 a.m., Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
To consider: Reg. No. 16A-51 Reg. No. 16A-721 Reg. No. 16A-5618 Reg. No. 16A-6804
Joint Legislative Budget & Finance Committee
10:00 a.m., Hearing Room 2, North Office Building
Meeting on PA Tax Credit Programs and Clean & Green Program
Senate Education
10:00 a.m., Hearing Room 1, North Office Building
Presentation from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Superintendents and PFT Local Presidents on recently completed teachers contracts.
Senate Public Health and Welfare
10:00 a.m., Room 461 Main Capitol Building
To consider: SB 683 Robbins Amends Vital Statistics Law re disclosure SB 1380 Vance Amends Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care HB 1482 Mann Amends Health Care Facilities Act re ID regs.
Senate Urban Affairs and Housing
10:00 a.m., Room 8E-A East Wing
Public hearing to discuss the impact of the Natural Gas Industry on Housing in North Central Pennsylvania.
House Judiciary
11:00 a.m., Room 60, East Wing
To consider: HB 2727 DiGirolamo Amends Title 18 re endangering children HB 2255 Parker Amends Title 42 re criminal testimony HB 2741 Costa, D Amends Title 53 re Municipal Police Officers SB 53 Greenleaf Amends Titles 15 & 20 re wills & claims
Senate Consumer Protection & Prof. Licensure
11:00 a.m., Room 156 Main Capitol Building
To consider: HB 1498 Hanna Amends PA Fair Dealership Law re agreements SR 400 Boscola Resolution re reform Reliability Pricing Model
Senate State Government
11:30 a.m., Room 461 Main Capitol Building
To consider: HB 1502 Galloway Amends Title 62 re SSN verification SR 383 Orie Resolution re property/roadways/bridge/wtr
Senate Judiciary
11:30 a.m., Room 8E-B East Wing
To consider: HB 196 Baker, M Amends Controlled Substance, Drug, Device Act HB 1322 Wheatley Amends Title 42 re adverse possession claims
12:30 p.m., Fountain PANCO – PA Clubs Rally for Small Games of Chance
House Appropriations
Off the Floor, Room 140 Main Capitol
Agenda to be announced
House Consumer Affairs
Off the Floor, Room G-50, Irvis Office Building
To consider: HB 2693 Baker, M Amends Title 66 re reg. operators of pipelines
Senate Appropriations
Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Room
To consider: SB 1280 Rafferty Amends Mcare Act re liability insurance SB 1469 Pileggi Amends Right-to-Know Law re requests & appeals HB 101 Longietti Amends Public School Code re data & assessment HB 400 Lentz Act re criteria for independent contractors HB 1926 Taylor, R Amends Titles 18 & 42 re sex offenders reg. HB 2212 Taylor, R Amends Mobile Home Park Rights Act re title HB 2338 Mundy Act re requirements for foster care children HB 2368 Harhai Amends Insurance Dept. Act re definitions
Senate Game and Fisheries
Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Room
To consider: SB 1457 Piccola Amends Title 34 re exclusions HB 2161 Staback Amends Title 34 re hunting & furtaking license and to consider the re-referral of: SB 1398 Farnese Amends Improvement of Deteriorating Real Prop (Note HB 2161 added to agenda)
Senate Labor and Industry
Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Room
To consider: HB 1231 Murphy Amends Workers’ Comp Act re occup. disease
Senate Urban Affairs and Housing
Off the Floor, Rules Committee Conference Room
To consider: SB 1481 Fontana Amends Title 68 re transfer fee obligations
