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 […]

Jan. 28 PA Senate Agenda

The PA Senate is in for its first full week of the year. Our guests will discuss the bills on the Senate calendar as well as each member’s legislative priorities. Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) and Sen. Mike Regan (R-Cumberland/York) join us. Topics ranged from the minimum wage, probation and parole, to fracking.  This PCN Call-in […]

Jan. 29 PA House Agenda

Criminal justice issues, property taxes, school district consolidation were discussed, as well as gun safety. Our guests discussed the House agenda as well as each member’s legislative priorities. Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery) and Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) will be tonight’s guests.

Jan. 21 Higher Education and College Affordability

Parents and students begin the college loan and grant application process for the 2020-2021 school year early in the year. The cost of higher education, tuition and room and board is increasing, and state support leveling off or even decreasing compared to inflation, so college affordability is on every high school parent’s mind. To explain […]

Jan. 13: Election 2020

The 2020 presidential election year is here and the Iowa Caucus is just three weeks away, the first presidential election of the year. Though Pennsylvania’s primary election on April 28 is one of the later contests, Pennsylvania’s 20 delegates make it a crucial state for any presidential candidate to win. The commonwealth also has three […]

Jan. 14 PA House Agenda

The House is in session this week to get is 2020 legislative agenda kicked off with a package of criminal justice bills, one of which increases penalties for multiple driving under the influence convictions that are significantly above the legal minimum of 0.08 blood alcohol content, and a couple others increasing mandatory minimum sentences for […]