IN THE NEWS

 

Democrats to Governor Corbett, GOP legislature: Where's the leadership?

 

Democratic leaders from the state House and Senate joined together this week to urge Gov. Tom Corbett and leaders of the Republican-controlled legislature to end their extreme ideological crusade and to begin leading on the issues that matter to working, middle-class families.

 

As Pennsylvania's economy continues to sputter, the Democratic leaders said Republicans have failed to make jobs a priority, choosing instead to focus on a right-wing agenda - from attacks on worker rights and wages to attempts to gain political advantage through gerrymandering and limiting the right to vote.

 

"Despite being well positioned to move forward after weathering the financial storm from the last recession, Pennsylvania continues to take on water, and that is a byproduct of the lack of direction," said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny. "Most importantly, we've seen no leadership from the Republicans on jobs."

 

Both the House and Senate Democratic caucuses have proposed comprehensive job-creation and economic development plans. The Corbett administration and the Republican legislative caucuses have offered no comprehensive proposals to boost jobs and jumpstart Pennsylvania's economy.

 

House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody noted that 500,000 Pennsylvanians still remain unemployed. And, he said, the Corbett-Republican budget - which slashed public school funding by nearly $1 billion and decimated health care programs for seniors, individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable citizens - resulted in 21,000 jobs lost, including 14,000 public school positions.

 

"Governor Corbett and the Republicans in charge of the legislature haven't just done nothing on jobs; they've actually made our job climate worse," said Dermody, D-Allegheny. "They have failed, at every turn, to make working, middle-class families a priority. This has been a year of failure for the Republicans who control state government in Pennsylvania - failure on jobs, failure on transportation and failure to enact a fair tax on natural gas companies drilling in the Marcellus Shale. The list of failures goes on and on."

 

Read more here.

 

 

Hanna introduces fair congressional maps; rejected by GOP

 

State Rep. Mike Hanna, D-Clinton/Centre, has introduced revised congressional maps that more closely resemble the "one-man, one-vote" principle afforded by the U.S. Constitution.

 

"Voting is the only way citizens can hold their government accountable. Based on what we've seen so far in this process, redistricting has become a game, which cripples competitive elections and ensures incumbency protection," said Hanna, the House Democratic Caucus whip. "This is politics at its worst and a backwards movement in transparency and reform. We should make certain that every person's vote counts, putting the interests of all the citizens first, not just the politicians. My proposal will not suppress the voices of 12.7 million Pennsylvania residents, but allow their voices to be heard through their vote."

 

Hanna's legislation (H.B. 2078) crafts congressional districts for Pennsylvania that more closely align with suggestions offered by the Pennsylvania League of Women Voters and Common Cause. Instead, Republicans passed a highly politicized congressional district map through the House and Senate, which the governor is expected to sign into law.

 

Read more here.

 

 

Roebuck unveils alternative to vouchers: 'All Students Can Succeed'

 

State Rep. James Roebuck, D-Phila., Democratic chairman of the House Education Committee, has announced his alternative to private-school voucher plans that have been floated in Harrisburg.

 

"I call my plan 'All Students Can Succeed' because it is designed to help 100 percent of students in Pennsylvania's lowest-performing schools through targeted improvements rather than handing tax-funded private-school vouchers to 3 to 9 percent of the children in those schools and hoping they find private schools that will accept them," Roebuck said. "All Students Can Succeed would help 100 percent of the kids in these schools for about the same cost of the voucher plans that only cover 3 to 9 percent of the kids, and without violating the state constitution. This would be a win-win for these children and for taxpayers. I believe it can and should receive bipartisan support."

 

A tentative list of schools that would be affected by All Students Can Succeed is available on Roebuck's website, www.pahouse.com/Roebuck. Click here to view the list.

 

Read more here.

 

 

PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE

 

Mundy-championed elderly caregiver bill awaits governor's signature

 

Legislation championed by state Rep. Phyllis Mundy the past five years to expand eligibility under Pennsylvania's Family Caregiver Support Program to non-relatives or relatives living outside a senior's home is on its way to the governor after it passed the state Senate this week.

 

"Today's vote brings us closer to helping more seniors remain at home," said Mundy, D-Luzerne. "This legislation is long overdue, and I hope the governor will sign it quickly."

 

Currently, Pennsylvania's Family Caregiver Support Program reimburses eligible family members for the costs associated with caring for an older person only if they live in the same household. The program also provides grants for home modifications and the purchase of assistive devices.

 

Read more here.

 

 

PASSED THE HOUSE

 

House passes Longietti bill to set standards for electronic deed filing

 

State Rep. Mark Longietti's bill that would establish uniform standards for county recorders of deeds to electronically record deeds, mortgages, leases and other property documents unanimously passed the state House this week.

 

"Currently, many Pennsylvania counties permit the electronic recording of property documents," said Longietti, D-Mercer. "It's important that a set of standards be put in place to ensure it's done in an orderly way across the Commonwealth."

 

Longietti said 25 other states have adopted the Uniform Real Property Electronic Recording Act, and his legislation would help Pennsylvania recorder of deeds offices work with similar offices in those states.

 

Read more here.

 

 

COMMITTEE ACTION

 

Santoni: Amended privatization legislation moves toward vote; Democrats opposed

 

State Rep. Dante Santoni, D-Berks, said that the House Liquor Control Committee has voted on legislation which would partially privatize the state's wine sales.

 

"The Democrats on the committee remain opposed to the proposal and voted against its release from committee, but we were able to temper some of the extreme provisions included in the original bill," said Santoni, who is Democratic chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee. "I remain concerned about the direction of this bill," Santoni said, "I believe my amendment in committee will provide modernization initiatives not included in the original legislation. I did try to reach agreement with the committee members that we re-evaluate the bill as it now stands, including additional public hearings, but the Republican members were eager to report the legislation to the full House. Like my Democratic colleagues, I voted no on the amended bill."

 

The current version of H.B. 11 does not divest the state store system of either the wholesale or retail sales of wine and spirits but does allow for competition in the sale of wine by allowing private businesses to obtain both wholesale and retail licenses to compete with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, or PLCB. There would be no limit on the number of licenses available.

 

Read more here.

 

 

BILL INTRODUCTIONS

 

Josephs intros bill to prohibit public officials' involvement in detention services

 

State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., has introduced a bill that would prohibit public officials and employees from being involved in a contract worth $500 or more that involves detention services for individuals who are detained in order to determine their immigration status.

 

"There are several detention facilities in Pennsylvania, and these services have become big money. But surely our collective memories cannot be so short as to forget the deplorable 'kids for cash' scandal," Josephs said. "This bill works to prevent that with regard to detainees."

 

The scandal to which Josephs referred is the Luzerne County scandal in which two judges were convicted for sentencing juvenile offenders to privately owned detention centers in exchange for kickbacks. The Supreme Court vacated the convictions of thousands of juveniles as a result of this case.

 

Read more here.

 

 

Bishop legislation provides further protection for victims of sexual abuse

 

State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop, D-Phila., has introduced legislation to provide additional safeguards for victims of sexual abuse.

 

Bishop said her legislation (H.B. 2058) would lift the current statute of limitations on criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits against people who commit sex crimes against children in Pennsylvania. Bishop is Democratic chairwoman of the House Children and Youth Committee and, in past legislative sessions, has introduced similar legislation to protect young victims of sexual abuse. Bishop's legislation would change Pennsylvania law that prohibits people from pursuing criminal charges or civil lawsuits after age 30 or 50, respectively, against someone who allegedly committed a sex crime against them when they were a child.

 

"I believe it is critical that we provide support to victims of child molestation and sexual abuse," Bishop said. "We need to protect the rights of young victims of sex abuse not only while they are children, but also when they grow into adults."

 

Read more here.

 

 

DePasquale: Expand open records law to include state-related schools

 

State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, said at a news conference in Harrisburg that he has introduced legislation to update Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law to include state-related universities.

 

"Due to the recent exposure of alleged events at Penn State University, I find it imperative that our Right-To-Know Law be amended to include state-related institutions, including Penn State," DePasquale said.

 

House Bill 2051 would require state-related institutions, including Penn State, Temple University, University of Pittsburgh and Lincoln University to abide by guidelines for Commonwealth agencies as set forth in Act 3 of 2008, Pennsylvania's Right-To-Know Law.

 

Read more here.