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February 29, 2012, 4:50 pm
Secretary of Health Eli Avila came before the House Appropriations Committee this afternoon to discuss his department’s budget. Members questioned the secretary on proposals to transfer Tobacco Settlement dollars to DPW and on the elimination of funding for several other programs. The secretary defended the budget indicating that it will meet the department’s mission to protect the health and safety of Pennsylvanians.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later this evening for the full story on the hearing. Not a PLS Capitol Toolbox subscriber? You can now purchase individual budget hearing recaps here.
February 29, 2012, 12:19 pm
The message from members of the House Appropriations Committee to Secretary of Transportation Barry Schoch was “urge the Governor to show leadership on transportation funding.” The lawmakers had high praise for the Secretary and for the department but they expressed frustration with the Governor for not acting on the recommendations of his Transportation Funding Advisory Commission. Secretary Schoch responded to questions on a variety of issues including funding, the status of the Commonwealth’s roads and bridges, mass transit funding, multi-modal funding, and the potential loss of professional engineers at the department. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
February 28, 2012, 3:39 pm
Secretary of Aging Brian Duke responded to questions from the members of the House Appropriations Committee on a number of issues pertaining to Pennsylvania’s increasingly aging population. The issues included the PACE/PACENET program, the funding formula for the Area Agencies on Aging, the waiting lists for various waiver programs, and the transitioning of seniors from nursing home care to home and community based care. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
February 28, 2012, 1:28 pm
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was before the House Appropriations Committee this morning to review its budget and answer questions from the members. Like in the Senate, several members expressed concern with the redirection of the Keystone Fund into the General Fund. DCNR Sec. Allan assured the members that the department will carefully prioritize any and all funding that it does receive in order to protect the health and safety of visitors at the parks while also maintaining park infrastructure. Several members also discussed natural gas drilling on state park and forest lands and were assured by the secretary that he is working to ensure the state lands are protected during drilling activities.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today. Not a PLS Capitol Toolbox subscriber? You can now purchase individual budget hearing recaps here.
February 27, 2012, 3:18 pm
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board CEO Joe Conti responded to questions from the members of the House Appropriations Committee. Topics of discussion included the PLCB’s modernization proposals, the wine kiosk program, Sunday sales, and store operations. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
February 27, 2012, 12:55 pm
The House Appropriations Committee kicked off its second week of budget hearings with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, where members discussed the role of the PUC in implementing several new laws, including pipeline safety, the Marcellus Shale impact fee, and distributions systems improvement charge. PUC Chairman Powelson assured the committee that the PUC intends to fully implement each law as required, pointing to the commission’s past successful implementations.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today.
February 23, 2012, 12:35 pm
The House Appropriations Committee held a budget hearing today with the Judiciary, represented primarily by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron Castille. Main topics of discussion included use of senior judges, court consolidations, and cost-savings measures taken by the court.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Not a PLS Capitol Toolbox subscriber? You can now purchase individual budget hearing recaps here.
February 23, 2012, 11:29 am
The House Appropriations Committee started off today’s budget hearings with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Bill Ryan, Chairman of the PGCB an, and Kevin O’Toole, Executive Director of the PGCB fielded questions from members on a variety of issues including property tax relief, the PA Horse Development Fund and the status of Pennsylvania’s casinos. Check the Capitol Toolbox later this evening for the full story on the hearing. Not a PLS Capitol Toolbox subscriber? You can now purchase individual budget hearing recaps here.
February 22, 2012, 4:37 pm
The House Appropriations Committee rounded out its second day of budget hearings meeting with the Office of Attorney General followed by the Office of Open Records. With OAG, the committee discussed specific line-items. With Open Records, many committee members voiced support for increasing the office’s line-item to better allow it to meet its mission.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for both stories. Not a PLS Capitol Toolbox subscriber? You can now purchase individual budget hearing recaps here.
February 22, 2012, 3:20 pm
The House Appropriations Committee questioned Glenn Moyer, Secretary of the Department of Banking, during a budget hearing this afternoon. Sec. Moyer answered questions from members regarding the merger of the Department of Banking and the Pennsylvania Securities Commission, the joint state-federal settlement concerning mortgage foreclosure abuses, and the Dodd-Frank Act.
Look for the full story in the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today.
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