IN THE NEWS

 

Burns wins property tax relief fight in state House

 

State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria/Somerset, said the state House this week unanimously passed a measure he introduced that would ensure table game revenues in Pennsylvania go directly toward homeowner property tax relief.

 

In October, the House unanimously approved an amendment to H.B. 2009 authored by Burns to provide property tax relief through table games revenue. While H.B. 2009 provides for several other gaming reform measures, the original bill did not provide any additional funding for property tax relief. Burns' amendment would automatically direct table game revenues to the Property Tax Relief Fund beginning next year. Under current law, these revenues are deposited in the state's General Fund until the balance in the Rainy Day Fund exceeds $750 million.

 

"The governor is holding a $500 million surplus in the state General Fund. By not transferring this money to the Rainy Day Fund, he is effectively holding up additional property tax relief for thousands of Pennsylvania homeowners," Burns said. "My amendment would prevent this administration, or any future administration, from holding property tax relief money hostage."

 

Read more here.

 

 

Democratic Policy Committee looks at Pa.'s transportation issues

 

The House Democratic Policy Committee heard from several testifiers at a public hearing in Philadelphia Nov. 28 regarding the challenges facing the Commonwealth when dealing with its aging transportation infrastructure.

 

The hearing looked specifically at the Philadelphia region's infrastructure, including roadway and public transit. The committee also considered aspects of the Governor's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission's August 2011 report.

 

"The governor established a commission to investigate transportation issues, received the commission's report, and then decided not to act," committee Chairman Mike Sturla said. "House Democrats take their commitment to the people of Pennsylvania seriously, and the Commonwealth's roads and bridges, which are among the worst in the nation, demand action."

 

Read more here.

 

 

Democratic Policy Committee examines Pa.'s jobs outlook

 

Members of the House Democratic Policy Committee on Nov. 29 heard from labor leaders at a public hearing in Philadelphia on the status of Pennsylvania's work force and unemployment in the Commonwealth, said Chairman Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster.

 

State Rep. Bill Keller, D-Phila., the Democratic chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee, served as the hearing co-chairman.

 

"Jobs for Pennsylvania workers should be the number one priority of lawmakers," Keller said. "Yet the legislative leaders who control the voting schedule have taken their eye off this important issue in pursuit of other goals. I suggested a public hearing so we can put jobs at the forefront and hear from people who can articulate the jobs crisis in our state and help lay out the steps needed to get people back to work."

 

Read more here.

 

 

PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE

 

Waters legislation encouraging responsible alcohol sales at Stop and Go retail stores goes to governor

 

Legislation proposed by state Rep. Ronald G. Waters, D-Phila./Delaware, to keep alcohol out of the wrong hands has been passed by both the House and Senate, sending it to the governor for his signature into law.

 

Included in the measure (H.B. 242) that passed is legislation Waters has been championing for several sessions. It would require managers at restaurants, eating places, retail dispensers, hotel clubs and liquor distributor licensees to complete the Responsible Alcohol Management Program manager/owner training offered by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. An employee would have 180 days from his appointment as a manager to comply with the RAMP training requirement.

 

"This legislation is important in the effort to encourage local 'Stop and Gos' to be responsible in their practices regarding the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages," Waters said. "There has been some concern that these businesses are less than diligent in conforming to the liquor laws with respect to minors or people who are already intoxicated. This is another step in the effort to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors."

 

Read more here.

 

 

PASSED THE HOUSE

 

House passes O'Brien bills to keep gamblers from leaving their kids in cars

 

The state House passed legislation authored by state Rep. Mike O'Brien, D-Phila., designed to reduce the incidences of children being left in cars while their parents or guardians gamble at Pennsylvania casinos.

 

O'Brien said he authored the legislation (H.B.s 120 and 121) in response to the growing number of incidences of children being left unattended in casino parking lots. He pointed to at least 10 documented instances of such behavior since February 2010 at the Parx Casino in Bensalem alone. Earlier this fall, the grandparents of three children ages 12, 7 and 2, left their grandchildren in a vehicle at the SugarHouse casino in Philadelphia while they went inside.

 

"Compulsive gamblers who leave common sense behind so they can nurse their addiction, and even those who might think their children are old enough or responsible enough to handle being left alone, need to be sent a clear and direct message that this behavior will not be tolerated," O'Brien said. "These incidents represent a direct threat to the safety, health and welfare of young children, and each instance can easily result in tragedy."

 

Read more here.

 

 

Costa legislation helps funding for zoos

 

Language from legislation state Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, previously authored was included in a bill passed by the House Wednesday that would allow the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh zoos to obtain liquor licenses for special events and fundraising purposes.

 

House Bill 242 would change the liquor code to grant privileges for special occasion licenses to various establishments and venues. Costa introduced an amendment that would allow zoos that are accredited members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to obtain a public venue liquor license.

 

"This would give the zoos opportunities to use alcohol sales to add to their fundraising efforts. It also would allow them to compete for private banquets such as weddings, events, and reception business, all in an effort to replace the government funding that has been lost over the past few years," Costa said.

 

Read more here.

 

 

BILL INTRODUCTIONS

 

Barbin to introduce VeteransFirst Tax Credit

 

State Rep. Bryan Barbin, D-Cambria, will introduce "VeteransFirst Tax Credit" legislation that would provide a $4,000 per year tax credit to businesses with less than 100 employees to hire unemployed veterans.

 

"When combined with Senator Bob Casey's bill in the U.S. Senate, businesses would be provided with up to $13,600 in total state and federal tax credits for hiring Pennsylvania veterans. That's a good start for getting our true heroes back to work," Barbin said.

 

Barbin said the $4,000 per year state tax credit, part of House Democrats' proposed JumpstartPA job-creation package of bills, would be available for four years and would be funded by the surplus unused 2010-11 revenues. The tax credit would be provided against Pennsylvania personal and corporate taxes for each currently unemployed veteran hired.

 

Read more here.

 

 

Youngblood continues fight to bring transparency, accountability to RACP process

 

Citing "Chelten Plaza" as the example of all that is wrong with the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, state Rep. Rosita C. Youngblood has introduced legislation that would bring greater accountability and transparency to one of the state's most important grant programs.

 

Youngblood, who has been actively involved in supporting the efforts of thousands of citizens living in her district who have expressed significant concerns regarding the "Chelten Plaza" development project, said the legislation (H.B. 2030) is needed to help communities fight deceitful developers and bring the RACP process out of the dark and into the light of day.

 

"The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a vital component to our state's economic development initiatives, and it is important that we provide funding to help our communities grow," Youngblood said. "But it's time that we provide accountability and transparency to the process and put an end to the pay-to-play politics that has surrounded this program for decades."

 

Read more here.

 

 

Deer management legislation introduced by Hanna

 

State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, recently introduced legislation designed to focus the mission of the Pennsylvania Game Commission on sportsmen, while also giving hunters more involvement in the management of whitetail deer.

 

"The PGC is responsible for managing game in the Commonwealth. Within the last decade, the PGC has changed its deer management strategy. This change has demonstrated that the PGC is less focused on the needs of sportsmen. As such, my legislation would amend the duties of the PGC to focus primarily on serving the interests of sportsmen, including maximizing the sustainable yield of the whitetail deer herd," Hanna said.

 

Hanna's legislation (H.B. 2034) would also establish a bipartisan Antlerless Deer Harvest Committee.