Journalists Roundtable was held in the PCN Philadelphia Bureau this week to talk with local journalists about the upcoming election. Our guests are: Dave Davies, Senior Reporter with WHYY-FM; Chris Brennan, Political Writer & Columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer and Maria Panaritis, Columnist with the Philadelphia Inquirer. Our host is Brian Lockman.

This was the last scheduled week of floor session for the 2017-2018 General Assembly before the Nov. 6 election. Dozens of bills passed both chambers and will reach the governor’s desk, but not bills address the child sexual assault statute of limitations or reducing the size of the House. Also, the gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and […]

Journalists Roundtable will be in Pittsburgh on Oct. 10, to talk about the mood of voters in this mid-term election and the upcoming Congressional elections. Of particular interest is the battle of incumbents in the 17th Congressional District featuring Conor Lamb, spring special election winner, and Mark Rothfus, now in his third term. To discuss […]

The two major party gubernatorial candidates shared the stage at the chamber dinner for the one and only time scheduled this fall, with Alex Trebek hosting. With just a couple session days remaining before the election, the House and Senate prepare the final group of bills for presentation to the governor. Legislation in the pipeline […]

The House and Senate were both in session this week with the House discussing a bill allowing a two-year window for child sex abuse victims to sue their abusers. To discuss legislation on the agenda in during the few remaining legislative session days prior to the Nov. 6 election are Steve Esack, Harrisburg Correspondent for the Allentown Morning Call; Sarah Anne Hughes, State Capitol Reporter with TheIncline.com and BillyPenn.com; and Chris Comisac, Bureau Chief with Capitolwire.com. Our host is Brian Lockman.

This week, Journalists Roundtable visited the offices of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Williamsport is the home of the Little League World Series, which was played in August. The Nov. 6 ballot will include two local referenda asking voters if they want to change the form of city government. To discuss the business climate, local politics and the upcoming election are this week’s guests: Business and Political Reporter Mike Reuther; County Government and Health Reporter Katelyn Hibbard; and Publisher Bernie Oravec. Our host is Brian Lockman.

The PA House has scheduled eight voting sessions, and the Senate nine voting sessions before the election, which gives them just a few weeks to move on legislation that did not get considered in the first half of the year. To discuss what happened over the summer, are this week’s guests: Sam Janesch, Staff Writer, […]

Last Friday, the Senate adjourned for the summer and on Monday, the House followed suit. They concluded work on state budget more than a week early, the first time a budget has been signed before the deadline since 2001. The new budget contains no tax increases, but does rely on one-time revenue from transfers from various state funds.  A number of bills passed and were sent to the governor, including a new school safety grant program and $70 million for school safety. A measure that would change the way Pennsylvania draws its legislative districts did not receive final approval due to the filing of hundreds of amendments. Another proposed constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the state House to 151 members was not considered and will not be before voters for approval this year. To analyze the budget and recent legislative actions are: Marc Levy with the Associated Press; Katie Meyer, Capitol Bureau Chief with WITF-FM; and R.B. Swift with Capitolwire.com. Our host is Francine Schertzer.

On Wednesday, the House passed a budget bill and funding bills for state agencies and colleges. The budget requires no tax increases, but does rely on transferring surpluses from various state funds. Several legislative redistricting bills were considered in committee. A bill decreasing the size of the House passed the Senate. To discuss this week’s legislative action are: John Micek, Editorial & Opinions Page Editor, PennLive & The Patriot-News; Angela Couloumbis, State Government Reporter, Philadelphia Inquirer; and Robb Hanrahan, Anchor and Host of “Face the State”; CBS 21 News. Our host is Brian Lockman.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed a constitutional amendment on redistricting. The measure was originally drafted to apply to Congressional and General Assembly districts, but was amended to create judicial districts for the first time to elect members of the state’s three appellate courts by region as opposed to statewide. The Senate State Government Committee changed a House-passed constitutional amendment that reduced the size of both the House (to 151) and Senate (to 38) by stripping out the Senate section. That House-only reduction passed last session. If it would pass again this session in identical form, it could be placed on the ballot for voters to decide. Retaining the Senate section would mean the process starts anew – an identical bill would need to pass again in the 2019-20 legislative term.  Those proposals and other legislative activity will be discussed by guests Steve Esack, Harrisburg Correspondent with The Morning Call; Stephen Caruso, Harrisburg Bureau Chief with The PLS Reporter; and Brad Bumsted, Harrisburg Bureau Chief with The Caucus. Our host is Brian Lockman.