The Senate Appropriations Committee started today’s budget hearings with the Department of Education. Ron Tomalis, Secretary of PDE, fielded questions from members on a variety of issues including distressed school districts, the Keystone Exams, and cuts to basic and higher education. 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.
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Department of Labor and Industry secretary Julia Hearthway testified before Senate Appropriations Committee members this morning on a variety of L&I programs and how it is working to improve its job matching system throughout the state. Sec. Hearthway also discussed the state of the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund, the department’s CareerLink facilities, and how it is responding to new federal laws related to an extension of jobless benefits. 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. Posted by Mike | Tags: careerlink, Department of Labor & Industry, Employment, prevailing wage, unemployment compensation | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
The leadership of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) responded to questions from the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on a variety of topics. Lawmakers were interested in the financial status of the two systems, the impact of the Act 120 reforms, the possibility of a COLA for retirees and the Administration’s proposed abolishment of the Public Employee Retirement Commission. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: PSERS, public employee pensions, Public Employee Retirement Commission, SERS | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate Appropriations Committee concluded its slate of budget hearings today with the Department of Banking, represented by department secretary Glenn Moyer. The committee focused largely on two main issues throughout the hearing – the proposed merger of the department with the Pennsylvania Securities Commission, and a recent federal settlement with five national mortgage servicers that will result in upwards of $60 million dollars coming to the Commonwealth, in addition to separate payouts for many homeowners. Members expressed a bipartisan interest in using the money to restore funding to the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP), which due to funding cuts has been unable to offer assistance to avert foreclosures since July 1 of last year. 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. Posted by Mike | Tags: banking, mortgages, securities | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
Today the several members of the Senate Appropriations Committee from both political parties told PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch that it is time for Governor Corbett “to take the lead” in pushing for legislation enacting the recommendations of the Governor’s Transportation Advisory Commission. Although giving no timetable, Secretary Schoch said he expects the Governor to address the issue once certain parts of the General Fund Budget are addressed. Appropriations Chairman Jake Corman told Secretary Schoch, “I believe we’re ready to go in the Senate.” Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: PennDOT, transportation funding | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate Appropriations Committee this morning held a budget hearing with DEP Secretary Mike Krancer. Members asked questions to ascertain the adequacy of the proposed budget and particularly discussed the need to protect the environment as natural gas drilling increases. Several members also asked about flood control funding, pointing out prevention is less expensive than recovery. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today. Posted by Kim | Tags: environment, flood control, marcellus shale, natural gas | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate Appropriations Committee held a budget hearing with Department of Health Executive Deputy Secretary Michael Wolf. The members asked questions about various line item reductions in the Department’s proposed budget and particularly expressed concern with cuts to research funding and the proposed merger of the PHC4 and Patient Safety Authority into the Department. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this evening. Posted by Kim | Tags: patient safety, research | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
Secretary of Aging Brian Duke today appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee to respond to questions on a variety of issues and programs. Committee members had questions about PACE/PACENET, nursing home care, community-based care, the State Lottery, the Area Agencies on Aging and service provider reimbursements. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: Area Agencies on Aging, Community-Based Health Care, nursing home care, PACE/PACENET, State Lottery | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
The Senate Appropriations Committee held its final budget hearing of the week with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Secretary Richard Allan was asked a variety of questions about the DCNR budget and its ability to continue to meet its mission. Members were particularly concerned with the diversion of Keystone Fund dollars to the General Fund, but the secretary expressed optimism that natural gas drilling fees and royalty from wells will make up for the loss. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this evening. Posted by Kim | Tags: marcellus shale, natural gas, state forests, state parks | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
Joe Conti, Chief Executive Officer of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide an overview of the agency’s legislative and other initiatives and to respond to questions from the committee members. Most questions dealt with agency changes in its practices and procedures, privatization, the wine kiosk failure, enforcement issues and needed legislative changes. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: Budget, PLCB, privatization | Category: Budget Hearing, Senate Appropriations | Comments are closed | Share:
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