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 […]

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

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 […]

PA Budget

With about six weeks to go before the June 30 budget deadline, several budget-related bills were considered by the House last week. To discuss where the General Assembly is in the budget process are Stephen Bloom, Vice President with the Commonwealth Foundation; and Marc Stier, director of the PA Budget and Policy Center.

Primary Election

Primary election night coverage of races for PA Superior Court, Philadelphia mayor, and the special election for the open 12th Congressional District vacated by former congressman Tom Marino. Merit selection, election from judicial districts, and issues in the Philadelphia mayoral race were also discussed.

Child Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations

The House has passed two bills that would change the child sexual assault statute of limitations laws in Pennsylvania. The first would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for a number of sexual offenses from human trafficking to rape to institutional sexual assault. If enacted, the bill would allow child victims to bring a civil […]