JANUARY REVENUE COLLECTIONS RELEASED

Secretary of Revenue Daniel Meuser announced in a press release yesterday that Pennsylvania collected $2.2 billion in General Fund revenue in January, which was $10.4 million, or 0.5 percent, less than anticipated,. Fiscal year-to-date General Fund collections total $13.8 billion, which is $497.2 million, or 3.5 percent, below estimate. Check out the Press Releases section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE PROPOSES NEW ASSET TEST LIMITS FOR SNAP

The Department of Public Welfare announced in a press release yesterday that it has submitted its final plan to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to reinstate the asset test for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The final proposal sets the limits at $5,500 for households (age 59 and under) and $9,000 for households with older Pennsylvanians (age 60 and above) or disabled individuals. The final levels are above federal thresholds and adjusted for inflation, making them significantly higher than the asset-testing levels enforced by the previous administration. Pennsylvania last had an asset test in 2008, when the limits in place were $2,000 for a household and $3,250 for a household with an

Continue reading Eye Opener – February 2, 2012

SLOTS REVENUE HAS NOT DELIVERED EXPECTED TAX RELIEF

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, in 2004 during the debate over whether to legalize gambling in Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell predicted that slot machine revenue one day would be able to cut school property taxes by an average of 23 percent. About 71/2 years and 10 casinos later, many homeowners are still waiting for that day. While slot machine gambling is delivering promised tax relief, it doesn’t appear that many residents locally are getting close to the 23 percent savings predicted by the former governor — or even the 15 percent to 20 percent estimated when slots gambling was legalized in July 2004. This year, the average reduction statewide will be $198. It might buy a nice dinner out or a cheap flat screen TV, but chances are it won’t come close to covering a school tax bill. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

DEWEESE EXPECTED TO TESTIFY AT HIS CORRUPTION TRIAL

According to an article in the Patriot News, Rep. Bill DeWeese is expected to take the witness stand Wednesday in Dauphin County Court to defend himself against

Continue reading Eye Opener – February 1, 2012

SPEAKER FILES FEDERAL SUIT ON PA REDISTRICTING DISPUTE

According to an Associated Press article, the speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Monday asked a federal judge to rule that the state legislative district maps in place for the past decade are unconstitutional and may not be used for elections; a spokesman for Speaker Sam Smith said the federal lawsuit was filed to resolve the ensuing “chaos” the state court’s decision creates for candidates seeking to run in special elections to fill six House vacancies. Click here to read the Associated Press article.

DEWEESE PLANS TO RUN AGAIN IF ACQUITTED AT TRIAL

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Rep. Bill DeWeese will run for re-election “one more time” if he is successful in beating six felony counts in Dauphin County Court, his attorney said today. Volunteers are circulating nominating petitions in DeWeese’s Greene County district as the defense opened at his corruption trial, said his lawyer William C. Costopoulos. The Democratic lawmaker, in his 18th two-year term, would have to resign if the jury convicts him of a felony. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

MUSTIO ENTERS

Continue reading Eye Opener – January 31, 2012

REPUBLICANS ENDORSE WELCH FOR SENATE RUN

According to an article in the Morning Call, Chester County businessman Steve Welch won the Republican endorsement for U.S. Senate Saturday, but he’ll still face a potentially bruising spring primary fight. Welch, who’s been endorsed by Gov. Tom Corbett to run for Democrat Bob Casey’s seat, beat back four other hopefuls to win the support of a majority of Republican state committee members who gathered here for their winter meeting. “Now it’s time to unite as a party and as a conservative movement for the very important battle that lies before us,” Welch said in a brief acceptance speech that came at the end of a five-hour-long conclave. “Our nation and our state are at a critical crossroads. Click here to read the Morning Call article.

CHARTER SCHOOLS STRUGGLE TO MEET STANDARDS

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Since the charter school movement began in Pennsylvania nearly 15 years ago, most of the state’s charter schools continue to struggle to meet state standards. Yet, charters in Western Pennsylvania keep growing. More than 90,000 students are enrolled in 142 public charter schools, including 12 cyber charter

Continue reading Eye Opener – January 30, 2012

PA SUPREME COURT INVALIDATES REDISTRICTING PLAN

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the state Supreme Court today overturned the Legislature`s new maps for 2012 House and Senate races, leaving current districts in place until a five-member commission that designed the plan fixes the court`s concerns. The 4-3 decision gave a glimmer of hope to lawmakers opposed to the changes in the Legislative Reapportionment Commission`s plan. Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, one of those who appealed the commission`s maps, said the court decision would present an opportunity to argue for keeping the Brewster seat. Stephen Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R -Allegheny, said Turzai believes the plan that was submitted “met the standards, and conditions set forth in the Constitution” and in legal precedent.  “Until we get an opinion, we can`t know what needs to be fixed but will respond accordingly,” Miskin said. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

SENATE DEMOCRATS GATHER TO OUTLINE BUDGET PRIORITIES

The Senate Democratic Caucus held a press conference yesterday to outline its budget priorities and called on the governor to make job creation, tax fairness, education funding, shale and the restoration

Continue reading Eye Opener – Janaury 26, 2012

TURZAI NOT RUNNING FOR CONGRESS

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review Mike Turzai’s off again, on again congressional bid is off again, he told the state House Republican caucus on Tuesday. The Republican House majority leader, who told party officials late last week that he was seriously weighing a bid for election in a newly drawn 12th Congressional District, said he will instead seek re-election to his state seat. Turzai, 52, of Bradford Woods, said he never made a concrete decision to run. He said Gov. Tom Corbett asked him recently to run, but he decided against it after his wife, Lidia, told him to consider the impact he’s making in his job. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

BICAMERAL DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP CALLS FOR FUNDING TO SAVE FINANCIALLY DISTRESSED SCHOOL DISTRICTS

A virtual bevy of both House and Senate Democratic leaders held a news conference yesterday to discuss funding for the financially distressed Chester Upland School District and other financially distressed school districts.  House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) said the funding crisis in Chester Upland specifically has been caused by the current administration and has put a

Continue reading Eye Opener – January 25, 2012

SHALE GAS RESERVE ESTIMATE PLUMMETS

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the shale has shrunk. At least according to the U.S. Energy Department, which released new reserve estimates for the Marcellus Shale on Monday that severely cut the amount of natural gas estimated to be in the rock formation. The estimate of 141 trillion cubic feet of gas — down from the 410 trillion the agency reported last year — is the latest result of yo-yoing in reserve numbers since drillers started extracting lucrative gas and oil from the formation underneath Appalachia. Despite the lower estimate, gas production in the United States is still expected to grow, lessening America’s dependence on energy imports and keeping natural gas prices at profit-busting lows. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

DEWEESE TRIAL OPENS IN POLITICAL CORRUPTION CASE

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, he is nothing more than “a common thief,” prosecutors argued. He is an innocent man framed by corrupt underlings, his defense attorney countered. Those were the two versions presented of Rep. Bill DeWeese, the onetime Democratic leader from southwestern Pennsylvania, at the start of his trial

Continue reading Eye Opener – January 24, 2012

JUDICIARY REJECTS GOVERNOR’S PLAN TO FREEZE BUDGET

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, now that Gov. Tom Corbett has ordered a freeze of nearly $160 million in state spending and requested a freeze of almost $66 million from independent governmental entities, civil legal service programs are facing a 10 percent cut in state funding. But James Koval, who is part of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts’ budget and finance team, said the courts have already informed the Corbett administration that the judiciary won’t be making the midyear budget freeze. Eighteen percent of the court’s budget is made up of state grants, such as reimbursement to the counties of court costs, which have already been expended, Mr. Koval said. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

DEWEESE LIKELY TO TAKE STAND AT CORRUPTION TRIAL

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, former House Speaker Bill DeWeese likely will testify in his defense at his corruption trial, which is scheduled to begin today with opening statements, his lawyer said. The loquacious lawmaker, if he takes the stand, would testify in the second half of the trial when the

Continue reading Eye Opener – January 23, 2012

DEWEESE: CORBETT FOCUSED ON HIM, NOT SANDUSKY

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, on trial accused of fueling his campaigns with taxpayers’ dollars, Rep. Bill DeWeese lashed out at Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday, saying he assigned 14 people to investigate DeWeese while attorney general and devoted only one investigator to claims that former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused kids. “One: That is not true,” Corbett’s spokesman Kevin Harley said. “Two: Is (DeWeese) complaining or bragging?” It’s unusual in Pennsylvania for a defendant to make his case to the “jury of public opinion,” said Charlie Gerow, CEO of Quantum Communications and a Republican political consultant. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

SEN. ORIE’S RETRIAL DELAYED DUE TO LAWYER’S SCHEDULE

According to an Associated Press article, the public corruption retrial of Pittsburgh-area state Sen. Jane Orie and her sister, Janine, has been pushed back two weeks because the senator’s attorney expects to be busy defending House Speaker Bill DeWeese in a separate corruption trial; Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey Manning pushed the Orie retrial back from Feb. 13 to Feb. 27 to give attorney William Costopoulos

Continue reading Eye Opener – January 19, 2012

GOVERNOR’S PRIVATIZATION COUNCIL SETS GOALS; LEARNS LESSONS FROM INDIANA IN FIRST PUBLIC MEETING

The Governor’s Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation held its first public meeting yesterday in the Rachel Carson State Office Building in order to delegate certain tasks and to take in a presentation from the former mayor of Indianapolis as well as Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels’ Deputy Chief of Staff. Council Chairman Jack Barbour began the meeting by noting the panel will mostly spend its time focusing on innovation and increasing efficiency in state government, with privatization (particularly public-private-partnerships) taking only a minor role in the advisory council’s activities. Barbour highlighted the process for implementation of discovered initiatives, by noting they will be ranked after analysis and the most accomplishable goals will be dealt with first. He gave a loose deadline of having some initiatives ready for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. He also said local governments and local government authorities will not be considered by the council, at least initially. Check out the Around the Capitol section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story. 

GROUPS URGE LEGISLATURE TO REJECT MARCELLUS SHALE BILLS

CA coalition of environmental, citizen, and grassroots

Continue reading Eye Opener – January 18, 2012