CORBETT’S POLITICAL PRESTIGE TAKES A HIT IN SENATE DEFEAT

According to an article in the Morning Call, with his defeat at the hands of Tom Smith in Tuesday’s Republican U.S. Senate primary, Chester County businessman Steve Welch wasn’t the only one who suffered a reversal in his political fortunes. Gov, Tom Corbett, who endorsed Welch at a time when many in the party were urging GOP chieftains to stay neutral in efforts to find a credible challenger to U.S. Sen. Bob Casey also suffered a political defeat. It’s embarrassing in the short-term — but survivable over the long-haul if it’s managed correctly, senior Republicans suggested Wednesday. Click here to read the Morning Call article.

CLOSING DELAWARE LOOPHOLE NOT CORBETT PRIORITY

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the House is scheduled to vote next week on a bill that would close the so-called Delaware loophole, which allows some companies to reduce their Pennsylvania taxes by shifting income to a low-tax state. The political support, however, is muddled, and the issue is complex. There’s bipartisan support in the House, but business is divided, and Republican Gov. Tom Corbett is not on board, at

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 26, 2012

KANE WINS ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINATION

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review,  a former prosecutor backed by Bill Clinton defeated her opponent in the Democratic nomination for state attorney general on Tuesday, based on preliminary results. With 88 percent of precincts reporting, former Lackawanna Deputy District Attorney Kathleen Kane had 54 percent of the vote to former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy’s 46 percent. Kane said Murphy conceded the race in a telephone call late Tuesday. “We really worked for it and the people of Pennsylvania spoke,” Kane said. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

MAHER GETS GOP NOD FOR AUDITOR GENERAL

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, after arguing that Republicans should choose an auditor to run for auditor general, longtime Rep. John Maher appeared to clinch his party’s nomination in a race against a retired banking lobby executive. Mr. Maher, an eight-term lawmaker from Upper St. Clair, held a lead in most counties late Tuesday night over Frank Pinto of Dauphin, a former president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers. Rep. Eugene DePasquale of York County ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 25, 2012

LOW VOTER TURNOUT EXPECTED

According to an article in the Patriot News, there’s no contested presidential race. The U.S. Senate race features five nearly indistinguishable Republicans. And it’s going to be cold, wet and maybe even snowing in some parts of the state. County election officials could hardly have concocted a worse amalgamation for Pennsylvanians to vote today on primary party choices for November’s general election. If a quarter of registered voters show up at the polls, most area county election and voter registration directors say it’ll be a good day. “I’m expecting around 20 percent turnout,” said Steven Chiavetta, director of the Dauphin County Elections & Voter Registration office. “If the Republican presidential primary still had an impact here, I think it would have been higher, 35-40 percent.” Click here to read the Patriot News article.

CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS ADVOCATES CONDUCT ANNUAL CAPITOL RALLY

For the twentieth consecutive year, crime victims’ rights advocates, organizations, and agencies conducted a Capitol Hill rally. The rally, the first sponsored by the Crime Victims Alliance of Pennsylvania, was held in conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Rally speakers all expressed concern with the elimination of funding

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 24, 2012

TENSION RUNS HIGH IN ATTORNEY GENERAL RACE

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, two former prosecutors, both from eastern Pennsylvania, are locked in an unusually bitter primary battle for a chance to make history by becoming the first Democrat elected Pennsylvania attorney general. Both have also assailed a Republican who is not even on the ballot – Gov. Corbett. In the run-up to Tuesday’s Democratic primary, Kathleen Kane and Patrick Murphy have waged a TV air war that went negative days ago as they crisscrossed the state in search of last-minute funding and support. Click here to read the Philadelphia Inquirer article.

EARLY PAROLE PROVISIONS COLD BENEFIT EX-LEGISLATORS

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, a law designed to reduce prison crowding is making state lawmakers convicted of public corruption charges eligible for early release. “We didn’t know these possible circumstances” when legislators approved the law 2008, said former House Speaker Dennis O’Brien, R-Philadelphia. “Clearly, it does apply to them because they are nonviolent offenders.” The Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive provides early parole to nonviolent offenders who complete improvement programs in state prison. A state report in January said the

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 23, 2012

STATE ANNOUNCES SIMPLIFIED PROCESS FOR OBTAINING VOTER PHOTO ID

Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele announced yesterday at a Capitol Hill news conference a simplified process for voters to obtain a free non-driver license photo ID for the purpose of voting under Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law. According to Sec. Aichele, “This process will particularly help senior citizens who no longer drive and whose licenses have expired.” Sec. Aichele commented, “Our highest priority, and the purpose of this law, is to preserve the integrity of every vote in Pennsylvania.” She described voter ID as “a common sense way to verify the identity of each voter at the polling place.” Sec. Aichele emphasized, “Under this law, no eligible Pennsylvania voter will be denied the right to vote.” Check out the Around the Capitol section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story.

STATE YANKS $183 MILLION LOTTERY ADVERTISING DEAL

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Pennsylvania Lottery officials stunned executives at a Pittsburgh advertising agency by retracting a $183 million contract on Wednesday in favor of continuing to use a competing firm. Downtown-based Brunner Inc. learned a day before starting

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 19, 2012

CORBETT ENDORSES ROMNEY

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Republican Gov. Tom Corbett endorsed Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential race before joining him at a private Harrisburg fundraiser this afternoon. Mr. Corbett had remained neutral in the race, which until last week included former home-state senator Rick Santorum.  “Now that the long primary season has ended, it is time for Republicans to come together and unite around the one candidate who can defeat Barack Obama and institute a bold conservative vision that we need in Washington,” Mr. Corbett said in a statement. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

EX-FBI AGENT NAMED PA HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF

Governor Tom Corbett announced in a press release yesterday the appointment of Thomas F. Minton III, of Pipersville, Bucks County, as director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. Minton, 52, served 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, most of which was spent investigating national security matters with a focus on terrorism. “We are fortunate to have someone of Tom Minton’s caliber, character and expertise to direct our Office of Homeland Security,” Governor Corbett said. “The addition of Tom to

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 18, 2012

RENEWED CALL FOR ACTION ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

Rallying in the Main Capitol Rotunda House Transportation Committee Chairman Richard Geist (R-Blair) and representatives from a coalition of business, industry, and labor groups renewed their call for a unified effort to enact a comprehensive, long-term, funding solution to meet the needs for repairing and rebuilding Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure. Rep. Geist said, “A few days ago in the General Assembly, we were able to pass House Bill 3, public-private partnership (P3) legislation which a lot of people said was a test vote of the will of the General Assembly to try to get some orderly funding in Pennsylvania.” Regarding recent congressional actions to temporarily extend various federal transportation funding programs, Rep. Geist commented, “All of us understand in this group that we are not waiting for the federal government to come to the rescue of Pennsylvania.” He added, “We know you cannot run an effective transportation program with three, six and nine month extensions and without a fixed source of revenue.” Check out the Around the Capitol section of the PLS Capitol Toolbox to read the full story.

MISSION: READINESS RELEASES “UNFIT TO FIGHT” REPORT

Mission: Readiness

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 17, 2012

DRILLING LAW MEANS NEW MONEY, MORE REGULATIONS

According to an article in the Scranton Times, when oil and gas drillers in Pennsylvania wake up today, they’ll be under new rules on how they deal with officials, where they can locate their operations and the price tag attached to wells. Drillers will have to ante up fees based on their number of wells and the price of natural gas. Regulators will push those wells farther from buildings and streams, and have a greater authority to penalize operators or withhold future permits. Those living within the Marcellus Shale region and beyond will be able to access more information about what’s going on at drilling sites. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Post Gazette article.

BUDGET CUTS WATCHDOG AGENCIES, OFFICES

According to an article in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, three state offices that are supposed to investigate, prosecute and prevent public corruption are taking huge budget cuts, said Tim Potts, founder of the advocacy group Democracy Rising.  From the last pre-recession state budget in fiscal 2008-09 through Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget proposal for 2012-13, the Department of State, repository for campaign finance and lobbyist disclosure reports, is

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 16, 2012

CORBETT WARY OF NEW FEE FOR TRANSPORTATION

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, with average gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon, Gov. Tom Corbett said on Tuesday that the time may not be right to impose more fees on motorists to boost transportation funding. “How many people want to see increases in gas prices?” Corbett said during a news conference at Giffin Interior & Fixture Inc. in Bridgeville. None of the workers gathered in the shop area of the custom interior and millworking company raised their hands. “Economic times have an impact,” as will gas prices, on the approach Corbett said he will take in addressing the state’s glaring transportation needs. Click here to read the Pittsburgh Tribune Review article.

SANTORUM FOLDS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Republican Rick Santorum suspended his presidential campaign on Tuesday, following losses in March and April primaries that led to an insurmountable delegate disadvantage. “Miracle after miracle, this race was improbable as any race we will see for president,” the former two-term U.S. senator from Pennsylvania said, surrounded by family. He said the family decided over Easter weekend

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 11, 2012

KIDS-FOR-CASH LAWS SIGNED

According to an article in the Scranton Times, Gov. Tom Corbett signed two bills Monday bolstering the rights of juvenile court defendants at the Luzerne County Courthouse, where two judges collected millions for sending juveniles to for-profit detention centers in a “kids-for-cash” scheme. The new laws require that juvenile defendants be represented by counsel in most cases and that juvenile court judges state in open court the reasoning behind their sentencing decisions. “Four years ago, Pennsylvanians witnessed a scandal that shocked the conscience. Now, we are taking action to prevent future injustice against our children,” Gov. Corbett said. Click here to read the Scranton Times article.

STATE SLOT REVENUE INCREASES

According to an article in the Scranton Times, nearly all casinos in Pennsylvania saw revenue gains from slot machines in the first quarter of 2012. Slots revenue jumped 8.25 percent in the first quarter this year compared to the first quarter of 2011 in Pennsylvania, which is now the country’s second-largest gambling market. Revenue was up at all casinos in the state in the first quarter, except for Harrah’s Chester Downs. In all, revenue from the 26,306 slot machines at 10

Continue reading Eye Opener – April 10, 2012