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March 29, 2012, 12:13 pm
The House Consumer Affairs Committee held a hearing this morning on legislation that would streamlines the process for municipalities to consider wireless infrastructure upgrades and additions. The committee heard from a variety of testifiers, all of whom offered general support for the proposal as well as recommendations to further refine the bill. Several members and testifiers spoke about the need to ease the process for collocation of new wireless infrastructure.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later today.
November 15, 2011, 11:27 am
The House Transportation committee this morning voted to amend and report HB 3, legislation sponsored by Chairman Rick Geist (R-Blair) that would provide a legislative framework for the implementation of transportation public-private partnerships (P3s) in the state. The bill, similar to SB 344 which passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee this morning, would create a board of appointees charged with developing such partnerships for infrastructure projects in the Commonwealth. Democrats opposed the bill as amended in part due to the amendment’s elimination of references to the state Prevailing Wage Act. Chairman Geist defended the change, contending that a large majority of projects will involve federal dollars and thus be subject to federal prevailing wage law.
PLS subscribers check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
June 8, 2011, 12:52 pm
The House Consumer Affairs Committee this morning approved legislation, with amendments, that would authorize utilities to implement ratemaking procedures to accelerate the recovery of capital investments related to infrastructure repair/replacement. Proponents of the legislation indicated it will accelerate collection of capital costs and thus accelerate infrastructure improvements. Several members questioned the amount of costs that would be recovered, but ultimately an amendment to limit collections to net costs was not approved. Three members voted against reporting the amended bill from committee.
Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox this afternoon.
March 3, 2011, 1:16 pm
Several PA lawmakers and members of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (PICPA) Fiscal Responsibility Task Force offered objective ways to help Governor Corbett and lawmakers ways to address PA’s fiscal challenges. Highlights included efficiency and streamlining of state government, infrastructure and pensions. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.
October 13, 2010, 12:22 pm
Governor Rendell’s Chief of Staff Steve Crawford appeared today alongside State Police Commissioner Frank Pawlowski and PEMA Director Robert French to update the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee on what the administration is developing in response to the scandal that erupted over a single-source contract given to the Institute of Terrorism Research & Response (ITRR) to provide alert bulletins for potential threats to critical infrastructure in the state. Crawford acknowledged the bulletins were for the most part of questionable value, and confirmed they are no longer being produced.
Moving forward, Crawford reported the administration would like to hire 4 new analysts to work within the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center (PaCIC) to focus strictly on non-law enforcement information and data processing. The positions would be paid for out of the general government operations (GGO) budget, which Crawford encouraged the committee to sustain during budget negotiations next year. Check the Committee News section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
September 21, 2010, 11:16 am
House Republicans this morning released details of a jobs plan called Marcellus Works, intended to be a “vision” for the energy future of Pennsylvania. The plan, according to Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), includes a transition of the state fleet to natural gas vehicles, tax credits for private entities to convert to clean natural gas fleets and infrastructure, government conversion grants for municipalities to convert their fleets, and turning the Pennsylvania Turnpike into a Clean Natural Gas Corridor, with fueling states at every other rest stop. Though an overall cost to the package depends on how popular the grants and other incentives turn out to be, Rep. Saylor indicated the state would make back its money and see cost savings over time as a result of the conversions. The plan would also create thousands of jobs in the industry, he said. Check the Press Conferences section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
September 16, 2010, 10:27 am
House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) revealed this morning the details of the House Democrats’ transportation funding proposal, which he hopes to pass before the House and Senate conclude session in November. The plan aims to generate $1.3 billion in funding, which would be combined with money coming from Act 44 to total $1.75 billion for transportation projects overall. According to Chairman Evans the plan includes three new revenue sources:
A new 8% tax on oil company gross profits, replacing the Corporate Net Income Tax An increase in transportation-related fees to reflect current inflation rates A 6.5% increase in the oil company franchise tax
In addition the plan includes eight reforms to public transportation in the state, including provisions for public-private partnerships (P3s), mergers and consolidations, and required notice of 72 hours before any work stoppages.
Chairman Evans warned that with PennDOT’s five-month bidding period for projects, a plan needs to be put in place soon to be able to invest new money in time for the 2011 construction season. Check the Press Conferences section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
August 23, 2010, 12:00 pm
This morning Governor Rendell previewed the transportation funding proposal he and Transportation Secretary Biehler will present to the four caucuses later in the day. To generate one billion dollars for bridge, road and mass transit funding, the governor intends to call for a two-pronged approach. First is an 8% tax on gross oil company profits, while exempting those companies from the 9.99% Corporate Net Income Tax. In addition, all motor vehicle license fees would be reset to the current rate of inflation. The annual registration fee for a passenger car, which has not been increased since 1997, would go from $36 to $49 under the plan.
House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) said he is committed to reaching a solution, and did not rule out the possibility of a gas tax, though it is not part of the governor’s official proposal. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story on the press conference, and stay tuned to PLS throughout the day for ongoing coverage of the four-caucus legislative transportation caucus.
August 19, 2010, 2:11 pm
Governor Rendell
This afternoon Governor Rendell released the details of a survey conducted by pollsters Frank Luntz and Jefrey Pollock that shows widespread support for transportation funding in the state.
The poll, which was commissioned with funds from the Rendell for Governor campaign account, found that 95% of respondent believe the quality of transportation infrastructure matter’s to the state’s economy. 75% of those polled said they would support a tax on oil company profits and closing tax loopholes. A plurality supported increasing vehicle and driver fees to the rate of inflation, while gas tax hike, also pegged to the rate of inflation, was generally unpopular.
Governor Rendell also reported he will reveal his updated proposal for transportation funding on Monday, at a bicameral, bipartisan legislative caucus on the issue. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story and stay tuned to PLS on Monday for coverage of the transportation caucus.
May 12, 2010, 12:06 pm
Governor Rendell revealed this morning that Pennsylvania stands 2nd among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in putting to work the money allocated for transportation funding by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Citing a letter sent by US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, the governor said that as of March 31, Pennsylvania has begun construction of projects totaling 99.7 percent of the state’s funding.
The governor said the timely expenditure of the stimulus money is something of which the state should be “exceptionally proud.”
At the same press conference, the governor also “fact checked” a number of the statements made by the various gubernatorial candidates, on topics including spending cuts, the state automobile fleet, and education. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
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