This morning a joint hearing of the House Finance and Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development committees heard testimony from various stakeholders on companion legislation HB 2340 and SB 1279, which would require DCED to submit a unified economic development budget and increase reporting on outcomes from government subsidies. The bills also include a provision tying subsidies to certain wage average industry levels – something the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry said it opposes. In addition to the Chamber and DCED, representatives from the Keystone Research Center, the AFL-CIO and the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association offered testimony. Check the Committee News section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story
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Posted by mike | Tags: DCED, Economic Development, prevailing wage | Category: House Finance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing, Senate Community, Economic & Rec. Development | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Finance Committee met off the floor to consider four bills. HBs 2483, 2484, 2153, and 2155 were all reported as committed. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by jason | Tags: constitutional amendment, ponzi schemes, tuition | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Finance | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Finance Committee heard testimony from PSERS and SERS today regarding the history, root causes, and possible solutions to the pension spike. Representatives from the two systems performed a power point presentation and then received questions from the members. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by jason | Tags: PSERS, SERS | Category: House Finance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The House and Senate Finance Committees held a joint public hearing regarding the Independent Fiscal Office as proposed in Act 50 of 2009. Mary Soderberg, Secretary of the Office of the Budget, testified and said that the Independent Fiscal Office would be duplicating a variety of functions and is unnecessary. Robert Powell, Senior Advisor of Government Policy for Cansler Fuquay Solutions, Inc. discussed how South Carolina started its Fiscal Office and made several recommendations for how Pennsylvania can successfully implement the proposed Office. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. The committee held a public hearing on HB 1905; the legislation would prohibit the use of “swaps” by “local government units.” The negative consequences of swaps was highlighted in an audit done the Department of Auditor General. Auditor General Jack Wagner testified at the hearing in support of the bill. “Most Pennsylvanians would be upset if members of their school board or municipal government gambled away their hard-earned tax dollars at the local slots casino,” he stated. “They should be just as upset if their school district or council has tied up local funds in interest-rate swaps, because these exotic financial instruments are tantamount to gambling with public money.” The Pennsylvania School Board Association, the Pennsylvania Association of School Board Officials discussed the use of swaps by school districts and spoke about how prohibiting the practice could have a negative impact on the districts. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today to read the full story. Posted by matt | Category: House Finance | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Finance Committee held a public hearing today concerning the implementation of Act 32 of 2008 concerning the consolidation of wage tax collectors. Testifying was a panel from the Department of Community and Economic Development, a panel of local government organizational stakeholders, and the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials. The DCED said they are not fully funded and, therefore, cannot fully help with the start-up costs while many of the local stakeholders complained about voting disparities and a lack of available grants. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for all of the details. Posted by jason | Tags: DCED, taxes | Category: House Finance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The committees held a joint hearing on the establishment of the Independent Fiscal Office. Chairman Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) said the Office would give members of the Legislature the “tools and powers to meet their Constitutional mandate.” He stressed that the Office would provide transparent and unbiased information and provide for fiscal stability, accountability and informed public debate. Check the PLS Capitol Toolbox later today to read the full story. The committee conducted a public hearing on HB 10 which amends The Fourth to Eighth Class and Selective County Assessment Law by adding language specifying that “rights held pursuant to a lease or other agreement” under Act 60 of 1979 relative to the extraction, removal or recovery of gas, oil, or coal bed methane are subject to taxation. The legislation was introduced by Rep. William DeWeese (D-Greene) in response to a 2002 state Supreme Court decision concluding there was no specific authority in statute to levy real estate taxes on oil and gas interests. The County Commissioners Association, the School Boards Association, the Boroughs Association and the Township Supervisors Association all testified in favor of bill while opposition was expressed by the Independent Oil & Gas Association of PA. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by jeff | Tags: Counties, mineral extraction, property taxes, school boards, townships | Category: House Finance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee reported out HB 2161 which will allow all 722 licensing agents to sell the special, reduced-fee hunting licenses to resident members of the military who are on active duty and to service members returning home from deployment. Also reported out was HB 460 removing the requirement for hunters to display their license while hunting. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the complete story. Posted by jeff | Tags: Wegman's | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Finance, House Game & Fisheries | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee conducted a public hearing on the process now in place to distribute anterless dear permits. The members heard testimony from representatives from the Game Commission, the State Treasurers Association, the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and others. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by jeff | Category: House Finance, House Game & Fisheries, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
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