Journalists Roundtable, June 7, 2018

On Wednesday, Gov. Tom Wolf held a press conference to sign an executive order on gender pay equity, which requires the state to pay male and female employees equal pay for the same job. The state budget deadline is June 30, and we’ll get an update where we are in that process with about three weeks to go. Also, House Majority Leader Dave Reed has introduced a reapportionment bill and an open primaries bill, which have been referred to the House Rules Committee, which Reed chairs. Meanwhile, the Senate positioned its own redistricting commission bill for a floor vote as soon as next week. A school safety hotline bill passed the Senate and now goes to the House. Those issues and other legislative activity will be discussed by guests Chris Comisac, Bureau Chief at Capitolwire.com; Tony Romeo, Harrisburg Bureau Chief with KYW 1060AM Philadelphia and KDKA 1020AM Pittsburgh; and John Finnerty, Harrisburg Bureau Chief for Community Newspaper Holdings. He writes for the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, Meadville Tribune, New Castle News, Sharon Herald and Sunbury Daily Item newspapers. Our host is Larry Kaspar.

Journalists Roundtable: May 24, 2018

Democrats nationwide are looking to Pennsylvania as a place where several seats in Congress can be picked up in the General Election as they hope to take control of the House in Washington D.C. In the Senate, Republicans hold a 51-49 seat advantage in Washington, but Democrats are defending 26 of 33 seats up for election nationwide.  Turnout in the primaries stood at about 20%. Under current state law, only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in the Primary Election, so about 1.2 million voters registered as Independents, Libertarians or Greens cannot vote in the spring election.  The state House and Senate were both in session this week, with a Senate committee reporting legislation to create an Independent Redistricting Commission and legislative leaders discussing opening primaries to all voters, meaning any voter could vote for any candidate they want in the primary.  To discuss these topics and other issues are John Micek, Editorial and Opinion Page Editor with the PennLive and the Patriot-News; Katie Meyer, Capitol Bureau Chief with WITF-FM; and John Baer, Columnist with the Philadelphia Daily News. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: May 17, 2018

The Pennsylvania Primary was held on May 15. Democrats and Republicans went to the polls to elect their candidates for the Nov. 6 General Election. In the GOP governor race, Scott Wagner beat Paul Mango and Laura Ellsworth. Incumbent Lt. Gov. Mike Stack placed fourth in his primary, with Braddock Mayor John Fetterman winning handily. On the GOP side, Jeff Bartos won. For Congress, 12 incumbents ran, and there will be seven open seats in the fall. Six Democratic women and one Republican woman will be on the fall ballot.  In the General Assembly, four incumbents lost their primaries. Three Democratic representatives lost their primary: Reps. Dom Costa and Paul Costa in Allegheny County; and March 2017 Special Election winner Emilio Vasquez in Philadelphia. Republican Sen. Randy Vulakovich of Allegheny County lost his primary. To discuss the election and other issues are Angela Couloumbis, State Government Reporter with the Philadelphia Inquirer; Marc Levy with the Associated Press and Liz Navratil, State Government Reporter with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: May 10, 2018

Pennsylvania Primary Election Day is May 15. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.. Political ads from the three candidates for the highly contested GOP primary for governor are saturating the airwaves. Five Democrats and four Republicans are running for Lt. Governor. There are 84 candidates running for 18 newly drawn Congressional Districts and seven seats feature no incumbent. One district, the 17th in Beaver and Allegheny counties, has two incumbents. Also on the ballot are 25 state Senate seats and 203 House seats, including three special elections for state House seats. To discuss the election and other issues are Steve Esack, Harrisburg Correspondent for The Allentown Morning Call; Dave Davies, a reporter with WHYY in Philadelphia; and Robb Hanrahan, Anchor of Face the State and CBS 21 News in Harrisburg. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: May 3, 2018

With less than two weeks before the May 15 primary, candidates are participating in their last debates, and political ads are hitting the airwaves. For Congress, 84 candidates are running for 18 seats, seven of which have no incumbent. In Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania House passed a package of regulatory and permit legislation supported by House Republicans who say this will streamline bureaucracy for businesses, and opposed by Democrats who contend rolling back regulations will be bad for the environment, health and safety. To discuss the election and other  issues are Paul Engelkemier, Managing Edicotr with Politics PA; Ryan Briggs, Reporter with City & State PA, based in Philadelphia; and Sam Janesch, Staff Writer for LNP in Lancaster. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: April 26, 2018

This week, Journalists Roundtable was on the road in York County at the offices of The York Daily Record. York has two gubernatorial candidates: Incumbent Democrat Tom Wolf is running for a second term as governor, and state Sen. Scott Wagner, who is serving his first full term as a member of the Senate after winning his seat in a write-in campaign, a first for the state Senate. The new Congressional redistricting plan split York County, with the 10th Congressional District shifted north to include eastern Cumberland, northern York and all of Dauphin counties, and the 11th, which includes southern York and all of Lancaster County. To discuss local and statewide issues are three York Daily Record reporters and editors: Maddie Crocenzi, Outdoor Adventure & Healthy Lifestyles Reporter; Scott Fisher, Opinions Page Editor; and Ed Mahon, Investigative Reporter. Also joining the panel is Bobby Tufarolo, a junior at Central York High School. He is Photography Editor for the school paper “The Prowler.” He was on hand for YDR’s annual High School Journalism Workshop. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: April 19, 2018

This week, Journalists Roundtable was on the road in Pottstown at the offices of The Mercury. The suburban collar counties around Philadelphia have three open Congressional seats covering Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties. With the primary election less than four weeks away, changes to Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation and to the General Assembly in Harrisburg could hinge on the outcome of races in southeastern Pennsylvania counties. To discuss these topics and others are: Tony Phyrillas, Editor of the Pottstown Mercury; Philip Heron, Editor of the Delaware County Daily Times; and Michael Rellahan, Courthouse Reporter for the West Chester Daily Local. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: April 12, 2018

This week, Journalists Roundtable was on the road in Allentown at the offices of the Morning Call. Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania, has its second new mayor in the last four months, Ray O’Connell, who ran against former mayor Ed Pawlowski in both the primary and general election as a write-in. Pawlowski resigned after being convicted in a pay-to-play scheme and is due to be sentenced in June. The region’s Congressman, Republican Charlie Dent, is not running for re-election. Eight candidates have filed  to replace him in the newly drawn 7th Congressional District primary. To discuss these topics and others are: the Morning Call’s Washington Correspondent Laura Olson; Emily Opilo, a reporter covering Allentown; Nicole Radzievich, a reporter covering Easton; and Columnist Bill White. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: March 29, 2018

This week, Journalists Roundtable was on the road in Levittown, headquarters of the Bucks County Courier-Times & The Intelligencer. The suburban counties around Philadelphia have been changing demographically, with more registered Democrats, but who they will vote for in 2018 is the big question. Northern Bucks County is the more affluent area. It supported Hillary Clinton in 2016. Southern Bucks is a working class area where more blue collar Democrats supported Donald Trump for president. Since the Parkland, FL school shooting a month ago, gun safety has been at the forefront of local debate, as are traffic and transportation concerns. A number of state legislative retirements have been announced in Bucks County. Freshman Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick’s 1st district was the least changed of any in the state’s new redistricting plan, but he faces both a primary and general election challenge. To discuss these topics and others are: Guy Petroziello, Editorial Page Editor of the Bucks County Courier-Times & The Intelligencer; James Boyle, a Reporter with The Intelligencer and JD Mullane, a Columnist with the Bucks County Courier-Times. Our host is Brian Lockman.

Journalists Roundtable: March 22, 2018

A federal District Court and the U.S. Supreme Court did not approve challenges to Congressional maps drawn by the PA Supreme Court. The rulings occurred the day before the nomination petition filing deadline. By Tuesday, 94 candidates had filed for Pennsylvania’s 18 newly drawn Congressional districts. The latest incumbent, Conor Lamb, who was elected to a district that no longer exists, will run in the primary in the 17th district against incumbent Republican Keith Rothfus. Due to retirements, the approved map has six seats without an incumbent. Some state legislators have sought to impeach the four Democratic justices who approved putting the new map in place in 2018. At the Capitol, the Senate passed a package of domestic violence bills Wednesday, including one that would require firearms to be transferred to a neighbor or relative in cases where a person has a protection from abuse order filed against them. To discuss these topics and others are: John Finnerty, Harrisburg Bureau Chief with CNHI and John Baer, Political Columnist with the Philadelphia Daily News. Our host is Brian Lockman.