November 30, 2017

Thursday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

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November 29, 2017

Wednesday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

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November 28, 2017

Tuesday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

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November 27, 2017

Gov. Wolf Appoints Obra Kernodle To Gaming Control Board

Gov. Tom Wolf Monday announced Obra Kernodle has been appointed to the PA Gaming Control Board. Obra most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office.
“Obra has been an important voice in my administration for improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians and I know he will bring the same dedication and commitment to the Gaming Control Board,” Gov. Wolf said.
Most recently, before his appointment as a member of Governor Wolf’s senior staff, Obra was a senior advisor for Governor-elect Tom Wolf’s transition team.
Prior to joining the Wolf for Governor Campaign, Obra worked in Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s Administration as Deputy of Legislative Affairs, helping to coordinate the city’s Actual Value Initiative.
In 2012, Obra was part of President Obama’s reelection effort as the Pennsylvania Southeast Political Director. Obra currently sits on the boards of Visit Philly and Welcome America.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Kernodle is a graduate of Roman Catholic High School. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Education from Florida A&M University in 2002.

Republican Senators To Introduce Zero-Based Budgeting Bill

Senators Scott Wagner (R-York), Scott Martin (R-Lancaster), Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny), Mike Regan (R-Cumberland), and Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) announced Monday they intend to introduce a zero-based budget reform bill that would require every state agency to build its budget from a starting point of zero dollars.
Known as zero-based budgeting, the bill will require state agencies to justify every dollar of spending. These reform-minded senators believe this budgeting method will find unrealized savings and efficiencies that can save taxpayers millions of dollars.
“Instead of doing the heavy lifting of finding savings and managing state agencies, Governor Wolf wants to raise taxes on hardworking Pennsylvanians,” Sen. Wagner said. “If we implement zero-based budgeting, state government can be responsible stewards of taxpayer money. We could balance our budget and start cutting waste.”
This bill would be a significant departure from traditional budgeting, whereby agencies base their projections on the prior year’s figures. Under the proposed budgeting process, state agencies would be required to submit:
-- The statutory legal justification for the agency and each activity within the agency.
-- An itemized account of expenditures required for the agency to operate at the minimum level of service required by statute.
-- An itemized account of expenditures required for the agency to operate at the current level of service.
-- Concise statements about the quantity and quality of services provided at both the current and minimum levels.
“We owe it to taxpayers to ensure every dollar they send to Harrisburg is used wisely and efficiently,” Sen. Martin said. “Every public policy decision should be driven by what is best for the citizens and the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, and not by what a department or agency spent in the previous year.”
“The current budgeting system perpetuates bureaucracies and rewards inefficiency in government operations. Zero-based budgeting would ensure that state money is invested in programs that are necessary and would reward those agencies that operate efficiently. Currently, agencies are working under the philosophy that, ‘If we don’t spend the money by the end of the year we, we won’t get it next year.’ Zero-based budgeting specifically targets that problematic way of thinking,” Sen. Laughlin said.
Zero-based budgeting offers real accountability in state government, which is something the sponsors say is needed in Harrisburg. The state’s credit has been downgraded twice in the last three years, putting Pennsylvania in the bottom five states in Standard & Poor’s ratings.
“We need to change the way we think about budgeting in Pennsylvania to better protect our taxpayers from these recurring ‘budget crises,’” Sen. Reschenthaler stated. “Zero-based budgeting will use a more fiscally responsible, commonsense approach to budgeting. I look forward to working with my colleagues to better protect taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars in the Commonwealth.”
“Every day, families and businesses have to live within their means, and they do it by questioning every dollar they spend,” Sen. Folmer said. “Government should do the same through zero-based budgeting that questions every expenditure before it’s made.”
“Adopting common sense zero-based budgeting practices will restore transparency and accountability in government spending,” Sen. Regan noted. “This tested and proven private-sector approach will empower the legislature to identify cost-reduction opportunities; scale back or eliminate obsolete programs; and redirect funding to services and programs where additional resources will enhance outcomes.”
The private sector is adopting zero-based budgeting today with Kraft-Heinz, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s and Unilever using this method to ensure they are operating in the most cost-effective manner.
“The scariest phrase in Harrisburg is: we’ve always done it this way. We’re trying to change that,” Sen. Wagner said.
In October the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law a performance-based budgeting bill-- Senate Bill 181 (Mensch-R-Montgomery)-- that covers much the same ground.
It requires agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction to justify their budget requests for all existing and proposed programs and have those justifications reviewed by a new Budget Board and the Independent Fiscal Office.
The performance-based budgeting bill does not cover $720.6 million in expenditures by the General Assembly or the Judiciary.  Click Here a more complete summary.

Horse Racing Commission Breeders Fund Awards, Sire Stakes Eligibility Registration Deadlines

The PA State Horse Racing Commission Bureau of Standardbred Horse Racing Monday announced the deadlines in order to maintain eligibility in the PA Breeders Fund Award Program and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Program.
Horsemen must register their stallions for the 2018 breeding season with paperwork postmarked by February 1.
Owners looking to register their broodmares for the Breeders Fund Award Program must have their mares registered as “Pennsylvania residents” postmarked by February 15 to ensure their foals of 2019 are eligible for the breeder awards.
A stallion must remain in the state, at a declared facility, from February 15 to July 4. Breeding can take place within a couple of weeks of either date. If a stallion is intended to be used as both a stud and a racehorse in 2018, approval must be gained from the Bureau of Standardbred Horse Racing.
If the horse competes out-of-state, the horse must return to his declared Pennsylvania facility after each of those out-of-state races.
Broodmares must reside in Pennsylvania for at least 180 consecutive days, including foaling, and be in foal to a registered Pennsylvania stallion for their offspring to be eligible for the breeder awards.
No registered broodmare is authorized to leave the state for any reason during that 180 days, except for a medical emergency. If that occurs, the commission must be notified as soon as possible.
Registration forms are available by contacting Pennie Dodson at 717-787-5196 or send an email to: pdodson@pa.gov.
For more information on the regulation of horse racing, visit the PA State Horse Racing Commission webpage.

Monday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

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November 25, 2017

Saturday PA Capitol Digest NewsClips

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