Sunday, February 10, 2013
Gov. Tom Corbett's 2013-14 budget ties sale of state liquor system to a $1 billion grant for school safety, early education programs, individualized learning and science/math programs.
Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2013-14 budget, which he presented Feb. 5, contains an interesting cocktail that mixes the sale of the state's liquor system with funding of a public schools grant. Under his proposal, $1 billion obtained by the proposed privatization of the state's liquor sales would be used to create the Passport for Learning Block Grant that would focus on school safety; enhanced early education programs; individualized learning; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses and programs. The $1 billion in revenue to fund that grant will come from the three- to four-year process of selling the Liquor Control Board: $575 million from the wholesale license process, $224 million from the Wine and Spirits retail …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Pennsylvania Department of Education lists proposed funds by school district on its website; Patch checked out info for Pine-Richland.
Gov. Tom Corbett's budget is out and, of course, everyone wants to know how much their cut of the budget pie will be—especially school districts. Patch found that Pine-Richland School District is slated to receive a 5 percent increase from $10.3 million for the 2012-13 school year to $10.8 million for 2013-14 if the governor's proposed budget passes, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website. Funding is broken down into six categories on the website. The Pennsylvania Department of Education numbers are in the screenshot above. Here's a little more analysis: Increases: Basic Education Funding —from $4.64 million to $4.73 million, up 4.1 percent School Employees' Social Security—$1.04 million to $1.06 million, up 2.8 …
Secretary Barry Schoch spent Wednesday meeting with reporters at PennDOT’s District 11 headquarters in Collier Township to outline Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to uncap the state’s oil company franchise tax.
PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch has a blunt assessment about the state’s aging transportation infrastructure and the government’s new plan to upgrade it. “Every year we duck this issue and every year the bill becomes bigger,” Schoch said. “It doesn’t go away.” Schoch spent Wednesday afternoon meeting with reporters at PennDOT’s District 11 headquarters in Collier Township to outline Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan to uncap the state’s oil company franchise tax, which would increase the price of gasoline, but would bring in billions in new revenue. “There are a lot of questions of the cost about doing this,” Schoch said. “There’s also a cost if we don’t do anything.” The cap on tax at the wholesale level would be lifted over five years in unison …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Democrats voice concerns while Republicans lend support for Gov. Tom Corbett's 2013-14 budget.
Western Pennsylvania Democrats had some harsh words for Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed 2013-14 state budget, which he presented Tuesday, while state Republican Party Chairman Rob Gleason called the governor's plan a "balanced and responsible budget that reinvests in Pennsylvania." “The plan presented by the governor is disappointing,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills. “It was long on politics but short on solutions.” State Rep. Erin Molchany, a newly elected Democrat serving South Hills communities said the governor’s "Band-Aid budget does little to make up for the hurt this state has felt from his deep cuts." State Rep. Robert Matzie, a Democrat representing the Sewickley area, said: “New Jersey has Chris Christie as …
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
The governor has raised funding in some areas but at least some opponents don't feel the budget addresses important issues.
Gov. Tom Corbett delivered highlights of his proposed 2013-14 budget in a speech before the state Legislature on Tuesday morning. The $28.4 billion state budget plan, a 2.4 percent increase over this year, includes no general tax increases. In one of the most controversial areas, Corbett recommended against expanding Medicaid, as provided for under the Affordable Health Care Act. Corbett plans to ask the federal government for flexibililty to let Pennsylvania customize the health insurance program for its needs or have the state reject the Medicaid expansion. Under the act, also known as Obamacare, Medicaid could expand to cover people earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level and provide coverage for upwards of 600,000 uninsured …
Sunday, February 3, 2013
The House majority leader is a longtime proponent of selling off state Wine & Spirits stores.
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, appeared alongside Gov. Tom Corbett this week to push for the privatization of state liquor stores. Corbett on Wednesday announced his plan to privatize the liquor system in Pennsylvania and committed $1 billion in proceeds from the process to education funding. Turzai proposed legislation in 2011 to privatize wholesale and retail liquor distribution and sell off Pennsylvania's state stores. He has repeatedly said government should not be in the business of selling wine and liquor or promoting alcohol use. “Privatizing wine and liquor will eliminate the 75-year-old state monopoly on liquor sales by auctioning retail licenses to the private sector and investing $1 billion of the proceeds…
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
“Our plan gives consumers what they want by increasing choice and convenience, and helps to secure our future by adding $1 billion in funding toward the education of our
children, without raising any taxes,” the governor said Wednesday.
Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday announced his plan to privatize the liquor system in Pennsylvania and committed $1 billion in proceeds from the process to education funding. The governor said the $1 billion will be used to create the Passport for Learning Block Grant, which will provide flexibility to schools, allowing public schools, instead of Harrisburg, to decide what their students need. The grant will focus on four priority areas: school safety; enhanced early education programs; individualized learning; and science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses and programs. “Our proposal is part of my commitment to changing Harrisburg, streamlining government and moving Pennsylvania forward,” Corbett said. “Our plan gives consumers…
Friday, December 28, 2012
The Pennsylvania governor speaks at the Moon Township-based air wing, urging military officials to scrap plans to shutter the base.
Standing beneath the wings of a C-130 aircraft at the 911th Airlift Wing, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett said he would work with Pennsylvania's federal lawmakers to fight renewed plans to close the Moon Township air base. Corbett, appearing alongside Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, and state Sen. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, implored military officials and federal lawmakers to end efforts to close the 911th as a cost-saving measure. "I'm going to ask our (Pennsylvania) congressional delegation to do whatever they need to do to save this base," Corbett said. The U.S. Air Force has again taken initial steps toward closing the airlift wing after March 2013—the expiration of a law put in …
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Lois Siess, an 84-year-old great-grandmother who lives at The Arbors at St. Barnabas, received Hawaiian-themed gift.
With a blue lei around his neck, Gov. Tom Corbett presented the final gift of the Presents for Patients 2012 season Thursday at a Hawaiian-themed Christmas celebration at St. Barnabas' Valencia campus. Lois Siess, an 84-year-old great-grandmother who lives at The Arbors at St. Barnabas, received a picture book about Hawaii, suntan lotion, a beach towel and hat. The gift honored her fond memories of a trip to Hawaii with her late husband, Richard. "Oh how nice," Siess exclaimed as she opened her present. "I'll have a lot of enjoyment going through this. ... I'll remember this forever." In addition to presenting the final gift for the 2012 season, the governor and his wife, Susan, were named honorary chairs for the 2013 Presents for …
Corbett, while visiting St. Barnabas' Crystal Conservatories for a Presents for Patients event, also speaks about the fiscal cliff and Pennsylvania's budget.
Gov. Tom Corbett—who called for more attention to mental illness in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings—would not commit Thursday to increased funding for mental health treatment. The governor said it is too early in the budget process to commit to increasing or decreasing funding for anything. His remarks came during a press conference at St. Barnabas' Crystal Conservatories in Valencia after a Presents for Patients presentation. Last week, the governor stressed the need to look at mental illness as reporters at a press conference pressed him on whether he would support an assault weapons ban. "It doesn’t matter whether it is an assault weapon or a handgun, it’s the mental illness issue that we have to work as much as we …
Joseph
1:47 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
I've been involved. I've seen the beast first hand. The only way to change it is to become a part of the special interest groups or run for office to diffuse the special interest groups (good luck winning an election without the support of special interest groups). more ›