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June 21, 2011, 1:14 pm
Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver) unveiled HB 1708, which would create the Students and Schools Rescue Act. The legislation targets underperforming and violent schools in providing more opportunities to students of low-income and middle-income families. Rep. Christiana spoke about the urgency of the bill, and stated it is not an attack on public education. Representatives Tony Payton (D-Philadelphia) and Thomas Quigley (R-Montgomery) spoke in support of the Students and Schools Rescue Act, along with House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) who said they “want our public schools to be the best they can be, we but recognize, particularly in certain areas, that the opportunities are not always the same.”
For the full story go to the Press Conferences section of the Capitol Toolbox.
May 10, 2011, 4:12 pm
House Republicans
The House Republican Caucus today officially announced their budget proposal for 2011-12. According to Republican Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) the plan represents the Caucus’s stance as “fiscal stewards of the hard-earned money of the taxpayers of Pennsylvania.”
Specifically the Republican proposal restores considerable portions of funding to K-12 and higher ed, with state system universities seeing an 85% restoration and state-related institutions receiving anywhere from 51-75% restoration. $223 million is allocated back to K-12 lines.
According to Appropriations Chairman Bill Adolph (R-Delaware) much of the funding given back to education was diverted from the Department of Public Welfare, which sees its line cut by $470m. Chairman Adolph defended the cuts, noting DPW is still getting a 1% increase over last year, while Rep. Turzai said the goal is to weed out waste, fraud and abuse from the welfare rolls.
At the press conference the Republican leaders also addressed the educational improvement tax credit (EITC) bill moving through the house, the potential for considering a school voucher bill from the Senate, the expected half-billion dollar surplus in the state coffers, and the legislature’s own budget. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story, and related budget
Continue reading House Republicans unveil budget proposal
May 3, 2011, 1:33 pm
In recognition of the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Educational Improvement Tax, supporters rallied behind the Capitol today. They were joined by several legislators and PDE Secretary Tomalis to touts the successes of the EITC and to call for enactment of further school choice in the form of SB 1.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today.
May 4, 2010, 1:12 pm
Several Legislators from both sides of the aisle were joined by hundreds of school children to celebrate and support nine years of EITC legislation. Senator Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia) stated that he has supported and will continue to support choice in education and noted EITC helps children of all backgrounds and economic status.
All Legislators present pledged their support for restoring EITC funding and according to Senator Jane Clare Orie (R-Allegheny) EITC is “the best public-private partnership there is.” Check the Press Conference section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
September 25, 2009, 11:40 am
REACH Foundation was joined by students from the Harrisburg area to rally for maintained, or ideally increased, funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit. Speakers highlighted the impact of EITC on low income and middle class students, stating these students would otherwise be “prisoners of their zip codes” without the EITC and called on the legislature to fund the program before funding the film tax credit.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox early this afternoon.
August 3, 2009, 11:33 am
Governor Ed Rendell was alongside Secretary John Hanger of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to announce the awarding of $93.6 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which will be used to repair, construct, and update clean water projects throughout Pennsylvania. William Early from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was on hand at the press conference in the Main Rotunda of the Capitol Building to present the check to Governor Rendell and Secretary Hanger. Governor Rendell said the funds will be used to reinvest in aging water treatment systems which will create jobs, spun the economy, and raise the quality of life for countless citizens across the Commonwealth. Check the Capitol Tool Box later for more information.
July 28, 2009, 10:02 am
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Secretary Sandi Vito spoke in front of the committee today to explain and answer questions about the stimulus funds received through the AARA. Secretary Vito started her presentation by explaining that under the AARA, unemployment claimants will receive an additional $25 a week. The AARA also extends the number of weeks that the federal government will pay unemployment benefits. The Secretary focused on the stimulus’ programs to help the unemployed find work, and on job training programs to help state employees when the economy picks up. The Secretary then answered a few questions from the members of the committee. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
July 28, 2009, 9:12 am
Unable to get a quorum at this morning’s Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee meeting, Chairwoman Earll and members nevertheless put acting DCED Secretary George Cornelius through his paces, with questions ranging from the department’s dealing with stimulus money, to budget cuts and how to cope with distressed cities and municipalities. The committee will meet later in the day to vote on the acting Secretary’s confirmation, but check the Capitol Toolbox for the full Q&A from this morning.
July 9, 2009, 10:33 am
The Joint Legislative Budget and Finance Committee met today to release preliminary reports of four Pennsylvania tax credit programs. In accordance with Senate Resolution 20 and House Resolutions 115, 127 and 824 the reports released today included an evaluation of the Keystone Opportunity Zone Program, and preliminary reports on Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program, the Research and Development Tax Credit Program, as well as an overall study of After school Programs in Pennsylvania. Check the Capitol Tool Box later for more information.
June 17, 2009, 1:54 pm
PA has a special website for information on the Federal Stimulus Funds. Check it out – www.recovery.pa.gov.
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