Public Radio Capitol News

Help for Drug Endangered Children

2008-07-21T19:58:00.002-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 21, 2008) – A Westmoreland County lawmaker says Pennsylvania needs a special taskforce to help children who are living in homes where illegal drugs are being manufactured.

When police raid a secret methamphetamine lab, sometimes that house is home to a child. Representative James Casorio says a taskforce dedicated to drug endangered children would help police know what to do next.

“As opposed to saying we are going to put these children in foster care or maybe we are going to find a place for them in a shelter, we are going to give them the resources, the care, the treatment, through medical personnel who are on this board, and law enforcement personnel to guide them in the right direction for the future.”

It’s an idea that’s already a reality in several Western states where the methamphetamine problem first came to the nation’s attention.

In those states, social workers, law enforcement officers, physicians, psychologists and attorneys collaborate to map out the medical procedures, drug testing protocols and psychological support that drug endangered children might need.

Casorio says children who live near the chemicals that make up a meth lab -- or with people who are under the influence of drugs – are vulnerable to neglect and psychological problems.

The chair of Pennsylvania’s House judiciary committee says he wants to forward the taskforce proposal to the full chamber in September.

New Ethics Advisor for state House

2008-07-21T19:51:00.002-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 21, 2008) – In the wake of deception and conflict of interest charges leveled against several state House workers, House employees now have a new person to speak with if they have questions about ethics or integrity.

Former parliamentarian Clancy Myer will serve as House Counsel. The position was just created.

“To alert members when there may be a problem forthcoming, and hopefully preclude anything such as has happened in the past, with campaigns, involving on state time, avoiding situations like that so we can restore the integrity of the House of Representatives to what it should be.”

Myer says he’s available to give confidential legal and ethics advice to House lawmakers and every House staffer -- whether they work for Republicans, Democrats – or if they’re a non-partisan employee.

Tim Potts -- president Democracy Rising -- worked in the state House more than a decade ago.

“As a former staffer I can tell you that it’s not at all easy to say, ‘Wait a minute, there’s something here that’s not good and I need to find out from someone other than the person that I report to whether it is illegal or not.”

Myer says he’s still figuring out how he’ll deal with employees who fear retribution from a supervisor, but he says his primary reporting responsibility will be to House leaders.

PA Mandates "Fire Safe" Cigarettes

2008-07-18T20:07:00.002-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 18, 2008) – Pennsylvania is joining other states -- and will require retailers to limit cigarette sales to a new product that is less likely to cause a fire.

John Singleton is a spokesman for Reynolds American which sells the Camel, Cool and Winston brands. He says the company is responding to states like Pennsylvania. All Reynolds cigarettes will use the so-called “fire safe” technology by the end of 2009.

“It’s a raised almost speed bump, you might refer to it, on the cigarette paper, whereas if the cigarette is laid down, and not smoked, it has a greater tendency to go out has it hits this higher ridge of paper.”

Advocates say fire-safe cigarettes often extinguish before they ignite things like furniture or bedding.

Washington County state Representative Tim Solobay who’s a fire chief in his hometown of Canonsburg -- pushed for the new law.

He says careless smokers don’t realize the danger of a cigarette tossed out a car window.

“Thinking that it cleared, here the wind brought it right back in, and put it in the back seat, they had no clue about it, and later on that day, or the middle of the night, all of sudden their car is on fire.”

Retailers have about year to make the transition to the new cigarettes.

A Kickstart for Biodiesel Producers

2008-07-18T20:04:00.002-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 18, 2008) – A new law is giving the state’s burgeoning biodiesel industry a boost.

Biodiesel is a fuel made from agricultural or waste products. It’s often blended with regular diesel for home heating or to fuel diesel powered vehicles.

Ben Wootton is president of Keystone Biofuels in Cumberland County. For the next three years, he and the state’s other producers have an opportunity to share in a $5 million fund -- set aside to kick start the industry.

“What it is, is 75 cents a gallon for every gallon that’s produced and sold in Pennsylvania, other words I can’t produce it and sell it to Canada, or China or Maryland. We are trying to keep all the dollars here so every gallon that I produce and sell I get a 75 cent basically refund back from the state each month.”

As many as 20 other states offer incentives to their biofuels producers. Wootton says -- until now -- Pennsylvania producers couldn’t compete with low prices offered by out-of-state competitors.

The incentive program is part of a wider push to increase the state’s demand for cleaner burning, homegrown fuels – and to lessen Pennsylvania’s dependence on foreign oil.

Pennsylvanians spend $30 billion on fuel that comes from outside the Commonwealth, the governor wants to keep some of those dollars in state.

State Police Test Tasers

2008-07-16T20:15:00.001-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 16, 2008) – When Pennsylvania State Police are on patrol they now carry a taser alongside their gun. The Police Commissioner says the device is proving to be a good alternative to deadly force.

The police call the taser an electronic immobilization device. It’s one in their arsenal of non-lethal weapons – including physical holds, pepper mace and a baton.

At the State Police Academy in Hershey Corporal Deron Julian demonstrated the 50 thousand volt charge on a colleague, who immediately dropped to his knees.

The trooper -- who got the shock -- says it felt like a Charley Horse radiating through his entire body -- but 100 times stronger.

Trooper Eric Keebaugh -- from the Carlisle Barracks -- used the taser to calm a suicidal man in April. Two weeks later, Keebaugh was called to the man’s home again.

“Upon our arrival he came out of the house hands up in the air saying, ‘Please don’t tase me, I’ll do whatever you want.’ The EID’s that we are issued they allow us to de-escalate a situation without using deadly force.”

Commissioner Jeffrey Miller says that’s the reaction he was hoping for.

The taser looks like a black and yellow plastic gun, loaded with a neon green cartridge. Miller says that means the device become a visible deterrent even before an officer pulls it from the holster.

Calls for Reform at the Statehouse

2008-07-16T20:11:00.002-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 16, 2008) – Calls for reform in Harrisburg are coming in from all sides. But skeptics say they’ve seen that indignation before, and it’s led to very few changes.

Legislators have debated a string of so-called reform proposals, and most people say the only recent success was a new open-records law.

A bill to prohibit employee bonuses didn’t fly. A partial ban on lobbyist gifts failed. A proposal to change the legislative re-districting rules ran out of time.

Following reports that millions of taxpayer dollars were used to fund the political campaigns of Democrats -- reform activist Gene Stilp, now, wants an independent accounting at the state house.

“We’ve seen what they do with the money, and how it’s used for corruption therefore should be a full forensic audit of this building, every dime that goes through here.”

Some lawmakers are petitioning Governor Rendell to call a special session to enact reform legislation. But in a letter the governor says many of the misdeeds alleged by the grand jury are violations of existing laws.

Rendell said the “absence of strict, internal financial controls” allowed those violations to go undetected as long as they did.

The Chairman of the Democratic Caucus – Representative Mark Cohen – is urging lawmakers to reject the special session. Cohen said deficits in character or judgment won’t likely be cured by new laws.

Hearings on Insurance Merger

2008-07-10T16:26:00.000-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 10, 2008) – The CEO’s from the state’s largest health insurance companies are making the case for a merger of their two companies.

Pittsburgh-based Highmark and Philadelphia’s Independence Blue Cross proposed a marriage in 2007.

Highmark’s CEO Doctor Ken Melani says the union will raise capital and position the combined company to respond to changing member needs.

“We are seeing a movement to a thing called consumerism where consumers are becoming increasingly more responsible for their personal health care decisions and their costs.”

State Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario will decide whether to allow the merger. He’s holding a series of hearings to gather public comment.

According to one estimate the combined company would encompass 53 percent of the state’s health insurance market.

The president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society worries that doctor compensation will be decrease, while State Senator Don White says the combined company could block competition.

Melani says the two companies serve distinct markets and distinct consumers. He says competition won’t change.

The next hearing is Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Philly's School Age Mandate

2008-07-07T18:46:00.001-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 07, 2008) – This year Pennsylvania plans to spend an extra $274 million on basic education.

According to the governor’s office, that’s the largest increase in at least two decades.

The revised education code sends more state money to local schools. It also introduces a big change for Philadelphia.

The Commonwealth has granted Philadelphia the right to lower its compulsory school age from eight to six.

Dr. Arlene Ackerman – Philadelphia’s superintendent of schools -- says she worries about children who start school without a structured pre-school or kindergarten experience.

“This will give them an opportunity to come in with their peers and be ready for first and second and third grade, which are crucial ages in terms of the skills that you need to be prepared for future educational endeavors.”

Most Philadelphia school district students are enrolled by age five. But Ackerman says about 700 students start later.

Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission has to adopt the new age requirement before it becomes the new rule. Home schooled children would be exempt.

Governor Rendell says the state’s funding formula is part of an effort to relieve the local school tax burden.

Every school district gets at least a 3 percent increase this year.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Deal

2008-07-07T18:43:00.000-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 07, 2008) – The head of the state House transportation committee says the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease proposal has been fully vetted, and he’s ready to move on to other things.

A private, for-profit group has offered the Commonwealth $12.8 billion to manage the turnpike. Transportation Chairman Joseph Markosek says he’s held about eight hours worth of hearings on the 75-year lease plan.

“For the amount that would be left over to invest, when you stretch that out over 75 years, is really not that much, and I think that unless we would get a much higher bid, I don’t think this particular bid would be sufficient.”

Markosek says he has “no intention” of calling for a vote on the issue. But he’s talked to committee members and guesses that 3/4ths of them would vote “no.”

Governor Ed Rendell was asked about Markosek’s decision to hold up the vote.

“I’ve heard that “no intention” before and “no intentions” – in this building – have a tendency to change.”

The governor says Pennsylvania should take the offer and use the money to pay for mass transit, highway and bridge repairs.

Governor Rendell says the turnpike deal should be weighed alongside Pennsylvania’s plan to raise money by placing tolls on Interstate 80.

Governor Signs State Budget

2008-07-04T18:37:00.000-04:00

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 04, 2008) – Pennsylvania has a new $28.3 billion spending plan.

The governor and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle -- are claiming a victory.

House GOP leader Sam Smith says Republicans held overall spending increases to 4 percent and stopped a raid on the rainy-day fund. Representative Mario Civera battled for House Republicans in the negotiations.

“This budget is a sign of the economic times that we are about to go into, this year as well as next year.”

The borrowing plan adds up to about $3 billion. That pays for water and sewer projects, flood control and bridge repair.

Investments in the alternative energy industry and community redevelopment projects also come from loans.

Governor Ed Rendell says Pennsylvania’s $160 million surplus is a stark contrast to the shortfalls faced by other states.

“Our economy is doing far better than the nation. Our unemployment rate is significantly lower than the national average.”

There’s an extra $274 million for public schools, a 5 and ½ percent increase. Rendell says the gains for schools don’t come at the expense of social services.

He says there’s nearly 7 percent extra for things like health care, child care and nursing home services.

Governor Announces Budget Deal

2008-07-03T10:22:00.002-04:00

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 30, 2008) – Governor Rendell and the General Assembly have hammered out a spending plan for Pennsylvania.

Governor Ed Rendell says there will be no need for state worker furloughs. The lawmakers announced a state budget agreement just after one this morning – nearly a full day head of the deadline.

Rendell says Pennsylvania had to tighten its belt but the Commonwealth is faring better than other parts of the country.

“Our cuts are fairly minuscule in compared to what other institutions and organizations are getting in other states.”

The budget slashes more than $545 million from the Governor’s original proposal.

Republican leaders in the House and Senate said they’re pleased to keep the overall spending increase at about 3.8 percent, that’s slightly below the rate of inflation.

Senate GOP Leader Dominic Pileggi says every side had to give up something.

“Not everyone is going to be able to have everything they would have like to have out of this budget, but that was absolutely necessary in order to get this product delivered on time and announced today.”

Rendell says the Commonwealth is sharing in the nationwide economic slow down. Pennsylvania’s year-end surplus is $260 million less than anticipated early this year.

PA Will Invest in Wind, Solar Power

2008-07-03T10:19:00.003-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 30, 2008) – Lawmakers have agreed on a spending plan for Pennsylvania – and the alternative energy sector is a big winner in the budget lottery.

There’s a tentative agreement to invest $650 million in solar, wind and other renewable power sources. It’s a bid to lessen the Pennsylvania’s dependence on coal and oil – and to promote “green” technologies.

About $500 million will be borrowed money. Budget Secretary Michael Masch says there are public policy reasons to support private companies with taxpayer dollars.

“We are in a worldwide competition, are they going to create jobs in Pennsylvania, in the United States, in Dubai, in Singapore, in Mumbai."

Lawmakers are still hashing out the pace of investment, but the money could be spent over four to seven years. The money would be administered by the Commonwealth Financing Authority and incentives will likely be tied to job creation goals.

The budget agreement does not include a plan to mitigate electricity price hikes – which may hit consumers in 2010 when state-regulated prices expire.

There’s also no comprehensive plan to encourage Pennsylvanians to conserve energy.

Governor Rendell says lawmakers will form working groups and finish those two issues this summer.

Autism Bill Would Mandate Insurance

2008-07-03T10:15:00.001-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 02, 2008) – Legislation that would mandate health insurance coverage for children with autism is poised to become law.

Peter Bell -- with the advocacy group Autism Speaks – says insurance companies discriminate against children with the disorder.

“Some people believe that autism isn’t really a biological disorder or that it falls under a mental illness. There are really just a thousand reasons why insurance companies have basically absolved themselves of any responsibility for covering families that have children that are affected.”

The proposal would require private insurance companies to authorize treatment for autism. Bell says until age 21, children and young people would have access to therapies that can modify the challenging behaviors that often come with an autism diagnosis.

Some insurance companies have decided that behavior therapy is not medically necessary.

But advocates say they’ve seen results from a therapy that uses rewards to reinforce positive actions and help children communicate.

A last-minute amendment to the bill from House Speaker Dennis O’Brien ensures consistent care even when a child experiences a treatment plateau or temporary setback.

The Senate approved the state House version of the legislation Wednesday.

PA Modernizes Tax Collection

2008-07-03T10:13:00.001-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 02, 2008) – Lawmakers say tax legislation -- signed into law Wednesday – will lift a heavy administrative burden from Pennsylvania businesses – and help residents too.

The law simplifies the way local governments and school districts collect wage taxes.

Pittsburgh-based Eat N’ Park says has about 10-thousand employees. The company’s chief financial officers says right now Eat N’ Park collects earned income taxes for its workers, then submits the revenues to about 100 different townships and boroughs across the state.

The new law allows Eat N’ Park – and other businesses -- to send the collected taxes to one place -- the company’s home county. The headquarters county will then disperse the revenues to the appropriate jurisdictions.

Representative David Levdansky says when employers don’t withhold wage taxes for their workers -- employees often get stuck with an unexpected local tax bill at the end of the year.
Levdansky says the new law solves that problem.

“We won’t have constituents coming into my office saying I forgot to file my wage tax, I didn’t know I had to pay this.”

Under the new law, the number of tax collectors drops to 68 from 560. Governor Ed Rendell says the new system could capture more than 200 million dollars in revenues that are usually left uncollected.

Oversight Agency Shuts Down

2008-07-03T10:10:00.002-04:00

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 1, 2008) – A state agency that monitors hospital data and health care practices in Pennsylvania is caught in a tug-o-war between Governor Ed Rendell and Senate Republicans.

Most of the workers at the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council got termination notices this week. The agency’s authorization ran out at midnight on July 1st.

Representative Todd Eachus -- a Democrat -- says the House sent a so-called “clean” bill to the Senate that would extend the council’s work.

“It’s done fantastic work. It is national known for its quality data and to shut it down in this way really gives Pennsylvania a black eye.”

Spokesman Chuck Ardo says Governor Ed Rendell won’t support a plan that links the council’s work to MCARE. That’s a state subsidy that helps physicians pay malpractice insurance fees.

“If the Commonwealth is going to provide tax breaks for doctors, they ought to provide health care for the uninsured. He said no health care, no MCARE.”

Rendell and House Democrats want to negotiate the malpractice subsidy alongside their plans to provide health insurance to more Pennsylvanians.

Eachus says he’s reaching out to Senate legislators and still hopes to find an agreement that will send council employees back to work this week.

Lawmakers Say Rate Shock Is Coming

2008-07-03T09:32:00.003-04:00

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, July 1, 2008) – Democrats in the state Senate are sending up an alarm about looming electricity rate increases.

Senator Lisa Boscola – from the Lehigh Valley – says electricity deregulation is a failed experiment in Pennsylvania.

“Instead of delivering competition and real customer choice and lower electric rates, electric deregulation guarantees two things, record rate increases, record company profits.”

For many ratepayers state-regulated electricity prices – or rate caps -- will expire in 2010. Senator Vincent Fumo says consumers can expect rate hikes that range from 20 percent to as high as 63 percent.

Terry Fitzpatrick with the Electric Power Generation Association says Maryland and other states tried all sorts of mitigation policies.

“The rates went up by 50 percent, which is what they were scheduled to do before hand, because that is just the fundamental realities of what’s going on in the world with all energy prices going

Senator Fumo says he’s been unable to broker a deal that would cushion consumer from the blow of rate hikes. He favors a mitigation plan that holds price increases at the rate of inflation or 5 percent each year, whichever is lower.

Lawmakers Study Turnpike Lease Plan

2008-06-27T10:21:00.002-04:00

Members of a state House panel are learning more details about the proposal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike to a private company.

The document detailing the Turnpike lease agreement is inches thick. House Democrats hired a finance professor from Penn State to review the contract.

Gary Gray says his analysis found that the 75-year lease proposal doesn’t fill the state’s transportation funding gap for long.

“This might be good for seven years; eight years maybe, it’s not a long term funding solution.”

Governor Ed Rendell supports the 12.8 billion dollar lease deal and says it would give the state some upfront money to invest in roads, bridges and mass transit.

Lawmakers on the state House Transportation Committee had lots of questions about the investment plan for the lease payment and the bidder’s operating ideas.

Jordi Graells is a managing director with the winning bid group.

Graells says the operators would likely use time-of-day pricing to encourage motorists to travel during off-peaks hours. There are also plans to widen the roadway.

The proposal has to survive a transportation committee vote before the full House can officially debate the plan.

Using Tax Money for State Advertising

2008-06-27T10:11:00.003-04:00

A Lebanon County lawmaker says taxpayers should know when Pennsylvania spends money on advertising.

The state Senate has approved GOP Senator Mike Folmer’s plan to place a tag on all state ads – including television spots, fliers and magazine spreads.

“Any of those that run paid advertising must bear the following disclaimer. ‘Paid for with Pennsylvania Taxpayer Dollars.’”

Folmer’s spokesman Joe Sterns says the senator is trying to increase the transparency of state government. Folmer is a self-styled reformer.

“This is not to say that advertising is not important, the private sector devotes considerable resources to advertise promote and otherwise get out their message. The goal of Senate Bill 1015 is to help taxpayers fully understand or appreciate the advertising that is done with their money.”

The bill passed unanimously in the Senate. Now the legislation goes to the state House for its consideration.

Lawmaker Calls for Terror-Free Investing

2008-06-27T10:08:00.003-04:00

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 25, 2008) – A plan to use Pennsylvania’s fiscal muscle to condemn countries that sponsor terrorism has cleared the state House of Representatives.

The legislation directs the state’s pension funds to pull investments from companies with ties to Iran and Sudan. Both countries are on the U.S. State Department’s list of terror-sponsoring nations.

Democrat Josh Shapiro crafted the bill. He says the Commonwealth shouldn’t jeopardize the money that retirees depend on.

“Morally we should not be propping up terrorist regimes with the investments from our pension funds. And I think it is financially risky to remain invested in companies doing business with these terror sponsoring nations.”

The divestment proposal includes the state teachers’ and state employee’s retirement funds. Bill supporters says 18 state’s have similar policies.

GOP Representative Steve Nickol – from York County – says the divestment plan moves too fast – and has evolved too far from an initial focus on state Treasury investments.

“ ... which is dealing with state dollars and expands it to include the two pension funds, where we are basically playing with other people’s money.”

Shapiro’s plan needs approval from the Republican-controlled Senate.

Lawmakers May Dip into Reserves

2008-06-25T10:15:00.002-04:00

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 25, 2008) – Their deadline is approaching fast, but state budget negotiators are still bickering about overarching issues – like how much money Pennsylvania has spend for the coming fiscal year.

State House Republicans are pushing back hard on a plan to balance the budget using a portion of the state’s rainy day fund.

Republican leader Sam Smith ...

“Our priorities are to control spending to limit the growth of government, using the rainy day fund in a year in which we have a surplus, will only lend itself to more government spending and ultimately more taxes.”

Steve Miskin -- spokesman for Representative Smith -- says economic forecasts suggest a coming recession -- or at least a slow down for the Commonwealth. He says tapping the rainy day now, doesn’t make sense.

Johnna Pro is spokeswoman for the Democrat’s chief budget negotiator Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans.

She says Evans believes it’s appropriate to use a portion of the rainy day fund for education in particular.

She says Pennsylvania is in better fiscal shape than many states, and now is not the time to back away from investments that could grow the economy.

The lawmakers have plans to work through the weekend in advance of the June 30th budget deadline.

Lawmakers Discuss Electricity Prices

2008-06-24T11:30:00.003-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 23, 2008) – State lawmakers are debating how much customers will have to pay for electricity in the future.

State-regulated electricity prices have protected consumers from market rates for nearly a decade. For most consumers, those rate caps will expire by 2010.

Erik Arneson – spokesman for the Senate Republicans -- says that’s a pressing issue in the energy policy debate.

“Making sure that when the rate caps come off the electricity prices, that consumers aren’t hit with 34 percent or higher increases.”

Terry Fitzpatrick -- with the Electric Power Generation Association – says old, regulated rates won’t pay for up-to-date technology.

“If we want a modern electricity infrastructure over the long term, we need to get the price that customers pay up to reflect what’s going on in the market now.”

Lawmakers are considering different ways to phase in the new prices.

Ramping up is one option. Customers would begin paying slightly higher rates now in anticipation of higher prices in the year 2010.

Or utilities would charge customers for just a portion of the rate hike in the first few years after the rate caps come off. The electric companies would collect the rest of their money – plus interest – from customers in later years.

Feeding Antibiotics to Food Animals

2008-06-24T09:28:00.001-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 24, 2008) – A Montgomery County lawmaker is trying to draw attention to the debate over the drugs farmers feed to their food animals.

Representative Daylin Leach says giving antibiotics to healthy livestock contributes to the country’s “superbug” problem. He wants to limit the use of antibiotics to sick animals to preserve the effectiveness of the drugs.

Johns Hopkins professor Ellen Silbergeld says health officials are worried about the increase in stubborn bacterial infections that affect people and are hard to treat with the arsenal of drugs that doctors have available.

“The major driver of the emergence of drug resistance pathogens in this country and worldwide is the indiscriminate and non-functional use in animal feeds. We’ve direct evidence of this.”

It’s the height of budget season, so Leach’s proposal won’t much attention now. Still Capitol observers say the bill will draw many opponents in the state’s powerful agricultural lobby.

Lori Connelly with the PennAg Industries Association says farmers need antibiotics to prevent disease in food animals. She says the bill will force farmers to find other ways to keep animals healthy – and those costs would be passed on to consumers.

“In Denmark for example they banned the use of some antibiotics and they saw significant increases in death among livestock.”

Agri-business is the largest industry in Pennsylvania.

Borrowing for Big State Projects

2008-06-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 24, 2008) – State lawmakers are debating how much debt the Commonwealth can shoulder.

House Leader Bill DeWeese – a Democrat from Greene County – says a plan to borrow as much as $980 million is like taking out a house or business loan.

“If you are going to expand your business whether you are Sunoco or Hershey Foods, or the Mom and Pop operation down the street in most cases you are going to have to borrow, but our borrowing is not extravagant, our borrowing is not rampant.”

The House-approved borrowing plan is for capital projects including bridge repair and flood control.

Representative Paul Clymer and other House Republicans say Pennsylvania is taking on too much debt. Clymer says the current mortgage crisis is cautionary tale about irresponsible borrowing.

“Over the last year or so people have bought houses and taken out mortgages far above their ability to pay back.”

Also this week, the Senate approved legislation that would ask voters whether they want the Commonwealth to borrow $400 million for water and sewer projects.

State Workers Want On-Time Budget

2008-06-23T11:23:00.001-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 23, 2008) – State social services workers were at the Capitol Monday urging lawmakers to get the budget completed on time.

If Pennsylvania’s lawmakers can’t agree to a fiscal plan for the Commonwealth, some non-essential state workers could be furloughed as early as next week.

Bill Bacon is legislative director for the Pennsylvania Social Services Union.

“I think the taxpayers -- the public at large -- are a little frustrated by the one-up-manship that goes on in this building and I think that’s incentive enough for these folks to get the job done on time.”

Last July about 25,000, non-essential state workers were furloughed for one day when budget negotiations stalled. Last week, three unions representing state workers sued the Commonwealth to prevent that from happening again this year.

Bacon says Local 668 includes social workers and others who serve vulnerable clients. He says those clients need uninterrupted care, and even a one-day furlough creates public service disruptions and preventable anxiety.

Representatives from Governor Rendell’s administration say budget negotiations are progressing and they are still optimistic that a compromise will happen in time to keep all workers on the job.

The budget is due by 11:59 on Monday night.

Updating PA Water, Sewer and Rail Lines

2008-06-20T11:38:00.003-04:00

by Taunya English
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pa. (PRCN, June 20, 2008) – There’s still plenty of discord, but state budget negotiators seem to agree that their compromise should include a strong commitment to shore up Pennsylvania’s aging bridges, sewers, waters utilities and railroads.

Greg Fajt – the governor’s chief of staff – says Pennsylvania is a low-debt state and in a good position to borrow for those infrastructure projects.

“It’s not only to repair deficient bridges so they don’t fall down, or to repair or water and sewer lines so they don’t blow up, and cause traffic jams and worse cause death, it also is a job creator.”

Several Republican lawmakers -- including Senator Pat Vance from Cumberland County – say they are considering borrowing. But Republicans are also eyeing the state’s casino revenues.

“There’s money from the gaming fund that, since it’s been created has been going to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and Senate Bill 2 would allocate this for infrastructure projects in every area except Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for the next 10 years, I think that’s a good start, I think that’s very needed.”

Fajt says budget negotiators from all sides say Pennsylvania will likely have to dip into its rainy day fund to balance the budget. But House GOP spokesman Steve Miskin says the Republican caucus is still searching for places to trim the budget.