On a straight party-line vote, the House State Government Committee voted to report as committed SB 1249 which provides the boundaries for Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts. An attempt by the committee Democrats to postpone a committee vote until Monday failed on a party-line vote. The proposed 7th congressional district and the changes in the districts in the Lehigh Valley were the main areas of contention during the lengthy meeting which was interrupted by a power outage in the Capitol Complex. The legislation will now go to the House floor for further consideration. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
|
|
|||
|
Posted by Jeff | Tags: congressional reapportionment | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House State Government | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee held an informational meeting today to discuss the use of current demographic resources in the state planning process. The committee played host to John Maurer, the Pennsylvania State Data Center, State Capital Office Coordinator, who presented a power point presentation on the changing demographics in Pennsylvania. He explained to the committee that the “baby boomer” generation is approaching retirement age, and commented that it is a situation that warrants observation, as they will utilize a larger portion of adult services offered in Pennsylvania as time progresses. The Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA), Brian Duke, told the committee that PDA is in the beginning stages of the State Plan on Aging “will combine the PDA policy initiatives and the Administration on Aging’s requirements to serve as the blueprint governing the future path of aging and disability services within Pennsylvania.” Look for the full story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. Posted by intern | Category: House Aging | Comments are closed | Share:
The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee met to discuss and release a report on public community and technical college programs in rural communities conducted pursuant to Senate Resolution 147. Maryanne Nardone, Project Manager for the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, stated by 2018 nearly two thirds of all jobs will require some form of post secondary education training for the United States to remain highly productive and competitive in the global economy. She said public community colleges have an important role in the increased demand for workforce skills and, despite the importance, none of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges are based in a rural county. Look for the full story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. Posted by intern | Category: Uncategorized | Comments are closed | Share:
By a 6-5 vote, the members of the Senate State Government Committee reported as amended SB 1249 which draws the boundaries for Pennsylvania’s 18 congressional districts. The lines for the 7th congressional district in southeast Pennsylvania continues to cause the most controversy. Voting in favor of reporting the legislation were Chairman Charles McIlhinney (R-Bucks), Jake Corman (R-Centre), John Pippy (R-Allegheny), Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson), Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) and Donald White (R-Indiana). Voting against reporting the bill were Minority Chairman Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) and Senators Michael Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester), Michael Folmer (R-Lebanon) and LeAnna Washington (D-Philadelphia). The Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on the bill later today and then it will be voted on by the full Senate. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: congressional reapportionment | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, Senate State Government | Comments are closed | Share:
DEPASQUALE SEEKS TO INCLUDE STATE-RELATED UNIVERSITIES IN RIGHT TO KNOW LAW Rep. Gene DePasquale (D-York) was joined by fellow legislators yesterday to announce the introduction of legislation, HB 2051, that would include Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities – Penn State, Pitt, Lincoln, and Temple – under the scope of the Right to Know Law. The Right to Know Law was last amended in 2008, Rep. DePasquale explained, and at that time it was determined that the state investment in the state-related universities is not significant enough for them to be included under the law. However, he pointed out, the universities also strenuously objected to budget cuts which they said would be “devastating.” Rep. DePasquale argued that if the universities are receiving state funding of nearly $250 million, they should be subject to open records requirements. He suggested this is all the more imperative given the recent child sexual abuse scandal at Penn State. Pennsylvanians want to know that their money is not being spent on public relations or lawyers at Penn State, he argued. Check out the Around the Capitol section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story. AMENDED BILL: KEEP STATE STORES, SELL Continue reading Eye Opener – December 14, 2011 The long awaited congressional reapportionment map was unveiled this afternoon at a joint informational meeting of the Senate and House State Government Committees. Based on the 2010 census Pennsylvania loses one congressional seat so the proposed map places Congressmen Jason Altmire (D-Allegheny) and Mark Critz (D-Cambria) into the same congressional district. However, at the hearing the proposed 7th congressional district was the most controversial. The current district consists of parts of Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties but under the new proposal it is expanded into parts of Lancaster and Berks Counties as well. The proposed plan is scheduled to be considered by the Senate State Government Committee tomorrow morning and by the full Senate by the end of the day. The House State Government Committee has scheduled a voting meeting on the proposal for Thursday morning. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: congressional reapportionment | Category: House State Government, Public/Informational Committee Hearing, Senate State Government | Comments are closed | Share:
House Bill 1950, the Marcellus Shale impact fee bill, cleared the Senate Appropriations Committee today, set for a final vote in that chamber. The bill, cleared the committee after Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) failed to amend the measure. Committee Majority Chairman Jake Corman (R-Centre) speculated the bill will likely end up in conference committee after it passes the Senate as the House and Gov. Tom Corbett have yet to agree on the language the Senate had previously amended into the bill. Check the Around the Capital section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Jason | Tags: conference committee, impact fee, marcellus shale | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
Rep. Frankel leads opposition to SB 732 Democratic legislators and representatives from various women’s health advocacy groups held a press conference in the Capitol Media Center today to urge opposition to an afternoon vote on SB 732, which would impose new restrictions on clinics that offer abortions. Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) criticized House Republicans for ignoring issues related to job creation and the economy, choosing instead to focus on bills he said limit health care access to women. He contended SB 732 does not have support from any in the medical community. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: abortion, Health Care | Category: Press Conference | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Human Services Committee held a public hearing today on the payment procedures for intellectual disability services.Michelle Sipple, the Service Coordination Director for Familylinks stated that the state set fee schedule implemented by the DPW “jeopardizes the viability of countless supports coordination organizations,” and her concern over the ability to continue to provide services was echoed throughout the hearing. Kevin Friel, the Deputy Secretary of the Office of Developmental Programs, DPW, commented that their must be a collaborative effort between ODP and the providers in order to increase the efficiency of the programs and determine more innovative methods of addressing budget concerns. Look for the full story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. The Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee heard testimony regarding the Liberty Financing Authority proposed in Senate Bill 1257. Alan Walker, Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development, stated “this is not something for which the legislature will be seeking out funds every year but is a consistent, reliable source of funds from which to grow jobs.” He added the Liberty Financing Authority would combine six existing authorities into a single fund that would total more than one billion dollars. Look for the full story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. Posted by intern | Category: Uncategorized | Comments are closed | Share:
|
 |
|
|
Copyright © 2012 FYI by PLS - All Rights Reserved |
|||