April 24, 2012
By Sean Whaley | Nevada News Bureau
April 23, 2012
Starts Tuesday at 6pm
Join us starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday online for a live discussion as the results of Pennsylvania's primary election roll in.
April 05, 2012
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News
April 04, 2012
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Brad Halbrook will serve out the remainder of the term for retired state Rep. Roger Eddy, R-Hutsonville, according to the Quad City Times.
March 30, 2012
The Better Choices for Pennsylvania, a liberal coalition, used pies to illustrate that closing loopholes and stopping tax breaks would bring needed revenue to fund programs.
The state Senate was busy, passing Senate Bill 790, which allows for wines from U.S. wineries to be shipped directly to houses in the state, and a constitutional amendment, which would prohibit the federal government from requiring Pennsylvania residents to buy health insurance.
Group says taxes will grow PA’s ‘fiscal pie;’ economist disagrees
A liberal coalition against Corbett’s budget plan told lawmakers that plugging loopholes and tax breaks would “grow the pie” of state government, but economists and business groups said Pennsylvania should grow the private sector.
Better Choices for Pennsylvania distributed pies in the state Capitol in an effort to get lawmakers to increase revenue and spending by more than $1 billion in this year’s budget. They said the state should pursue policies that would create a larger “fiscal pie,” so bigger slices of tax dollars could be used for welfare, education and health care.
“There are a number of ways that Pennsylvania can grow the pie without raising taxes,” said Sharon Ward, executive director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, or PBPC, a fiscally liberal think tank here and coalition member. “We believe Pennsylvania must delay its tax cuts, until we can afford the services we need.”
Second PA lawmaker convicted in 2012 for corruption
For the second time in the first three months of 2012, a sitting lawmaker was convicted on charges of using taxpayer resources for political purposes.
An Allegheny County jury found state Sen. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny, guilty on 14 charges Monday, including theft of services, ethics violations and forgery. Five of the convictions were felonies, each of which could carry up to seven years in prison, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
In February, state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, was convicted by a Dauphin County jury of five counts including theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest connected to his use of taxpayer-funded resources for political campaigns.
Under state law, DeWeese and Orie will lose their pensions because of the felony convictions.
Two flood relief bills will cost PA taxpayers $21M for state parks, flood control projects
Pennsylvania taxpayers will pick up $21 million of a $61 million tab to repair damage at state parks from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee last summer.
The capital projects itemized in the legislation include repairing washed-out trails, damaged cabins, eroded beaches and destroyed bridges in 12 counties. The cost to state taxpayers is $6 million, with federal funds filling in the rest.
A second list itemizes new flood control projects across eight counties, costing taxpayers $15 million.
“It is a major concern that there was no hearing on the bill,” said state Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Allegheny, minority chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “It is also a concern that there is no overall infrastructure project in the state.”
Republicans said lawmakers had no input in choosing the projects, selected by various executive level agencies and departments.
PA Senate OKs direct shipment of US wines to homes
Pennsylvania residents could have a little more liquor freedom, but only if they prefer American wine over the French, German or Australian varieties.
The state Senate passed Senate Bill 790, which allows for wines from U.S. wineries to be shipped directly to houses in the state. For imported wines, residents must pick them up at one of the 620 state-owned liquor stores.
The measure passed unanimously Wednesday morning and moves to the state House for consideration.
State Sen. Larry Farnese, D-Philadelphia, voted for the bill but expressed disappointment with the final product.
“The people of Pennsylvania are really getting less than what they should be getting,” Farnese said, adding that 90 percent of the world’s wine would not be shipped under the proposal.
PA Senate OKs amendment to block federal health-care law
Along stark partisan lines, the state Senate approved a constitutional amendment Wednesday that would prohibit the federal government from requiring Pennsylvania residents to buy health insurance.
The amendment was approved, 29-19, and moves to the state House. Even if it passes there, it must be passed a second time by both chambers next year and then placed on the ballot for a statewide referendum.
The amendment, sponsored by Senate President Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, also would prevent the federal government from imposing fines or penalties against people who don’t buy insurance — up to 2.5 percent of household income.
Alleged Fla. shooter could face charges under PA law
The Florida stand-your-ground law may be preventing authorities from charging the man accused of shooting teenager Trayvon Martin, but under a similar law in Pennsylvania, charges could have been filed.
“The significant difference in Pennsylvania law is that (the alleged aggressor) would have had to display a deadly weapon to justify a person using deadly force,” said Richard Long, executive director of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, which provides training and support to the state’s 67 district attorneys.
In the Martin case, various media reports and a released 911 call appeared to show the teenager did not have a weapon, just a bag of Skittles candy and an iced-tea drink. Also, Martin’s shooter, George Zimmerman, allegedly followed the teen despite a 911 operator telling him not to. A scuffle ensued and Martin was shot and killed.
Noonan told a pair of legislative committees Wednesday that he needs more cadets to replace retiring officers and fill a 300-officer shortfall.
“That’s what I’m hoping for. If the numbers go down, we’re going to have to make significant changes in how we do business,” he told members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and House Judiciary Committee during a hearing on state police staffing issues.
Corbett’s proposed budget for fiscal 2012-13 would include funding for one new class of cadets, which produces about 115 new police officers.
