Death Penalty

When Gov. Tom Wolf began his first term four years ago, one of the first executive orders he signed was one placing a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in Pennsylvania. That order does not prevent the state’s 67 county district attorneys from pursuing the death penalty during murder prosecutions. In 2018, the […]

Sunday Hunting

For the first time in years, a bill that would allow hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania has been approved by the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. It’s future in the full Senate and House are uncertain, and it’s unclear when a floor vote in the Senate may take place. To discuss Sunday hunting are Mark […]

Public School Funding

In the budget Gov. Tom Wolf proposed last week, $13.7 billion is earmarked for public education, a 3.3 percent increase, which includes $200 million more in the basic education subsidy, and $13.8 million to raise teacher salaries in some urban and rural districts. The governor’s public school funding proposal, pensions, full day kindergarten and pre-Kindergarten […]

Labor and the PA Budget

Gov. Wolf has called for an increase in the minimum wage, higher base salaries for teachers, and increases in funding for workforce development programs in the budget he proposed on Feb. 5. To discuss the governor’s budget proposal as it relates to organized labor are: Rick Bloomingdale, President PA AFL-CIO; Rich Askey, President of the […]

Health Care and the PA Budget

Funding for the Health and Human Services Department is typically the biggest expenditure in the state budget. Implementing the Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania included Gov. Tom Wolf’s expansion of Medicaid to provide health insurance to low-income Pennsylvanians. To discuss the health care in Pennsylvania are: Jeff Bechtel, Senior Vice President of Health Economics and Policy […]

PA Budget

Gov. Tom Wolf presented his fifth budget address to the General Assembly on Tuesday. Though he did not call for tax increases, the budget request is about $1 billion more than the previous fiscal year – $34.1 billion. A companion proposal will ask the Legislature for $4.5 billion in borrowing to fund infrastructure projects, including significant […]

PA Budget

Gov. Tom Wolf presents his 5th state budget to legislators on Tuesday. Several proposals included increasing the state minimum wage to $12, imposing a tax on natural gas extracted from Marcellus Shale, with funds earmarked to fund infrastructure improvements To discuss those proposals were: Chris Borick, Director of the Institute of Public Opinion, at Muhlenberg […]

Legislative Agenda

Press conferences preceding Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget address Tuesday have focused on renewed calls to increase the state minimum wage; an extraction tax on the volume of natural gas mined from Marcellus Shale wells, with revenue devoted to improving state infrastructure. Other topics discussed included marijuana and whether legalization would bring revenue to the state […]

Marijuana Decriminalization

Ten states and Washington, D.C. have now legalized recreational marijuana. More than 30 states have legalized medical marijuana for certain conditions. This week, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has announced he’ll embark on a listening tour of PA’s 67 counties to get input from the public on this topic. To discuss efforts to decriminalize marijuana are […]

Legislative Agenda

A week ahead of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Budget Address, legislative experts will discuss what they expect the governor to propose in his budget and what legislative agenda items they anticipate coming to a vote in the new legislative session’s first few months.  To discuss these topics are: Matt Brouillette, President and CEO of Commonwealth Partners Chamber […]