Sept. 23: Legislative Agenda

The House and Senate were in session this week and have already hit the ground running as Republicans and Democrats have held hearings and press conferences to discuss their fall priorities. To discuss the legislative agenda are Charlie Gerow, CEO of Quantum Communications; and Marc Stier, Director of the PA Budget and Policy Center.

Sept. 16: Charter Schools

Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law is now 22 years old, and Gov. Tom Wolf has called for legislators to take a look at that law and re-examine whether it needs to be updated. Acc. to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “almost 9 percent of students in the state — about 140,000 — are now charter-educated, to the tune […]

Sept. 17: PA House Agenda: LIVE at 7 pm

The House is in session on Sept. 17-19, and for eight weeks total this fall. To discuss the House agenda are: Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) and Rep. Patrick Harkins (D-Erie). Call-in with your questions or comments LIVE to 1-877 PA6-5001. The PCN Call-in Program airs Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 PM.

Vaccines

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of measles cases in the United States has reached 1,044, and cases have been confirmed in 28 states including Pennsylvania. In 2000, the United States declared measles to be eliminated. To discuss vaccines and whether parents should have the right to choose not to vaccinate their […]

PA Senate Agenda

Two weeks remain in the legislative session until the House and Senate recess until Sept. 23. Budget negotiations are ongoing, but the final spending number has not been announced. To discuss the budget, education, transportation funding and property taxes were Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) and Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe/Northampton).

Environmental Protection

PA Environmental Protection Sec. Patrick McDonnell joins us to talk about Pennsylvania’s plan to address to reduce agricultural runoff and stormwater pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay, new proposals to change vehicle emissions testing rules, Gov. Wolf’s infrastructure plan, and the overall state of Pennsylvania’s water and air quality.

PA Budget

With about three weeks until the budget deadline, a last-minute flurry of legislation typically passes both chambers along with budget proposals. Negotiators have expressed an interest in approving an increase in the state’s minimum wage, though not as much as proposed by Gov Tom Wolf and other advocates. Congress last increased the national minimum wage […]

PA Budget

Stephen Herzenberg, executive director of the Keystone Research Center; and David Atkinson, a research associate with the Susquehanna Valley Center, will discuss the budget process and related legislation that is being considered by the General Assembly in June.

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman

Fresh off a 67-county tour to discuss marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman joins the PCN Call-In Program to share what he learned when he was on the road, discuss his legislative priorities, and summarize his first six months in office.

Gender Identity and Facilities Access

The U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal of a Pennsylvania case, Joel Doe vs. Boyertown Area School District, leaving in place its policy allowing students to use the bathroom of their gender identity rather than the one corresponding with their sex assigned at birth. Another complaint was filed this year in the […]