Governor’s Budget with Sen. Joe Scarnati, President Pro Tempore

February 5th is the day Governor Tom Wolf announces his new budget proposal.    Minimum wage, a new tax on Marcellus shale natural gas drillers,  and funding for basic education are major budget and legislative concerns.  Add to those issues a changing dynamic within the legislature, as it repopulates itself with new faces with new ways […]

Legislative Priorities with PA Partnerships for Children

About one-hundred ninety thousand incidents of child abuse were reported in Pennsylvania in 2016.  In 2017, many of those children went into the foster care system.  Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children wants foster kids to get the kind of support they need in order to improve their chances of becoming permanent members of families.  PPC’s new […]

Governor’s Budget with PA Chamber of Business & Industry

Gene Barr, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, will be among those watching Governor Tom Wolf deliver his annual proposal for the new state budget.   Last year,  Mr. Barr says the governor proposed changes to the corporate tax structure that would have been a disadvantage for the state’s businesses.    Already […]

Keystone College Juvenile Justice Institute

A U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sentencing juvenile offenders to life in prison is unconstitutional without considering the child’s life circumstances.   As a result of the precedent, hundreds of young offenders in Pennsylvania have had their sentences reviewed.  The Miller v. Alabama case is a major guiding force within the Keystone College Juvenile Justice Institute […]

Legislative Priorities with National Federation of Independent Business

The new Pennsylvania Director of the National Federation of Independent Business is eager to give Governor Tom Wolf some advice on how to improve the state’s climate for his members.  Gordon Denlinger, a former state lawmaker,  had been singled out for praise from the NFIB for his voting record on key small business issues.  He […]

Legislative Priorities with County Commissioners Assoc. of PA

The county you live in, along with sixty-six others in Pennsylvania, need state funding to help make the delivery of human services possible.  At the beginning of each year, the counties put together a list of priorities that they want the governor and legislature to take in consideration.  Lisa Schaefer, Director of Government Relations for […]

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale

State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s job is to make sure the commonwealth’s money is spent in a proper and responsible manner.  Now, as the list of states that have legalized recreational marijuana continues to grow,  the general sees an opportunity for Pennsylvania to balance its budget.  He says legalizing, taxing, and regulating  the drug would […]

Marijuana Legalization with Rep. Jake Wheatley

At last count, recreational marijuana has become legal in ten states.  Rep. Jake Wheatley wants Pennsylvanians age 21 and older to be allowed to grow, buy, and consume the drug.  Using it in public and driving under its influence would still be illegal.   Rep. Wheatley is interested in the criminal justice aspects of legalization, and […]

Cameras in Construction Zones with Rep. Greg Rothman

Next time you’re driving through a state construction zone, keep in mind that a camera may be watching you. Rep. Greg Rothman is a supporter of a new pilot program authorized by the governor that’s designed to catch speeders before they cause a crash or injure highway workers on the job.  Also, in the interest […]

Election 2018 Results

The votes have been cast in Election 2018, and it’s time for a review of the winners, how they prevailed, and what they might do after they’re inaugurated.  Berwood Yost, Director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin and Marshall College, summarizes what happened in the races for governor, US Senate, and Congress.   Some […]