The House Local Government and Finance Committees met jointly to receive a presentation from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on Property Valuation and Assessments. The report was developed pursuant to HB 334 of 2009 which was drafted as a result of a PA Supreme Court case calling into the question the current system. The submitted report analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the current system in PA and compares it to other systems around the country. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
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Posted by Eric | Category: House Finance, House Local Government, LBFC | Comments are closed | Share:
The committee held a public hearing to discuss three issues: statewide complement levels of probation and parole officers, examination of current and future costs and revenues from forest products and oil, gas and mineral extraction on PA game lands, and the deer management program of the PA Game Commission. Reports were submitted for all three issues and the committee motioned to release all three reports. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Kim | Tags: environment, marcellus shale | Category: LBFC, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate approved table games legislation on a close 27-22 vote Wednesday night, but changes the chamber made to the bill earlier in the day are already ruffling the feathers of leaders in the House, where the measure faces an uncertain future. After receiving the bill Tuesday night following House approval, the Senate made several changes to it during a Rules Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon. The alterations include reducing the number of Category 3 licenses from three to two, and reopening the application process for the remaining unassigned resort casino license. The Senate also changed some of the language that directs table games tax revenue to local recipients. Posted by Kim | Tags: resentencing guidelines, table games | Category: LBFC, News and Views | Comments are closed | Share:
House Democrats said Tuesday they plan to conduct “business as usual” on the floor despite news the attorney general will announce another round of “Bonusgate” charges at 1 p.m. Â ”It’s going to be a busy day, but we think we’re going to get a lot done,” said Bob Caton, spokesman for Keith McCall. He said the House has no plans to abandon table games legislation, set to come up for a vote on third consideration later today. Caton also said the House does not plan to suspend the rules to consider bill earlier today. Posted by Kim | Category: Capitol View, LBFC, News and Views, Senate Education, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy, Update | Comments are closed | Share:
By Sean Rossman, PLS Intern Growing concern over environmentalism in the legislature has transcended individual calls for alternative energy development, protecting the development of state forest land, and reducing Pennsylvania’s carbon footprint. Environmentalism has entered the political realm with the confluence of environmentally conscience legislators forming the “green dogs†voting bloc. The unofficial group consists of twenty to twenty-five legislators who are committed to the environmental cause. Their de facto leader, Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), describes the group as “a growing group of legislators who have really taken some overt act to demonstrate their commitment to environmental legislation.†Continue reading Legislative Green Dogs Tout Environmental Agenda By Alex Roarty Legislative leaders and Governor Ed Rendell could be close to striking another budget agreement after the majority parties in each chamber revealed Monday that they support what appear to be nearly identical budget proposals. But they continue to remain divided about the best and fastest way to implement a possible deal, whether through a new bill in the Senate or the legislative Conference Committee. The Senate Republican proposal, the details of which were sent to reporters Monday evening, includes a spend level of $27.835 billion. It delays phase-out of the Capitol Stock and Franchise, leases additional state land for natural gas drilling, redirects 25 cents of the cigarette tax to the General Fund, and allows table games in casinos, among other smaller proposals. Continue reading Budget Agreement Near, But Sides Question How to Proceed Posted by Kim | Category: Capitol View, LBFC, News and Views, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy | Comments are closed | Share:
By Alex Roarty House Democratic leaders said late Monday afternoon they are “on board†with a new budget proposal they said could bring a swift end to Pennsylvania’s nearly 100-day-long budget impasse. The new spending plan, according to House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), would spend $27.843 billion and not include any taxes on small games of chance, tobacco products, natural gas extraction or cultural events. The previous budget agreement set a spending level of $27.945 billion – Speaker of the House Keith McCall (D-Carbon) said the new deal cuts another $110 million from the Department of Public Welfare. The new plan still resets the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax to 2008 levels, allows table games and raises the cigarette tax. It includes a gross receipt tax on managed care and does not include any WAMs, McCall said. “We’re a 1,000 percent on board to get this done,†Rep. Evans said. Senate Republican leaders told reporters Monday afternoon that they have crafted a new budget proposal but want to advance it with new legislation in the Senate, not via the legislative Conference Committee. The leadership team spoke to reporters a half-hour before the Conference Committee was set to reconvene and possibly approve a spending bill. The two Senate Republican members part of the committee, Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman (R-Centre) and Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware), said earlier in the day they would not attend the meeting, which has since been postponed to 4 p.m. Posted by Kim | Tags: Budget | Category: Capitol View, Face to Face, LBFC, News and Views, Press Conference, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy | Comments are closed | Share:
Rendell Expects His Budget Veto Will Be Overriden by Alex Roarty Governor Ed Rendell said Monday he will sign the legislative “three-caucus†$27.945 billion budget deal only if lawmakers increase its spending and include additional revenue streams – two changes legislators have made clear they won’t accept. The governor’s declaration likely means he will be forced to veto the bill, and on that front the state’s chief executive offered a surprising prediction, at least coming from him: He expects the legislature will override his veto, and he’s not even sure he’ll work to stop it. “I expect my veto will be overridden,†Governor Rendell told reporters at an afternoon press conference. “I will try to move fast when I veto it so that they can override it the next day and we can get money flowing to non-profits and others that are feeling the pinch.†He clarified later that he not only expects lawmakers to try and override, he also thinks they will be successful. Veto overrides require a two-thirds margin in each chamber — 33 votes in the Senate, and 136 in the House. Despite his objections to the budget, Governor Rendell said he has “mixed feelings†about Continue reading Rendell Expects his Budget Veto will be Overriden Posted by Kim | Tags: Budget | Category: Capitol View, LBFC, News and Views, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy | Comments are closed | Share:
After Late-Night Talks, Lawmakers Think Gov Might Get on Board Budget Deal by Alex Roarty  House Democratic and Senate Republican leaders spent nearly two hours Sunday night trying to persuade Governor Ed Rendell to accept to the “three-caucus” budget agreement engineered late last week without his approval, and they told reporters afterward they are hopeful the governor could come on board before the bill reaches his desk.  But Democrats and Republicans reiterated they remain committed to the inter-party budget deal, its $27.945 billion spending number, and revenue-raising options despite the governor’s objections.  “I’m hopeful that we can get the governor on board,” said Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Minority Appropriations Chairman. “I think this evening signals that we have an opportunity to do that.”  Republican and Democratic legislators said they are willing to compromise on how to allocate some spending in their budget. The governor had previously taken issue with certain reductions in the education spending and said he wanted to make about $55 million more in cuts.  But Speaker of the House Keith McCall (D-Carbon), continually peppered with questions by reporters, said any compromise wouldn’t include changing the budget’s total spend number or the way Continue reading After Late-Night Talks, Lawmakers Think Gov Might Get on Board Budget Deal Posted by Kim | Tags: Budget | Category: Capitol View, LBFC, News and Views, Senate Environmental Resources and Energy | Comments are closed | Share:
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