Budget negotiations to resolve the funding end of the state budget impasse continue toward a 90th day with no resolution. The General Assembly passed a $32 billion spending plan on June 30, but did not decide on the revenue package to support it. Until a compromise plan can be reached, the state faces higher costs for borrowing with a recent downgrade of its credit rating. This week’s guests are John Micek, Editorial & Opinions Page Editor with PennLive and the Harrisburg Patriot News; R.B. Swift, Staff Reporter with Capitolwire; and Robb Hanrahan, anchor of Face the State and the CBS21 News in Harrisburg. Our host is Brian Lockman.
Journalists Roundtable: September 21, 2017
It’s 80+ days after the June 30 budget deadline, and budget implementation language has not been enacted to delineate revenue sources to pay for the spending plan. Two differing plans have been advanced by the House and Senate Republicans. The Senate on Wednesday positioned the bill for conference committee where a compromise plan can be worked out. Also, Standard and Poor’s – the bond rating agency – has downgraded Pennsylvania’s credit rating to A+ (the fifth highest investment grade bond credit rating, with AAA being the highest), which could mean the state pays a higher interest rate on bonds it issues when incurring debt. This week’s guests are Steve Esack, with the Allentown Morning Call, Charlie Thompson, with PennLive and the Patriot News, and Chris Comisac, Bureau Chief with Capitolwire. Our host is Francine Schertzer.
Journalists Roundtable: June 8, 2017
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted on a pensions bill on Sunday night that establishes a 401k-style pension plan for new state, military and public school employees and two hybrid defined benefit/defined contribution plans. There are just over three weeks until the June 30 budget deadline, but there is no bill on consolidating four health-related agencies. The budget is also contingent on new gambling revenue being approved. That bill is in the House awaiting approval of Senate amendments. The pension bill is expected to receive final passage in the House on Thursday. This week’s guests are John Micek, Editorial & Opinions Page Editor with PennLive and The Patriot-News; and Chris Comisac, Bureau Chief with Capitolwire.com. Our host is Francine Schertzer.
Journalists Roundtable: May 25, 2017
The House and Senate were in session three days this week in advance of Memorial Day weekend. A number of bills are moving with just about five weeks until the June 30 state budget deadline. Legislation fixing the local share provision of the gaming law neared passage. That bill also expands gambling to fantasy sports, gambling tablets in airports and establishes an iLottery, where lottery tickets can be purchased online. Also, a bill that would move Pennsylvania toward compliance with the federal REAL ID law passed the Senate. A public employee pension bill is advancing and may come up for a vote in the first week of June. This week’s guests are Steve Esack from the Allentown Morning Call; Charlie Thompson from PennLive and the Patriot-News; and R.B. Swift, with Capitolwire.com. Our host is Brian Lockman.
Journalists Roundtable: May 11, 2017
Journalists Roundtable is on the road at the Allentown Morning Call this week. As the primary election nears on May 18, incumbent Mayor Ed Pawlowski faces six opponents in the primary two years after an FBI raid raised ethical questions about pay-to-play in his administration. That story is the topic as well as other news breaking this week in Pennsylvania politics. This week’s guests are from the Allentown Morning Call: Bill White, Columnist; Emily Opilo, reporter; and Bob Orenstein, the Morning Call’s Town Square Opinion Page Content Editor. Our host is Brian Lockman.
Journalists Roundtable: April 27, 2017
Journalists Roundtable is on the road at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this week. In Harrisburg, the House was the center of legislative action as it considered four bills further privatizing the sale of wine and spirits, both at the wholesale and retail level. They also discussed a charter school bill that could save $27 million. As the primary election nears on May 18, incumbent first-term mayor Bill Peduto faces opposition in the primary from two contenders. Uber, the ride sharing service, has been in the news in the Pittsburgh area because it plans a Pittsburgh-based driverless car facility. Also, earlier this year, the governor announced the closure of a prison in Pittsburgh, a move expected to save $81 mllion. This week’s guests are from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Chris Potter, Reporter; Adam Smeltz; Reporter; and Brian O’Neill, Columnist. Our host is Brian Lockman.
Journalists Roundtable: April 20, 2017
After a week off for holidays, the House and Senate convened for two days of session this week. On the House agenda was a charter school proposal that would save taxpayers $27 million. They also passed two bills that would privatize the sale wine and spirits. The General Assembly sent Gov. Tom Wolf a bill to fund Unemployment Compensation Service Centers with $15 million. Also, Lt. Gov. Mike Stack was back to work as President of the Senate after a week in which it was announced that the PA Inspector General was investigating allegations that Stack and his wife verbally abused state employees and State Police. Our guests this week are: Steve Esack, Harrisburg Correspondent with the Allentown Morning Call; Wallace McKelvey, Statehouse Reporter with PennLive & The Patriot-News; and Tony Romeo, with KYW 1060AM Philadelphia and KDKA 1020AM Pittsburgh. Our host is Francine Schertzer.
Journalists Roundtable: April 6, 2017
Journalists Roundtable is in Philadelphia this week to discuss issues facing the city, including the 7-way Democratic primary for Philadelphia District Attorney. The primary election is on May 16 and comes in the wake of an indictment on 23 counts of fraud, extortion and bribery of Philadelphia’s outgoing DA Seth Williams, who decided not to run for another term. A new House member from Philadelphia was sworn in this week after winning a March 21 special election that Republicans say was fraught with irregularities. Rep. Emilio Vazquez was a rare write-in campaign winner, with just 5 percent of the eligible electorate coming to the polls. In Harrisburg, the House passed a budget bill this week that cut $800 million from Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget. The House also debated mandatory minimum sentences for several hours. This week’s guests are: Dave Davies, with WHYY FM; Claire Sasko, with Philadelphia Magazine; and Solomon Jones, Host of Wake Up With WURD on WURD 900 AM. Our host is Brian Lockman.
Journalists Roundtable: March 30, 2017
The Senate was in this week, and held a long hearing on the health-related agency consolidation proposal of Gov. Tom Wolf. With April on the horizon, the state budget deadline is now just three months away. How to pay for anticipated shortfalls without consistently relying on short-term fixes and fund transfers was the main topic, as well as other legislative activity from the past couple weeks. This week’s guests are: Chris Comisac, Bureau Chief of Capitolwire; Robb Hanrahan, anchor of Face the State and the CBS21 News in Harrisburg; and Dennis Owens, anchor and state capitol reporter with ABC27 News in Harrisburg. Our host is Brian Lockman.
Journalists Roundtable: March 23, 2017
Several high-profile trials heated up this week, and Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams was indicted and pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of fraud, extortion and bribery. The trial of former Penn State President Graham Spanier featured testimony by two former Penn State administrators who recently pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of children. The trial of Richard Ireland, who is accused of bribery, featured testimony of former State Treasurer Rob McCord. Election irregularities are being questioned by House Republicans in a Philadelphia special election made necessary because of a corruption-related resignation of a state House member. Those stories and news from the state capitol, including an animal cruelty bill known as Libre’s Law clearing a Senate committee, will be discussed with Katie Meyer, Capitol Bureau Chief with WITF-FM in Harrisburg, and Sam Janesch with LNP and Lancasteronline. Our host is Francine Schertzer.