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May 1, 2012, 2:53 pm
Lead voter ID plaintiff Viviette Applewhite offers video testimony on the voter ID lawsuit
A number of advocacy groups announced today they are filing suit in Commonwealth Court against Gov. Tom Corbett and Secretary of State Carole Aichele, claiming at least six plaintiffs otherwise qualified to vote are unable to meet the requirements of Pennsylvania’s recently-passed voter ID law, as they cannot obtain the necessary ID card.
Vic Walczak, legal director of the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union, said lead plaintiff, 93-year old Viviette Applewhite from Philadelphia, was born in the South and never issued a birth certificate. As a result she cannot obtain the photo ID now required to vote in November. Applewhite, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and is a great-great-grandmother, said via a prerecorded testimonial that she has voted for years and that the law in her opinion is “ridiculous.”
Joining the ACLU in filing the lawsuit on behalf of the ten total plaintiffs are the NAACP, the Advancement Project, the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (PILCOP), the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, the Homeless Advocacy Project, and the Washington DC law firm Arnold and Porter LLC.
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Continue reading ACLU, NAACP among parties filing suit against PA voter ID law
May 1, 2012, 11:58 am
On the first day of asset testing for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, House and Senate Democrats today decried the initiative and called for Gov. Tom Corbett and DPW Secretary Gary Alexander to rethink the measure.
“Today, Pennsylvania is turning its collective back on 1.8 million citizens who rely on food stamps,” said Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-Philadelphia).
“We are talking about people who have worked all their lives,” Sen. Kitchen went on, noting the savings that some individuals have accrued will cause them to no longer be eligible for SNAP. According to Sen. Kitchen, such people will have to decide between food stamps and things like prescription medicines or home repairs.
Sen. Kitchen pointed out there are few savings for the Commonwealth through asset testing, as SNAP is funded by the federal government, with little administrative cost for the state.
“This is nothing more than political posturing…a way to look good to the far right,” she said.
Sen. Kitchen was joined by a number of Democrats from the House and Senate.
PLS subscribers look for the full story later on in the Capitol Toolbox.
May 1, 2012, 10:16 am
Rep. Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny) today announced the introduction of HB 2340, legislation that would prohibit incumbent candidates from running for more than one public office simultaneously.
According to Rep. DeLuca, the measure would limit the number of special elections that are required every time a vacancy is created in the House or the Senate as a result of a member leaving after winning another office. In the last year, six special elections have been required to fill such vacancies, costing the state upwards of $175,000 each time.
Rep. DeLuca also noted special elections may not occur for months after a candidate leaves his previous office, meaning citizens effectively go unrepresented in the House or Senate during that time.
“This practice comes at the expense of our constituents,” Rep. DeLuca said.
The legislation would cover every race at the local, county and state level.
Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
April 30, 2012, 4:14 pm
On the first day of session following the April primaries, House Democrats wasted no time taking aim at Act 13, Governor Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Law, by introducing a series of bills amending the new law that they believe will prioritize the health and well-being of Pennsylvania citizens ahead of the drilling industry.
The six bills, known collectively as the Marcellus Compact, would address taxation of drilling companies, eliminate local zoning overrides, strengthen environmental setbacks and bonding requirements, create an online tracking system for wastewater disposal, require full medical disclosure relating to fracking chemicals, and establish a tax credit program to incentivize the hiring of Pennsylvania workers.
House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) called Act 13, formerly HB 1950, a “sweetheart deal” for the drilling industry that put Pennsylvanians second. House Environmental Resources and Energy Minority Chairman Bud George (D-Clearfield), who is retiring at the end of the current session, said he will spend the remainder of his tenure fighting to push the legislation through the House.
“I have seven months’ worth of fight in me, and seven months of Bud George is a lot of fight,” he said.
April 26, 2012, 3:40 pm
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) met with the media today to preview the House’s upcoming legislative agenda.
Rep. Turzai began by noting the House Republican caucus has focused its agenda thus far on private sector job creation and fiscal and governmental integrity, while running many of the priorities the caucus identified while in the minority, including voter ID, reducing the size of the General Assembly, and implementing a Marcellus Shale impact fee.
Of immediate import, Rep. Turzai noted, when the House returns on April 30 the first priority will be business tax reform and reduction by the way of House Bill 2150.
Also discussed by Rep. Turzai were items relating to the budget, liquor store privatization and a reaction to the primary election.
Check the Capitol Toolbox’s “Around the Capital” section for the full story.
April 23, 2012, 12:27 pm
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. Speakers included Carol Lavery, Victim Advocate of Pennsylvania, Adams County District Attorney Shawn Wagner and victim services consultant Valerie Bender who all expressed concern with the elimination of funding for the Victims of Juvenile Offenders program in Governor Corbett’s proposed 2012-2013 state budget. Danielle Mazza, a victim of child sexual abuse and a sophomore at Delaware Valley High School in Pike County, told rally participants her story of “being a victim, then a survivor and now a thriver.” Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
April 18, 2012, 10:53 am
Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele conducted a Capitol Hill news conference to announce a simplified process for individuals obtaining a non-driver photo ID to vote under Pennsylvania’s new Voter ID law. According to Sec. Aichele, the new process will help senior citizens in particular who have expired driver’s licenses. She explained, “If you had a Pennsylvania driver’s license or a non-driver license photo ID, in most cases you will not be required to bring a birth certificate or any other proof of identification or residence to request a non-driver photo ID for voting purposes.” Sec. Aichele also reminded Pennsylvania voters that they will be asked to show photo ID at the polls in the April 24 primary election but will not be required to produce the photo ID until the General Election in November. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
April 17, 2012, 12:24 pm
Members of Better Choices for Pennsylvania gathered outside of the Harrisburg Post Office today to collect signatures for a petition that urges the legislature to close tax loopholes and end special tax breaks. Sharon Ward, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center stated “hardworking Pennsylvanians today are paying more because state lawmakers have failed to do anything to close corporate tax loopholes.” Peg Dierkers, co-chair of the Better Choices coalition added “lawmakers should close loopholes and use the funds to make our families and communities stronger.”
April 16, 2012, 1:42 pm
Mission: Readiness, a national security nonprofit organization, released a report today stating childhood obesity and a general lack of physical fitness among children and young adults in Pennsylvania pose a threat to national security. Retired military leaders called on state legislators to act on a four-point plan that will help reduce childhood obesity and promote lifelong healthy living, including establishing better nutrition in schools and encouraging more daily physical activity. Lieutenant General Dennis Benchoff (Ret.) stated “obesity is a national security issue; one in four young adults are now too overweight to join the military and, as a result, military service is out of reach for millions of young Americans who might otherwise qualify.” Look for the full story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon.
April 16, 2012, 12:06 pm
House Transportation Committee Chairman Richard Geist (R-Blair) and leaders from the Commonwealth’s transportation industry today called on the Governor and the General Assembly to enact legislation to meet the needs for repairing and rebuilding Pennsylvania’s transportation infrastructure. While acknowledging the importance of the recent House passage of H.B. 3, the public-private partnership legislation, Rep. Geist and the industry leaders renewed their call for action on a comprehensive, long-term, funding solution. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
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