Feb. 24, PA Senate Agenda

Week two of House and Senate budget hearings as the governor’s proposals from several state agencies will be discussed by both chamber’s Appropriations Committees. Sen. Dave Argall (R-Berks/Schuylkill) and Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) joined us to talk about a range of issues, including the current budget process at the Capitol, legal marijuana, and property taxes. […]

Transportation Budget

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees are holding budget hearings on the PennDOT budget. To discuss the transportation budget and issues like mass transit, turnpike borrowing to help fund road construction as well as Motor License Fund use for State Police funding are: Rep. Mike Carroll (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne), Min. Chair, House Transportation; and Rep. Tim Hennessey […]

Feb. 26, Public Education

K-12 education funding, higher education and charter schools will be discussed as public education is the topic of the PCN Call-In Program with Senate Maj. Education Committee Chair Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-Bedford/Cambria/Clearfield) and Senate Min. Education Committee Chair, Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester).

Feb. 17, PA Budget

Gov. Tom Wolf has introduced his budget, and now it comes down to the House and Senate to examine the requests during budget hearings. To discuss the governor’s proposals are: Pete Shelly, Partner, Shelly Lyons Public Affairs & Communications; and Matt Brouillette, President and CEO, Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs. Topics included: human services funding, […]

Feb. 18, PA House Agenda

House and Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings start on Tuesday. Joining us to discuss the House Agenda is Rep. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland).

The PCN Call-In Program: PA Senate Agenda

House and Senate budget hearings started this week, two weeks after Gov. Tom Wolf’s sixth budget address. To discuss the governor’s budget, property taxes, charter schools and the Senate agenda are: Sen. Bob Mensch (R-Berks/Bucks/Montgomery) and Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton).   Watch the PCN Call-In Program and more Pennsylvania Politics and Policy.

Feb. 10, Public School Funding

The basic education line item in the governor’s budget proposal is $6.86 billion, an increase of $114.6 million for public schools. This is in addition to $119 million in Public School Employees Retirement System contributions by the state. The state portion of school employee pensions is$2.75 billion. To discuss public education funding are: Hannah Barrick, […]

Feb. 11, PA Budget

Gov. Tom Wolf presented his sixth budget a week ago. To discuss the governor’s proposals to fund the budget as well as new and old budget priorities of the governor and Republicans in the General Assembly are: Charlie Gerow, CEO of Quantum Communications; and Mark Singel, former Lt. Governor from 1987-95 under former Gov. Bob […]

Feb. 12, PA Budget

Gov. Tom Wolf presented a mix of old and new ideas in his 2020-2021 fiscal year budget address. The budget request relies on new borrowing and fees, but no broad-based tax increases are included. To discuss the governor’s proposals and Republican budget priorities are: Todd Brysiak, Vice President of Government Affairs with Triad Strategies, Colleen […]

Feb. 3, Health Care and the Budget

The cost of health care and prescription drugs and who will pay for it, the government, individuals or businesses, is a constant struggle as health care costs typically outpace inflation. The Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land despite calls to repeal or amend it coming from Washington D.C. To discuss health […]