January 29, 2015

House Schedules Hearings On State Budget

The House Appropriations Committee Thursday announced the schedule of hearings on the FY 2015-16 state budget.--
March 9-- 10:00- Independent Fiscal Office/Economic & Revenue Outlook, 1:00- Department of Revenue, 3:00- Department of Aging.
March 10-- 9:30- Auditor General, 11:00- State Treasurer, 1:00- Attorney General, 2:30- Office of Open Records.
March 11-- 9:30- Public Utility Commission, 11:00- PUC Consumer Advocate and Small Business Advocate, 1:00- Department of Environmental Protection, 3:00- Department of Community & Economic Development.
March 12-- 9:30- Gaming Control Board, 1:00- PA Higher Education Assistance Agency, 2:30- Department of General Services.
March 16-- 10:00- Department of Education, 1:30- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, 3:00- Emergency Management Agency/Fire Commissioner.
March 17-- 9:30- Department of Transportation, 11:30- Department of Labor and Industry, 2:00- Departments of Health, Drug & Alcohol Programs.
March 18-- 9:30- State Police/ Homeland Security, 11:00- Dept. Corrections/Board of Probation & Parole, 1:30- State Court System.
March 19-- 11:00- State System of Higher Education, 1:30- Community Colleges, 3:00- Liquor Control Board.
March 23-- 10:00- Public School Employees/State Employees Retirement Systems, 1:30- Department of Banking and Securities, 2:30- Department of Insurance.
March 24-- 9:30- State-Related Universities (Penn State, Pitt, Temple, Lincoln), 1:30- Department of State, 3:00- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
March 25-- 9:30- Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, 11:00- Department of Agriculture, 1:00- Department of Human Services.
March 26-- 9:30- Budget Secretary-Office of the Governor, 1:00- House Member Testimony.
All hearings will be in Room 140 of the Main Capitol.
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State Treasurer Rob McCord To Leave Office February 12

State Treasurer Rob McCord Thursday submitted his letter of resignation to Gov. Tom Wolf saying, “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth as their elected State Treasurer for the past six years.  But with my goals at Treasury now achieved-- and with a new Governor now in office to appoint my successor-- it is time for me to return to the private sector, where most of my life’s work has been."
His resignation is effective February 12.
Gov. Wolf will now appoint a replacement who must be confirmed by the Senate.
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Thursday NewsClips

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January 28, 2015

Independent Fiscal Office Revises Revenue Estimate $26M Higher Than Gov. Corbett’s

Director Matthew Knittel Wednesday released a mid-year update of the Independent Fiscal Office revenue estimate for FY 2014-15 saying the revised estimate is $30.207 billion, which is $250 million higher than the estimate published by the IFO at the beginning of the fiscal year and $26 million higher than the official estimate recertified by the governor in September.
“Lower gasoline prices drive some of the projected revenue increase.” Knittel said. “We anticipate that Pennsylvania households will save between $3.0 and $3.5 billion on gasoline purchases this fiscal year. These savings are expected to translate to higher consumer spending on goods and services, netting an additional $60 million in sales tax collections.”
Knittel cautioned that reductions in the estimates for other revenue sources offset some of the gains from the improved economic outlook.
A copy of the IFO presentation is available online.
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Wednesday NewsClips

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January 27, 2015

Tuesday NewsClips

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January 26, 2015

Reports: Senate GOP Sues Wolf Over Firing Of Open Records Director

Several media outlets Monday reported Senate Republicans have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Wolf over his firing of Erik Arneson who was appointed by outgoing Gov. Corbett to be Director of the Office of Open Records.
“The Governor's assault on the independence of the Executive Director offends the separation of powers principles in the Pennsylvania Constitution and violates the express statutory independence of the Executive Director,” according to the Senate Republicans' lawsuit against Wolf, the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Office of Open Records (OOR).
Although the Wolf administration has not yet responded to requests for comment about this most recent development in the OOR matter, the governor and his administration have maintained they have every right to fire Arneson and appoint a new executive director – which they have said they intend to do after a national search for a new director is conducted.
Gov. Wolf issued the following statement regarding the lawsuit:
“Elected leaders should be open, transparent, and accountable to the people of Pennsylvania. The actions taken by my predecessor in the eleventh hour, when he named Erik Arneson, a longtime Republican staffer, as executive director of the Office of Open Records, were anything but open and transparent.
“With one of his first acts, Mr. Arneson demoted a qualified chief counsel in favor of a Corbett staffer.
“By removing Mr. Arneson, I am standing up against an effort to destroy the integrity of the Office of Open Records and turn it into a political operation. These attempts to change the office, which exists to protect the public’s right to know, are the exact reasons people distrust their state government. When given the choice between protecting the public and playing politics, I will stand with the people of Pennsylvania.
“As a public servant I strive to promote democracy and change the culture in Harrisburg. I will continue to fight for the integrity of the Office of Open Records. Today’s lawsuit does nothing to alter my conviction.”
A copy of the lawsuit is available online.
NewsClips:
Lawsuit Challenges Wolf’s Firing Of Open Records Director
Wolf Responds To Open Records Lawsuit
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