Susan Corbett, Chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts and First Lady of the Commonwealth wants money restored to the state budget.
According to newspapers, the House Appropriations Committee cut funds for the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts from the governor's proposed budget. According to Susan Corbett, speaking at the Arts Council Annual Meeting on Wednesday morning, Tom Corbett had left the arts funding in this year's budget the same as last years. But the money that the House Committee cut, approximately $6 million dollars is mostly in administrative costs. The arts are currently funded at $8.2 million dollars.
"This reduction in funding is pretty shocking and actually takes the level of funding back to 1979, 1980 levels of funding. Which means we just lost 30 years of advocacy for the arts," she said at the meeting.
Corbett says that money pays off in people's quality of life.
Showing posts with label Tom Corbett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Corbett. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Protesters Don't Get To Meet With Governor
Harrisburg briefly took on the feel of Madison, Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon, when anti-drilling protesters staged a sit-in outside Governor Corbett’s office. Chants of “Corbett’s a Coward!” and “open the door!” rang out, as filmmaker Josh Fox and other environmental advocates unsuccessfully tried to schedule a meeting with the governor.
Fox, whose Academy Award-nominated documentary Gasland has become a rallying point for drilling opponents, told reporters he’s been trying to meet with Corbett for months. “We have sent letters. We have sent emails. We have sent phone calls. We have sent letters on behalf of huge numbers of people. We have never received a response,” he explained.
Fox and the other protesters made their way to Corbett’s office after a noon rally in the Capitol rotunda organized by environmental groups Clean Water Action, PennEnvironment and the Sierra Club. Myron Arnowitt, Clean Water Action’s western Pennsylvania director, said he’s frustrated. “Drilling has been going on in Pennsylvania for almost four years now. And what has our state legislature done? They have done nothing. Nothing. The problem keeps getting bigger and bigger. They keep drilling more wells. They keep having more blowouts. They keep contaminating more rivers.” Arnowitt and other speakers called for a moratorium on drilling – a politically unlikely action the rally’s crowd clearly endorsed. When Democratic Senator Daylin Leach voiced support for a severance tax, he was drowned out by calls for a full ban on drilling.
When the rally ended, many of the attendees visited lawmakers’ offices, to personally lobby for stricter regulations. Fox and several dozen other activists headed to the Capitol’s executive wing. “We were stopped at the door. We were told to call. I called several times,” Fox explained. “We had a few entertaining conversations about why they wouldn’t just come to the door and speak to us. I was sent to the scheduling person, who hung up on me. We are demanding that we have an appointment with Governor Tom Corbett to discuss what’s happening in Pennsylvania as a result of the gas drilling.”
Video shot by Roxbury News shows Fox and other organizers were less than polite about their request. “Are you telling me…that only certain people have the authority to open doors?,” he asked a Corbett staffer on the phone. Fox then pretended to be a member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, as other protesters yelled and waved money in the air.
Regardless of their tactics, the environmental advocates aren’t alone in the frustration. Two weeks ago, a group of disabled people picketed Corbett’s office, after their attempts to set up a meeting about the Republican’s budget were been repeatedly ignored.
Many members of the press have had similar experiences. Corbett’s spokesman, Kevin Harley, ignored repeated requests for comment on this story, and hasn’t returned a call from this reporter since February 22.
Corbett was in Harrisburg on Tuesday. He gave an off-the-record talk to a group organized by Republican strategist Charlie Gerow in the morning, and headed to Washington, DC in the evening to attend a state dinner at the White House.
The anti-drilling activists have vowed to return on July 20th. They say they’ll spend all day -- and all night – at the Capitol, if they don’t get a meeting.
Fox, whose Academy Award-nominated documentary Gasland has become a rallying point for drilling opponents, told reporters he’s been trying to meet with Corbett for months. “We have sent letters. We have sent emails. We have sent phone calls. We have sent letters on behalf of huge numbers of people. We have never received a response,” he explained.
Fox and the other protesters made their way to Corbett’s office after a noon rally in the Capitol rotunda organized by environmental groups Clean Water Action, PennEnvironment and the Sierra Club. Myron Arnowitt, Clean Water Action’s western Pennsylvania director, said he’s frustrated. “Drilling has been going on in Pennsylvania for almost four years now. And what has our state legislature done? They have done nothing. Nothing. The problem keeps getting bigger and bigger. They keep drilling more wells. They keep having more blowouts. They keep contaminating more rivers.” Arnowitt and other speakers called for a moratorium on drilling – a politically unlikely action the rally’s crowd clearly endorsed. When Democratic Senator Daylin Leach voiced support for a severance tax, he was drowned out by calls for a full ban on drilling.
When the rally ended, many of the attendees visited lawmakers’ offices, to personally lobby for stricter regulations. Fox and several dozen other activists headed to the Capitol’s executive wing. “We were stopped at the door. We were told to call. I called several times,” Fox explained. “We had a few entertaining conversations about why they wouldn’t just come to the door and speak to us. I was sent to the scheduling person, who hung up on me. We are demanding that we have an appointment with Governor Tom Corbett to discuss what’s happening in Pennsylvania as a result of the gas drilling.”
Video shot by Roxbury News shows Fox and other organizers were less than polite about their request. “Are you telling me…that only certain people have the authority to open doors?,” he asked a Corbett staffer on the phone. Fox then pretended to be a member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, as other protesters yelled and waved money in the air.
Regardless of their tactics, the environmental advocates aren’t alone in the frustration. Two weeks ago, a group of disabled people picketed Corbett’s office, after their attempts to set up a meeting about the Republican’s budget were been repeatedly ignored.
Many members of the press have had similar experiences. Corbett’s spokesman, Kevin Harley, ignored repeated requests for comment on this story, and hasn’t returned a call from this reporter since February 22.
Corbett was in Harrisburg on Tuesday. He gave an off-the-record talk to a group organized by Republican strategist Charlie Gerow in the morning, and headed to Washington, DC in the evening to attend a state dinner at the White House.
The anti-drilling activists have vowed to return on July 20th. They say they’ll spend all day -- and all night – at the Capitol, if they don’t get a meeting.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Still Assessing Storm Damage, Extension Sought
Governor Tom Corbett has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, to extend its May 24 deadline for Pennsylvania to request a major disaster declaration for damage from recent severe storms.
The governor said that flooding, high winds and tornadoes have battered much of the state....
"Repeated heavy rains here and in neighboring states have left rivers and streams running higher and faster than normal. In addition, with each storm local officials are busy with critical life safety and property preservation efforts than can delay their opportunity to thoroughly assess damages in a timely manner."
The governor said the extension would give local and state officials needed time to assess infrastructure damage that currently can't be seen due to high water and inaccessible roadways particularly in rural areas.
The governor said that flooding, high winds and tornadoes have battered much of the state....
"Repeated heavy rains here and in neighboring states have left rivers and streams running higher and faster than normal. In addition, with each storm local officials are busy with critical life safety and property preservation efforts than can delay their opportunity to thoroughly assess damages in a timely manner."
The governor said the extension would give local and state officials needed time to assess infrastructure damage that currently can't be seen due to high water and inaccessible roadways particularly in rural areas.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Meals, Trips, Gifts on Disclosure Forms
Financial disclosure forms filed by state officials this week show how Pennsylvania is behind the pack, when it comes to restrictions on gifts and perks lawmakers receive.
There’s no limit on the amount of gifts and travel perks Pennsylvania officials can receive. They just need to report presents worth more than $250, and disclose cumulative travel, lodging and meals costs once they exceed $650. That means it was perfectly fine for House Speaker Sam Smith to accept more $1,000 in meals from Harrisburg lobbying firm Greenlee Partners, to name one of many disclosures from legislative leaders.
Peggy Kerns, the director of the National Conference of State Legislators’ Center for Ethics in Government, said more states are toughening their ethics laws, with ten now banning gifts altogether. “It’s really to put this strong line of demarcation between the making of public policy, and the influencing of public policy,” she said. “And it’s really geared toward the public perception. … These states that pass these strict laws are really trying to say to the public, we’re not influenced by them. And we want to make sure that you know we’re not influenced by sitting in the skybox of some professional football game, or going on a trip or outing, or repeatedly having nice dinners bought by lobbyists.”
Kerns, who spent eight years in the Colorado House of Representatives, added, “I don’t know any legislator who could be bought for a steak dinner, or anything like that. However, that’s almost beside the point, because the public looks upon, sometimes, the perks that lawmakers get as meant to influence them.”
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi took a 2,147 dollar trip to Ireland with the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. Governor Corbett received a 530 dollar trophy from the Pittsburgh Penguins, to mark the opening of their new arena. He also accepted a $275 “welcome basket” from the Republican Governors Association, including a tie and cuff links. Governor Rendell may not have worked for NBC News yet in 2010, but he racked up more than $2,000 in hotel room bills while appearing on Meet the Press and Morning Joe.
There’s no limit on the amount of gifts and travel perks Pennsylvania officials can receive. They just need to report presents worth more than $250, and disclose cumulative travel, lodging and meals costs once they exceed $650. That means it was perfectly fine for House Speaker Sam Smith to accept more $1,000 in meals from Harrisburg lobbying firm Greenlee Partners, to name one of many disclosures from legislative leaders.
Peggy Kerns, the director of the National Conference of State Legislators’ Center for Ethics in Government, said more states are toughening their ethics laws, with ten now banning gifts altogether. “It’s really to put this strong line of demarcation between the making of public policy, and the influencing of public policy,” she said. “And it’s really geared toward the public perception. … These states that pass these strict laws are really trying to say to the public, we’re not influenced by them. And we want to make sure that you know we’re not influenced by sitting in the skybox of some professional football game, or going on a trip or outing, or repeatedly having nice dinners bought by lobbyists.”
Kerns, who spent eight years in the Colorado House of Representatives, added, “I don’t know any legislator who could be bought for a steak dinner, or anything like that. However, that’s almost beside the point, because the public looks upon, sometimes, the perks that lawmakers get as meant to influence them.”
Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi took a 2,147 dollar trip to Ireland with the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. Governor Corbett received a 530 dollar trophy from the Pittsburgh Penguins, to mark the opening of their new arena. He also accepted a $275 “welcome basket” from the Republican Governors Association, including a tie and cuff links. Governor Rendell may not have worked for NBC News yet in 2010, but he racked up more than $2,000 in hotel room bills while appearing on Meet the Press and Morning Joe.
Sierra Club: DEP "Trying to Rewrite History" Over Policy Hubbub
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says a controversial policy change regarding the authority of on-site environmental inspectors to issue citations for violations was never in place. This denial comes after a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the DEP rescinded the directive. The denial does not square with what the department initially said about the policy.
In March, several outlets, including WDUQ-FM, obtained a DEP email telling field inspectors to forward possible Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling violations to Harrisburg, for final approval from Secretary Michael Krancer. The note, written by Executive Deputy Secretary John Hines, read, “Effective immediately, any actions, NOVs and such must get approval of Dana and I with final clearance from Mike [Krancer]. Alisa and Dave are to be cc' on all correspondence related to these actions.
I need to repeat no final actions are to be taken unless approval comes from Dana and I with clearance from Mike [Krancer].”
Department spokeswoman Katy Gresh now says inspectors have maintained their power to issue permits, and the department just wants to keep tabs on what’s being issued where. “Inspectors are going into the field, writing notices of violation, as they have always done. And the regions are offering central office notification of what notices of violation are being issued,” she said Tuesday.
Jeff Schmidt, the director of Pennsylvania’s Sierra Club, doesn’t buy it. He insisted DEP is trying to “re-write history, and goes back to the initial leaked email. “To me, the fact that the executive deputy secretary of DEP referred to his message as a directive makes it clear that they had a policy of requiring NOV approval by Secretary Krancer,” he said.
On March 30th, Gresh had this to say about the new policy: “This effort to bring about consistency will ensure that enforcement actions levied against companies in one region for one activity will be levied against companies in every other region for the same activity.” A few days later, DEP announced the shift would be tested during a three-month trial period.
Schmidt kicked the latest back-and-forth off by releasing a letter Governor Corbett wrote to him, which read, “Inspectors in the field will continue to maintain the same ability to issue notice of violations as they have in the past. DEP remains poised to respond quickly and efficiently to any potential environmental hazard. DEP's goal is to act as one DEP and not as seven DEP's. For this reason, it has been necessary to make minor adjustments to several internal processes to enhance effectiveness. However, none of these adjustments will prevent inspectors from making "in the field" decisions and taking appropriate actions.”
Schmidt believes the department and Corbett Administration shifted course, after facing negative public reaction. Why is keeping final violation approval in inspectors’ hands so important for Schmidt? “By going up the chain and waiting, perhaps for days or weeks, for approval, environmental problems could go unaddressed,” he explained. “Beyond that, there’s also the matter of public record. If a notice of violation is not approved, it never becomes a public document,” he explained.
In March, several outlets, including WDUQ-FM, obtained a DEP email telling field inspectors to forward possible Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling violations to Harrisburg, for final approval from Secretary Michael Krancer. The note, written by Executive Deputy Secretary John Hines, read, “Effective immediately, any actions, NOVs and such must get approval of Dana and I with final clearance from Mike [Krancer]. Alisa and Dave are to be cc' on all correspondence related to these actions.
I need to repeat no final actions are to be taken unless approval comes from Dana and I with clearance from Mike [Krancer].”
Department spokeswoman Katy Gresh now says inspectors have maintained their power to issue permits, and the department just wants to keep tabs on what’s being issued where. “Inspectors are going into the field, writing notices of violation, as they have always done. And the regions are offering central office notification of what notices of violation are being issued,” she said Tuesday.
Jeff Schmidt, the director of Pennsylvania’s Sierra Club, doesn’t buy it. He insisted DEP is trying to “re-write history, and goes back to the initial leaked email. “To me, the fact that the executive deputy secretary of DEP referred to his message as a directive makes it clear that they had a policy of requiring NOV approval by Secretary Krancer,” he said.
On March 30th, Gresh had this to say about the new policy: “This effort to bring about consistency will ensure that enforcement actions levied against companies in one region for one activity will be levied against companies in every other region for the same activity.” A few days later, DEP announced the shift would be tested during a three-month trial period.
Schmidt kicked the latest back-and-forth off by releasing a letter Governor Corbett wrote to him, which read, “Inspectors in the field will continue to maintain the same ability to issue notice of violations as they have in the past. DEP remains poised to respond quickly and efficiently to any potential environmental hazard. DEP's goal is to act as one DEP and not as seven DEP's. For this reason, it has been necessary to make minor adjustments to several internal processes to enhance effectiveness. However, none of these adjustments will prevent inspectors from making "in the field" decisions and taking appropriate actions.”
Schmidt believes the department and Corbett Administration shifted course, after facing negative public reaction. Why is keeping final violation approval in inspectors’ hands so important for Schmidt? “By going up the chain and waiting, perhaps for days or weeks, for approval, environmental problems could go unaddressed,” he explained. “Beyond that, there’s also the matter of public record. If a notice of violation is not approved, it never becomes a public document,” he explained.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Another Capitol Rally Against PA Budget Plan
More than a thousand union members from groups including the PSEA, SEIU and AFSME gathered on the Capitol steps to protest Governor Corbett’s $27.3 billion budget today, with much of the anger focused on the more than $1 billion the Republican wants to cut from education spending.
About half of that money, as Corbett likes to point out during public appearances, comes from eliminated federal stimulus dollars.
At the beginning of the rally, AFSME Council 13 Executive Director Dave Fillman warned against the impact of Corbett’s proposed spending reductions. “We don’t want our kids on over-crowded classrooms. We don’t want health care cuts for our seniors. We don’t want huge increases in tuition. And we don’t want to see our property taxes skyrocket,” he said, as the crowd cheered. “A budget with devastating cuts for working families is wrong. A budget without a drilling tax on Marcellus Shale is wrong. A budget that allows tax loopholes for big corporations is wrong.”
Two themes emerged from the protestors I talked to. They’re 1) worried education cuts will lead to local property tax hikes and 2) think lawmakers should enact a natural gas drilling tax and send the proceeds to Pennsylvania’s general fund. Corbett has vowed to veto any tax increase, and the only drilling levy with a politically realistic chance of passing this year is Senator Joe Scarnati’s impact fee, which would send revenue to local governments and environmental efforts.
The union rally came a day after the release of April’s tax revenue figures, which were nine percent better than expectations. The extra income increased the year’s surplus to more than $500 million – way more than the $78 million projected by the Corbett Administration in March. Corbett has repeatedly vowed not to spend a cent more than $27.3 billion. If the surplus stays this large in June, there will be significant pressure from lawmakers to use the extra money to lessen basic and higher education cuts.
About half of that money, as Corbett likes to point out during public appearances, comes from eliminated federal stimulus dollars.
At the beginning of the rally, AFSME Council 13 Executive Director Dave Fillman warned against the impact of Corbett’s proposed spending reductions. “We don’t want our kids on over-crowded classrooms. We don’t want health care cuts for our seniors. We don’t want huge increases in tuition. And we don’t want to see our property taxes skyrocket,” he said, as the crowd cheered. “A budget with devastating cuts for working families is wrong. A budget without a drilling tax on Marcellus Shale is wrong. A budget that allows tax loopholes for big corporations is wrong.”
Two themes emerged from the protestors I talked to. They’re 1) worried education cuts will lead to local property tax hikes and 2) think lawmakers should enact a natural gas drilling tax and send the proceeds to Pennsylvania’s general fund. Corbett has vowed to veto any tax increase, and the only drilling levy with a politically realistic chance of passing this year is Senator Joe Scarnati’s impact fee, which would send revenue to local governments and environmental efforts.
The union rally came a day after the release of April’s tax revenue figures, which were nine percent better than expectations. The extra income increased the year’s surplus to more than $500 million – way more than the $78 million projected by the Corbett Administration in March. Corbett has repeatedly vowed not to spend a cent more than $27.3 billion. If the surplus stays this large in June, there will be significant pressure from lawmakers to use the extra money to lessen basic and higher education cuts.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Workers Rally for Budget Reconsideration at State Capitol
In response to Governor Tom Corbett’s budget proposal, thousands of members of labor and social organizations, and faith-based groups in Pennsylvania converged on the state capitol to rally for reconsideration.
Mackenzie Smith, leader of Unite Here 57, left Pittsburgh with 12 buses carrying nearly 1,000 people to Harrisburg. She says her group believes a rally in the Capitol is the best way to make a stand.
“I think getting out in the streets in addition to voting is the essence of democracy in showing our legislators that we care and that we’re watching the decisions they’re making. It’s the essence of America to get out in the streets and protest and make our voices heard.”
The group also protested at the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh. “We want to send a message to our legislators and to Gov. Corbett that we expect a budget that is fair, where corporations are paying their fair share. We want to eliminate our corporate loopholes which is the real reason we’re having a budget shortfall in the state.”
Friday, April 29, 2011
Reaction to Impact Fee: Not Far Enough...or...Too Far
Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati may feel like he just can’t win. In the hours after he introduced a natural gas drilling impact fee in Pennsylvania – a plan that would assess a base levy of $10,000 against every Marcellus Shale well in the state – he’s been pounded by criticism and lukewarm reaction from both sides of the aisle.
House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody of Allegheny County released a statement calling the fee a “weak alternative” to a broader severance tax. “The huge corporations that will make billions of dollars by taking gas out of Pennsylvania must pay their fair share,” he argued. “This small impact fee will not achieve that. Right now, those corporations pay nothing. With this impact fee, they would pay only a small fraction of what they should.” Democratic Senator Jim Ferlo of Pittsburgh, an outspoken opponent of drilling who’s pushing for a statewide hydraulic fracturing moratorium, was equally critical. “There is evidence that the gas drilling industry will leave scars on the Pennsylvania landscape that will place a cost on state government and all Pennsylvania taxpayers,” he said in a statement. “A severance tax is uniform and fair, and is not unreasonable when you compare it to our competitor states. We should enact a severance tax now to make sure that we are not making our taxpayers pay for the impacts of the drilling industry.”
Environmental advocates are also cold on the idea. Myron Arnowitt of Clean Water Action didn’t like the fact the fee puts money into conservation districts, rather than the Growing Greener program. “There’s also no resources that will be available to the Department of Environmental Protection from this proposal. DEP has had their budget cut every year, and they are the agency that gets to oversee and make sure we don’t have negative impacts from Marcellus Shale drilling.”
Scarnati preemptively addressed these concerns during his initial conference call, pointing out a fee directing money to DEP – whose budget is located in state’s the state’s General Fund – would be vetoed by Governor Corbett. “Those that continue to talk about, we want a severance tax – a true statewide severance tax – I think they are forgetting the reality that we have a governor who has for a year said publically and privately he will veto a tax,” he said. “I don’t think that there’s any merit in either legislative body to be pushing ahead with a severance tax, and delaying this for well over another year.”
And while environmentalists and Democrats think his plan is too small, House Republicans are indicating it’s too large. House GOP spokesman Steve Miskin reacted to the idea: “Does our caucus support it, in that it has 102 Republican votes? No, it does not. But since, looking at where the money is spent, it is clearly not tied to the budget whatsoever. So it is an interesting proposal worthy of further staff evaluation.” If you’re not fluent in legislative-speak, when spokesmen say something like, “we’ll evaluate it” or “we’ll take a look at it,” they probably aren’t too inclined to call the measure to a vote.
Even Scarnati’s partner, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, was lukewarm on the fee, which would not provide funding to counties where drilling isn’t taking place. “My view is that the entire commonwealth needs to benefit from an extraction tax, regardless of whether or not communities have wells or pipelines in their own area,” he said during a brief phone interview.
Where does Corbett stand on the issue? His spokesman, Kevin Harley, told the Post-Gazette, “[the proposal] starts a conversation. The governor is obviously awaiting the findings of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, who is looking at ways to grow the natural gas industry in an economically and environmentally responsible way and one of the things that they will be looking at is an impact fee.” In other words, we’ll get back to you. Scarnati, however, told reporters that when he and Corbett had lunch together this week, the governor effectively gave the measure a “yellow light.”
Grumblings aside, the reality is that of all the fees and taxes proposed, this new measure is the most likely to end up on Corbett’s desk. As one of the Senate’s top Republicans, Scarnati has the power to bring it to a floor vote. His statement that “it ain’t going to be easy” to pass a budget without also passing the fee shows he’s serious about making the bill a priority during the upcoming budget season, when most legislation gets passed into law. While hard-line liberals like Ferlo may vote against it, Democrats representing districts dotted with drilling rigs will likely vote yes. That would probably offset the “no” votes from conservative Republicans who think the measure goes too far.
The fee’s House fate seems a bit murkier. Majority Leader Mike Turzai is very conservative, especially on fiscal issues. He and a good chunk of GOP lawmakers are inclined to oppose any sort of tax or fee increase, no matter where it goes. That being said, public support for a severance tax or fee continues to grow – this week’s Quinnipiac University poll showed 69 percent of Pennsylvanians are in favor of the idea. Moderate Republicans in suburban districts will likely support the fee for that reason. So, in the House, passage could come down to whether Democrats agree with Scarnati’s assessment that this fee is the best they’re going to get, or whether they’ll vote “no” in a philosophical show of support for a broader tax.
House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody of Allegheny County released a statement calling the fee a “weak alternative” to a broader severance tax. “The huge corporations that will make billions of dollars by taking gas out of Pennsylvania must pay their fair share,” he argued. “This small impact fee will not achieve that. Right now, those corporations pay nothing. With this impact fee, they would pay only a small fraction of what they should.” Democratic Senator Jim Ferlo of Pittsburgh, an outspoken opponent of drilling who’s pushing for a statewide hydraulic fracturing moratorium, was equally critical. “There is evidence that the gas drilling industry will leave scars on the Pennsylvania landscape that will place a cost on state government and all Pennsylvania taxpayers,” he said in a statement. “A severance tax is uniform and fair, and is not unreasonable when you compare it to our competitor states. We should enact a severance tax now to make sure that we are not making our taxpayers pay for the impacts of the drilling industry.”
Environmental advocates are also cold on the idea. Myron Arnowitt of Clean Water Action didn’t like the fact the fee puts money into conservation districts, rather than the Growing Greener program. “There’s also no resources that will be available to the Department of Environmental Protection from this proposal. DEP has had their budget cut every year, and they are the agency that gets to oversee and make sure we don’t have negative impacts from Marcellus Shale drilling.”
Scarnati preemptively addressed these concerns during his initial conference call, pointing out a fee directing money to DEP – whose budget is located in state’s the state’s General Fund – would be vetoed by Governor Corbett. “Those that continue to talk about, we want a severance tax – a true statewide severance tax – I think they are forgetting the reality that we have a governor who has for a year said publically and privately he will veto a tax,” he said. “I don’t think that there’s any merit in either legislative body to be pushing ahead with a severance tax, and delaying this for well over another year.”
And while environmentalists and Democrats think his plan is too small, House Republicans are indicating it’s too large. House GOP spokesman Steve Miskin reacted to the idea: “Does our caucus support it, in that it has 102 Republican votes? No, it does not. But since, looking at where the money is spent, it is clearly not tied to the budget whatsoever. So it is an interesting proposal worthy of further staff evaluation.” If you’re not fluent in legislative-speak, when spokesmen say something like, “we’ll evaluate it” or “we’ll take a look at it,” they probably aren’t too inclined to call the measure to a vote.
Even Scarnati’s partner, Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, was lukewarm on the fee, which would not provide funding to counties where drilling isn’t taking place. “My view is that the entire commonwealth needs to benefit from an extraction tax, regardless of whether or not communities have wells or pipelines in their own area,” he said during a brief phone interview.
Where does Corbett stand on the issue? His spokesman, Kevin Harley, told the Post-Gazette, “[the proposal] starts a conversation. The governor is obviously awaiting the findings of the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, who is looking at ways to grow the natural gas industry in an economically and environmentally responsible way and one of the things that they will be looking at is an impact fee.” In other words, we’ll get back to you. Scarnati, however, told reporters that when he and Corbett had lunch together this week, the governor effectively gave the measure a “yellow light.”
Grumblings aside, the reality is that of all the fees and taxes proposed, this new measure is the most likely to end up on Corbett’s desk. As one of the Senate’s top Republicans, Scarnati has the power to bring it to a floor vote. His statement that “it ain’t going to be easy” to pass a budget without also passing the fee shows he’s serious about making the bill a priority during the upcoming budget season, when most legislation gets passed into law. While hard-line liberals like Ferlo may vote against it, Democrats representing districts dotted with drilling rigs will likely vote yes. That would probably offset the “no” votes from conservative Republicans who think the measure goes too far.
The fee’s House fate seems a bit murkier. Majority Leader Mike Turzai is very conservative, especially on fiscal issues. He and a good chunk of GOP lawmakers are inclined to oppose any sort of tax or fee increase, no matter where it goes. That being said, public support for a severance tax or fee continues to grow – this week’s Quinnipiac University poll showed 69 percent of Pennsylvanians are in favor of the idea. Moderate Republicans in suburban districts will likely support the fee for that reason. So, in the House, passage could come down to whether Democrats agree with Scarnati’s assessment that this fee is the best they’re going to get, or whether they’ll vote “no” in a philosophical show of support for a broader tax.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Corbett Suggests Drilling at State Schools
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett says some Pennsylvania universities should consider drilling for natural gas below their campuses to help solve financial problems. The idea was offered up as the governor spoke to the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees, which was meeting at Edinboro University.
The idea comes as institutions of higher education see state funding about to be cut. Corbett's proposed budget for the next fiscal year would reduce aid to colleges and universities by 50 percent.
Corbett says six of the 14 campuses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education are located on the Marcellus Shale formation.
The idea comes as institutions of higher education see state funding about to be cut. Corbett's proposed budget for the next fiscal year would reduce aid to colleges and universities by 50 percent.
Corbett says six of the 14 campuses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education are located on the Marcellus Shale formation.
Environmental Group Not Impressed With Impact Fee
Senate Republicans' Marcellus Shale drilling impact fee proposal has moved closer to reality but it's not formal legislation just yet.
The bill itself won't be introduced until next week. But Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati has unveiled the outlines of his plan, which would assess a $10,000 annual base fee on every Marcellus Shale well in Pennsylvania. The plan includes multipliers based on production and gas prices, which could increase the levy to more than $20,000 or $30,000 for some wells.
Scarnati's proposal would send more than half of the revenue to counties and townships where drilling is taking place. The rest would go to environmental conservation districts, and to fund environmental cleanup and infrastructure repair projects. Of the money designated for local governments, 36 percent would head to counties hosting Marcellus wells; 37 percent would go to municipalities where drilling is taking place; and 27 percent would be designated for municipalities having no producing sites but located in counties with producing unconventional gas wells.
"This is not a giveaway," said Scarnati. "Even the conservative numbers that we use are well above the estimated severance tax from last year's [Senate Republican severance tax] model."
A spreadsheet distributed by Scarnati's office estimates $121 million in 2011 and retroactive 2010 collections, and $103 in 2012 revenue.
Scarnati is hoping for an early June Senate vote, and passage of the law alongside this year's state budget.
"I cannot see how we can get the budget process done, with all the cuts that are occurring on so many lines, without addressing an impact fee for this industry," he said. "It's not going to solve our budget problem. Not by any sense. But the political pressures that are on legislators because of the cuts starts connecting dots."
Under Scarnati's proposal, the Public Utility Commission would collect and distribute the fee money. That, in his mind, works around Governor Corbett's demand that fee revenue stay out of Pennsylvania's General Fund.
Jan Jarrett of PennFuture isn't too impressed with Scarnati's plan, at first glance. "We need a robust and broad-based tax on the drillers that will protect the local communities, provide funding for environmental cleanup and protection, and benefit all Pennsylvanians for the loss of our natural resources. Senator Scarnati's plan unfortunately fails to provide vitally necessary environmental protection funding, and does little to benefit the average Pennsylvania taxpayer," she said in an emailed statement.
Anticipating criticism, Scarnati said hopes for a broader tax are unrealistic, given the fact Corbett has promised to veto any tax increase. "Those who have been clamoring for a severance tax or impact fee on the issue of issue of the environment, they should be very supportive in fact that we are putting dollars into real cleanup programs. "
Katherine Klaber, the president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, issued the following statement on the proposal: "Our industry understands that, while there are tremendous financial opportunities in Marcellus Shale development, there also can be impacts felt by our host communities. Policy decisions made at the state and local levels of government most certainly have an effect on job creation and the investment of capital needed to develop and maximize the benefits of clean-burning natural gas from the Marcellus. Pennsylvania has the opportunity to create a sustained and highly-competitive environment for growth of this productive industry, with all of the associated benefits for its residents. In order to meet this goal together, any local impact fee on Marcellus production must be clear, straightforward, and competitive. We are open to discussing with the governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, and all legislators, proposals that focus on strengthening our partnership with municipal governments, while providing funds to local communities."
The bill itself won't be introduced until next week. But Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati has unveiled the outlines of his plan, which would assess a $10,000 annual base fee on every Marcellus Shale well in Pennsylvania. The plan includes multipliers based on production and gas prices, which could increase the levy to more than $20,000 or $30,000 for some wells.
Scarnati's proposal would send more than half of the revenue to counties and townships where drilling is taking place. The rest would go to environmental conservation districts, and to fund environmental cleanup and infrastructure repair projects. Of the money designated for local governments, 36 percent would head to counties hosting Marcellus wells; 37 percent would go to municipalities where drilling is taking place; and 27 percent would be designated for municipalities having no producing sites but located in counties with producing unconventional gas wells.
"This is not a giveaway," said Scarnati. "Even the conservative numbers that we use are well above the estimated severance tax from last year's [Senate Republican severance tax] model."
A spreadsheet distributed by Scarnati's office estimates $121 million in 2011 and retroactive 2010 collections, and $103 in 2012 revenue.
Scarnati is hoping for an early June Senate vote, and passage of the law alongside this year's state budget.
"I cannot see how we can get the budget process done, with all the cuts that are occurring on so many lines, without addressing an impact fee for this industry," he said. "It's not going to solve our budget problem. Not by any sense. But the political pressures that are on legislators because of the cuts starts connecting dots."
Under Scarnati's proposal, the Public Utility Commission would collect and distribute the fee money. That, in his mind, works around Governor Corbett's demand that fee revenue stay out of Pennsylvania's General Fund.
Jan Jarrett of PennFuture isn't too impressed with Scarnati's plan, at first glance. "We need a robust and broad-based tax on the drillers that will protect the local communities, provide funding for environmental cleanup and protection, and benefit all Pennsylvanians for the loss of our natural resources. Senator Scarnati's plan unfortunately fails to provide vitally necessary environmental protection funding, and does little to benefit the average Pennsylvania taxpayer," she said in an emailed statement.
Anticipating criticism, Scarnati said hopes for a broader tax are unrealistic, given the fact Corbett has promised to veto any tax increase. "Those who have been clamoring for a severance tax or impact fee on the issue of issue of the environment, they should be very supportive in fact that we are putting dollars into real cleanup programs. "
Katherine Klaber, the president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, issued the following statement on the proposal: "Our industry understands that, while there are tremendous financial opportunities in Marcellus Shale development, there also can be impacts felt by our host communities. Policy decisions made at the state and local levels of government most certainly have an effect on job creation and the investment of capital needed to develop and maximize the benefits of clean-burning natural gas from the Marcellus. Pennsylvania has the opportunity to create a sustained and highly-competitive environment for growth of this productive industry, with all of the associated benefits for its residents. In order to meet this goal together, any local impact fee on Marcellus production must be clear, straightforward, and competitive. We are open to discussing with the governor's Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, and all legislators, proposals that focus on strengthening our partnership with municipal governments, while providing funds to local communities."
Voters Send Mixed Messages on Spending Cuts
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows Governor Tom Corbett’s disapproval rating has tripled since February. Its respondents also contradict themselves, on whether or not they want the Republican to cut state spending.
55 percent of the voters Quinnipiac surveyed think Pennsylvania’s $4.2 billion deficit should be balanced with cuts, not tax increases; but 52 percent disapprove of Corbett’s budget plan that does just that, and more than half say the budget isn’t fair to people like them. Assistant Polling Director Peter Brown sorted out the discrepancies. “People want spending cuts over tax increases, but when you confront them with specifics, they’re less supportive of those cuts,” he said.
Corbett’s approval rating stayed where it was two months ago, at 39 percent. But the number of people who disapprove of his job performance has grown from 11 to 37 percent, with about a quarter of voters undecided. “It’s not unreasonable to look at Corbett’s 39 percent approval, 37 percent job disapproval, and look at that as the base of the two parties,” said Brown. “I mean, it’s not exact, but it’s very similar. And the undecideds are all what we’d call swing voters.” Indeed, 64 percent of Republicans approve of Corbett’s job performance, while 55 percent of Democrats disapprove.
Brown said a bright spot for Corbett is the fact he’s more popular than Ohio and Florida’s freshman Republican governors. “Corbett has not yet, to the extent that some of the other Republican governors facing similar problems, alienated the middle, as has happened in some other states,” he said.
55 percent of the voters Quinnipiac surveyed think Pennsylvania’s $4.2 billion deficit should be balanced with cuts, not tax increases; but 52 percent disapprove of Corbett’s budget plan that does just that, and more than half say the budget isn’t fair to people like them. Assistant Polling Director Peter Brown sorted out the discrepancies. “People want spending cuts over tax increases, but when you confront them with specifics, they’re less supportive of those cuts,” he said.
Corbett’s approval rating stayed where it was two months ago, at 39 percent. But the number of people who disapprove of his job performance has grown from 11 to 37 percent, with about a quarter of voters undecided. “It’s not unreasonable to look at Corbett’s 39 percent approval, 37 percent job disapproval, and look at that as the base of the two parties,” said Brown. “I mean, it’s not exact, but it’s very similar. And the undecideds are all what we’d call swing voters.” Indeed, 64 percent of Republicans approve of Corbett’s job performance, while 55 percent of Democrats disapprove.
Brown said a bright spot for Corbett is the fact he’s more popular than Ohio and Florida’s freshman Republican governors. “Corbett has not yet, to the extent that some of the other Republican governors facing similar problems, alienated the middle, as has happened in some other states,” he said.
Drilling Official Asked To Withdraw from Panel
Environmental advocates are concerned by the number of drilling violations racked up by the energy companies serving on Governor Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Commission. Clean Water Action led a protest at today’s commission meeting to make that point, a day after releasing a report detailing more than 500 violations cited to energy companies on the panel in 2010.
But, in fact, Corbett did ask Chesapeake Energy’s representative to step down from the commission for just that reason.
When Corbett’s office announced the commission on March 8th, Chesapeake vice president Dave Spigelmyer was listed as one of its 30 members. According to four sources, Corbett asked him to withdraw from the panel after a February fire at a Chesapeake drilling site in Washington County injured three workers. Corbett advisers were worried the company’s violations would become a distraction, as the commission debates drilling policy.
Chesapeake, which currently operates 105 Marcellus Shale wells in Pennsylvania, racked up 132 violations in 2010, according to the Clean Water Action report. Last week, one of its Bradford County wells leaked tens of thousands of gallons of fracking fluid. The company has voluntarily halted hydraulic fracturing and other well completion activities at its Pennsylvania sites while it investigates the cause of the spill.
Chesapeake spokesman Matt Sheppard disputes the account of the people Pennsylvania Public Radio spoke with, who come from both inside and out of state government, emailing, “[Spigelmyer] stepped aside from the Marcellus Commission prior to the first meeting to focus on Chesapeake operations and his duties as vice chair of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.” Corbett’s office did not return calls for comment.
But, in fact, Corbett did ask Chesapeake Energy’s representative to step down from the commission for just that reason.
When Corbett’s office announced the commission on March 8th, Chesapeake vice president Dave Spigelmyer was listed as one of its 30 members. According to four sources, Corbett asked him to withdraw from the panel after a February fire at a Chesapeake drilling site in Washington County injured three workers. Corbett advisers were worried the company’s violations would become a distraction, as the commission debates drilling policy.
Chesapeake, which currently operates 105 Marcellus Shale wells in Pennsylvania, racked up 132 violations in 2010, according to the Clean Water Action report. Last week, one of its Bradford County wells leaked tens of thousands of gallons of fracking fluid. The company has voluntarily halted hydraulic fracturing and other well completion activities at its Pennsylvania sites while it investigates the cause of the spill.
Chesapeake spokesman Matt Sheppard disputes the account of the people Pennsylvania Public Radio spoke with, who come from both inside and out of state government, emailing, “[Spigelmyer] stepped aside from the Marcellus Commission prior to the first meeting to focus on Chesapeake operations and his duties as vice chair of the Marcellus Shale Coalition.” Corbett’s office did not return calls for comment.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
No Forced Pooling Says Corbett
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has been pigeon holed has being pro-Marcellus Shale drilling but when he went before a group friendly to Marcellus Shale exploration today he did not necessarily tell them everything they wanted to hear.
The governor spoke to an oil and gas seminar sponsored by the K&L Gates law firm where nearly 400 drilling industry representatives and supporters had gathered. While the governor did reiterate his position that he will not sign a severance tax he also told the group gathered in a hotel ballroom in Green Tree that he would not sign a forced pooling law. “I do not believe in private eminent domain and forced pooling would be exactly that,” said Corbett.
Forced pooling laws allow companies to compel a landowner to lease their mineral rights if enough of their neighbors sign on with a driller. Some other gas and oil producing states have forced pooling legislation on the books. Corbett says trying to avoid such a law in Pennsylvania is one of the reasons why he will not support a severance tax. “When people talk to me about the tax they say, ‘Well even the companies want a tax.’ They never add the caveat that I know that many of the companies that have gone to Harrisburg have said, ‘Yeah we’ll take the tax if we get certain things and regulations including the forced pooling.’”
At the same event Corbett told the crowd that he would do everything in his power to protect the state’s environment, including pulling drilling permits if he thinks companies are not respecting water resources. “Fair warning, I will not hesitate to use it if I do not see an effort to protect the environment of Pennsylvania and the water of Pennsylvania,” said Corbett, “I know how to get your attention… I know how to get the attention of your CEO’s.”
The governor also used the forum to call on everyone involved in the debate over shale drilling to not fall back on emotion and hearsay but to rely on facts and science. He also tried to set aside efforts by those who would like to see a moratorium on drilling who argue that the gas is not going away. He agreed it was not going anywhere but then opined that the state needs the jobs today, not decades from now after the energy companies have tapped out Ohio and West Virginia’s shale resources.
The governor spoke to an oil and gas seminar sponsored by the K&L Gates law firm where nearly 400 drilling industry representatives and supporters had gathered. While the governor did reiterate his position that he will not sign a severance tax he also told the group gathered in a hotel ballroom in Green Tree that he would not sign a forced pooling law. “I do not believe in private eminent domain and forced pooling would be exactly that,” said Corbett.
Forced pooling laws allow companies to compel a landowner to lease their mineral rights if enough of their neighbors sign on with a driller. Some other gas and oil producing states have forced pooling legislation on the books. Corbett says trying to avoid such a law in Pennsylvania is one of the reasons why he will not support a severance tax. “When people talk to me about the tax they say, ‘Well even the companies want a tax.’ They never add the caveat that I know that many of the companies that have gone to Harrisburg have said, ‘Yeah we’ll take the tax if we get certain things and regulations including the forced pooling.’”
At the same event Corbett told the crowd that he would do everything in his power to protect the state’s environment, including pulling drilling permits if he thinks companies are not respecting water resources. “Fair warning, I will not hesitate to use it if I do not see an effort to protect the environment of Pennsylvania and the water of Pennsylvania,” said Corbett, “I know how to get your attention… I know how to get the attention of your CEO’s.”
The governor also used the forum to call on everyone involved in the debate over shale drilling to not fall back on emotion and hearsay but to rely on facts and science. He also tried to set aside efforts by those who would like to see a moratorium on drilling who argue that the gas is not going away. He agreed it was not going anywhere but then opined that the state needs the jobs today, not decades from now after the energy companies have tapped out Ohio and West Virginia’s shale resources.
Counties' Officials Want Flexibility With Impact Fee
Republicans in the Pennsylvania Senate are hoping to introduce its natural gas drilling impact fee by the end of the week.
Drew Crompton, the chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, said the caucus is drafting the bill from scratch, rather than re-writing last year's severance tax proposals.
"That requires significant data runs and analysis, as it relates to the number of wells, the number of active wells, the number of permitted wells across the Commonwealth. So that work, as well as the legislative drafting work, has been ongoing for weeks. We hope we have a product by the end of the week."
It's not clear how Senate Republicans would assess the fee. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is calling for a flat levy for each wellhead. The group's executive director, Doug Hill, said county officials should be given flexibility on how to use the revenue, arguing drilling's impact goes far beyond infrastructure wear and tear.
"Counties are dealing with things like increasing the planning requirements for our emergency management systems. Doing addressing, so we can respond properly if there is an emergency at one of the sites. Even doing exercises so we can properly train our county staff and our volunteers to do those responses. We've also seen impacts on things as diverse as land use, records management, human services, even some touches on the criminal justice system."
Governor Corbett has said he's open to an impact fee, but wants to wait for input from his Marcellus Shale Commission before moving forward. He stayed vague on Monday, when asked about the Senate GOP's new timeline.
"Obviously whenever they introduce legislation, we always take a look to see what the legislation is. I think the first question is, what is an impact? Is it more than just the trucks? Which I think it is more than just the trucks. And where the money would go."
Drew Crompton, the chief of staff for Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, said the caucus is drafting the bill from scratch, rather than re-writing last year's severance tax proposals.
"That requires significant data runs and analysis, as it relates to the number of wells, the number of active wells, the number of permitted wells across the Commonwealth. So that work, as well as the legislative drafting work, has been ongoing for weeks. We hope we have a product by the end of the week."
It's not clear how Senate Republicans would assess the fee. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania is calling for a flat levy for each wellhead. The group's executive director, Doug Hill, said county officials should be given flexibility on how to use the revenue, arguing drilling's impact goes far beyond infrastructure wear and tear.
"Counties are dealing with things like increasing the planning requirements for our emergency management systems. Doing addressing, so we can respond properly if there is an emergency at one of the sites. Even doing exercises so we can properly train our county staff and our volunteers to do those responses. We've also seen impacts on things as diverse as land use, records management, human services, even some touches on the criminal justice system."
Governor Corbett has said he's open to an impact fee, but wants to wait for input from his Marcellus Shale Commission before moving forward. He stayed vague on Monday, when asked about the Senate GOP's new timeline.
"Obviously whenever they introduce legislation, we always take a look to see what the legislation is. I think the first question is, what is an impact? Is it more than just the trucks? Which I think it is more than just the trucks. And where the money would go."
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sprinkler Requirement Eliminated
Governor Tom Corbett has signed his first bill into law. The measure, which passed the House and Senate by wide margins, lifts a mandate requiring sprinkler systems in newly-constructed homes in Pennsylvania.
At the Monday afternoon bill signing, Corbett said the old legislation didn’t make sense. “Whether or not new homes are equipped with sprinklers, I believe should be a decision left up to the individual consumers, not to the government,” he said. “While there are arguments on both sides of this issue, as I said before, I believe it’s the decision of the individual consumer.” The governor pointed out smoke detectors are still required in every home, and that “builders still must offer buyers the option to install an automatic fire sprinkler system, provide buyers with information explaining the initial and ongoing cost of such a system, and furnish buyers with information on the possible benefits of information of an automatic sprinkler system.”
Firefighters unions supported the mandate, arguing requiring sprinklers in houses would help keep more blazes under control.
The new law also makes broader changes to Pennsylvania’s construction codes. Going forward, the commonwealth will no longer automatically adopt recommendations put forward by the International Code Council, which authored the sprinkler mandate in 2009. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s 19-member Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council will need a two-thirds vote to approve new building requirements. Some environmental advocates are worried the supermajority threshold will make it more difficult to write energy efficiency mandates and other “green” requirements into codes.
At the Monday afternoon bill signing, Corbett said the old legislation didn’t make sense. “Whether or not new homes are equipped with sprinklers, I believe should be a decision left up to the individual consumers, not to the government,” he said. “While there are arguments on both sides of this issue, as I said before, I believe it’s the decision of the individual consumer.” The governor pointed out smoke detectors are still required in every home, and that “builders still must offer buyers the option to install an automatic fire sprinkler system, provide buyers with information explaining the initial and ongoing cost of such a system, and furnish buyers with information on the possible benefits of information of an automatic sprinkler system.”
Firefighters unions supported the mandate, arguing requiring sprinklers in houses would help keep more blazes under control.
The new law also makes broader changes to Pennsylvania’s construction codes. Going forward, the commonwealth will no longer automatically adopt recommendations put forward by the International Code Council, which authored the sprinkler mandate in 2009. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s 19-member Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council will need a two-thirds vote to approve new building requirements. Some environmental advocates are worried the supermajority threshold will make it more difficult to write energy efficiency mandates and other “green” requirements into codes.
Teacher Contracts Available in Online Database
The Education Action Group has compiled a database of teacher contracts of 481 school districts in the state of Pennsylvania. These contracts, gathered through public record and Freedom of Information Act requests, outline the provisions included in collectively-bargained teacher contracts.
Kyle Olsen, CEO of the Education Action Group, says the organization brought together these contracts into one place so taxpayers could see how oftentimes more than 80 percent of public education funding goes to labor costs.
To Olsen, the database is an important resource as taxpayers consider ways to close Pennsylvania’s $4 billion budget gap.
“We’re trying to peel back the layers of public school spending to show taxpayers exactly where their dollars are going because the reality is 80 to 85 percent of every dollar that is spent in public schools is contained in that contract,” he says. “So what we’re urging people to do is take a look at those and start asking questions to figure where their dollars are going.”
Olsen stresses that things like annual raise for teachers regardless of performance, lavish health insurance, and an uncapped amount of sick days are all “wasteful provisions” in contracts that could dramatically reduce the cost if eliminated. Olsen says he doesn’t want to label teachers as the bad guys.
“We’re not making an assertion that teachers are paid to much. All we’re saying is these are the ways teachers are being paid and as school districts are looking to make cuts and asking for concessions and scaling back and all of those types of things, would it make sense to look at those different types of provisions that have zero impact on student learning?”
The group hopes to gather the remaining 72 contracts of the state’s 500 school districts and post them along with the others. The contracts are available online.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Corbett Gets Rid of Bus
Governor Tom Corbett is kicking “Commonwealth One” to the curb. He’s auctioning off the tour bus Governor Ed Rendell used to travel the state, pitching his budget plans, transportation initiatives and other legislative priorities. “It has required $66,000 just to maintain this bus,” said Corbett at a Tuesday morning Harrisburg press conference. “In 2008, this bus cost taxpayers $18.84 per mile. In 2009, it cost $19.93 per mile. Last year this bust cost us $25.99 per mile. …It has cost us $1,336 for batteries. We spent $550 dollars having it towed. The taxpayers paid to have its windows tinted. This is one bus we can do without.”
Speaking on an unrelated conference call, Rendell declined to weigh in on the sale, but pointed out the bus was donated, and not purchased, in 2003. “I hope it will make money, because it didn’t cost us anything to purchase it, so it will be a net gain,” he said. While Rendell didn’t leap to Commonwealth One’s defense – after three or four bus questions, he told reporters he refused to answer any more -- some of his former staffers were quick to support the coach. “I think you have to keep this in context,” said former Rendell spokesman and self-described “bus-keteer” Chuck Ardo. “Was it expensive? Sure it was expensive. Does the governor have a responsibility to go out there and be seen, and listen to the people of the commonwealth? I think that’s clearly a responsibility the governor has. … [Rendell] went to more places that no other governor had gone before. They should have called the bus the Enterprise.”
Corbett’s office claims Commonwealth One traveled just 26,000 miles during its eight-year lifespan. “This…represents everything wrong with state government,” he said. “It’s out-dated, inefficient and broken down.” Rendell’s top policy advisor, Donna Cooper, disagreed. “I don’t think it represents what’s wrong with government. Because that bus took Ed Rendell and many members of his cabinet to every one of the 67 counties nearly every year,” she said. “Particularly in the rural counties, that bus represented the first time a governor or a cabinet secretary had ever been to their county and worked with them on those problems. So if Corbett thinks that represents a bad way to govern, then I think a lot of Pennsylvania’s counties are going to be more disappointed in this administration than they already are.”
The bus goes to auction in May or June.
Education Sec Defends Budget Cuts
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett’s top education official argues his boss was right to not replace expiring stimulus money with state dollars in his budget.
Corbett’s budget cuts about $1 billion from basic education spending. Acting Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis told the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday the administration didn’t have a choice. “He inherited a four billion dollar hole. We can think to make that whole bigger and bigger and bigger, which will end up on the backs of the taxpayer and the economy and the commonwealth.” The other option, Tomalis said, was to not replace expiring stimulus money, which he argued was irresponsibly utilized by Governor Rendell. “If you were told again and again that this was a funding cliff coming in two years, and you were advised not to make an expenditure that’s going to lock you in for five, ten years down the road, it does matter.”
Disappearing federal funds account for the proposed $550 million dollar reduction in the subsidy the state sends to school districts.
Tomalis also defended eliminating the $260 million Accountability Block Grant program, which many schools use to fund early childhood education. “I looked at the Accountability Block Grant program. My first question was, where’s the accountability in the Accountability Block Grant program? The school districts are allowed to use 16 different things – do 16 different things – with the Accountability Block Grant programs. It is a block grant program. So then the question is, why wasn’t it folded directly into the Basic Ed Formula?” He said doing away with the program helped minimize the basic education subsidy’s reduction.
Corbett’s budget cuts about $1 billion from basic education spending. Acting Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis told the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday the administration didn’t have a choice. “He inherited a four billion dollar hole. We can think to make that whole bigger and bigger and bigger, which will end up on the backs of the taxpayer and the economy and the commonwealth.” The other option, Tomalis said, was to not replace expiring stimulus money, which he argued was irresponsibly utilized by Governor Rendell. “If you were told again and again that this was a funding cliff coming in two years, and you were advised not to make an expenditure that’s going to lock you in for five, ten years down the road, it does matter.”
Disappearing federal funds account for the proposed $550 million dollar reduction in the subsidy the state sends to school districts.
Tomalis also defended eliminating the $260 million Accountability Block Grant program, which many schools use to fund early childhood education. “I looked at the Accountability Block Grant program. My first question was, where’s the accountability in the Accountability Block Grant program? The school districts are allowed to use 16 different things – do 16 different things – with the Accountability Block Grant programs. It is a block grant program. So then the question is, why wasn’t it folded directly into the Basic Ed Formula?” He said doing away with the program helped minimize the basic education subsidy’s reduction.
Monday, March 28, 2011
PA Students Protest Planned Education Cuts
Students from state-owned and state-related universities across Pennsylvania hopped on buses this morning to attend a rally at the Capitol to protest Governor Tom Corbett's budget proposal that would cut state funding for higher education by 50%. Hundreds of sign-waving students stoop on the steps of the Capitol while leaders of some of the universities testified before the House Appropriations Committee.
Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny County), is a trustee of the University of Pittsburgh, and told the students that lawmakers will not them down....
"Governor Corbett emphasized the concept of 'shared sacrifice' in his budget address. Apparently, he meant 'shared sacrifice' from students, their families, faculty, staff and the communities that rely and thrive on the economic vitality generated by your schools. "He clearly does not believe that Big Oil and gas companies who extract our natural resources have to share in the sacrifice. He clearly does not believe that tobacco companies who produce smokeless tobacco products and cigars have to share in our sacrifice."
Representative Mike Hanna of Clinton and Centre Counties says the governor's priorities are wrong, and asked why Corbett is choosing incarceration over education. The Department of Corrections is one of the few that is scheduled to receive a funding increase in the governor's budget.
Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny County), is a trustee of the University of Pittsburgh, and told the students that lawmakers will not them down....
"Governor Corbett emphasized the concept of 'shared sacrifice' in his budget address. Apparently, he meant 'shared sacrifice' from students, their families, faculty, staff and the communities that rely and thrive on the economic vitality generated by your schools. "He clearly does not believe that Big Oil and gas companies who extract our natural resources have to share in the sacrifice. He clearly does not believe that tobacco companies who produce smokeless tobacco products and cigars have to share in our sacrifice."
Representative Mike Hanna of Clinton and Centre Counties says the governor's priorities are wrong, and asked why Corbett is choosing incarceration over education. The Department of Corrections is one of the few that is scheduled to receive a funding increase in the governor's budget.
Proposed Fees For Towns That Rely On State Police
As municipalities across Pennsylvania trim or eliminate their police departments due to budget cuts, the State Police say they’re being spread thin.
Colonel Frank Noonan, acting State Police Commissioner, says more troopers are needed. He says State Police cover about 27 percent of Pennsylvania's population as the sole law enforcement department.
"They’re small populations. So that doesn’t look like, well, that’s not that many people. But they’re spread out so far. So it increases our response time to do things in a safe manner, and things like that. So that’s a problem. But another issue is now some of the larger communities that are facing reductions, not eliminations, of their police departments.
Governor Tom Corbett has included training money in his budget for 230 new state troopers, but Noonan, says the agency is about 400 officers below a full compliment.
"It’s my understanding that over the last, about, three years, there’s been about 58 municipalities that have either eliminated or reduced their police departments. I mean, State Police stands ready. We are the last resort. If you don’t have police, obviously, we are the ones who have to go in there and do it. But it does stretch us thin sometimes."
Bills in front of both the House and Senate would charge fees to municipalities relying on State Police protection. Similar measures have been introduced in previous years, but have never been passed into law.
Colonel Frank Noonan, acting State Police Commissioner, says more troopers are needed. He says State Police cover about 27 percent of Pennsylvania's population as the sole law enforcement department.
"They’re small populations. So that doesn’t look like, well, that’s not that many people. But they’re spread out so far. So it increases our response time to do things in a safe manner, and things like that. So that’s a problem. But another issue is now some of the larger communities that are facing reductions, not eliminations, of their police departments.
Governor Tom Corbett has included training money in his budget for 230 new state troopers, but Noonan, says the agency is about 400 officers below a full compliment.
"It’s my understanding that over the last, about, three years, there’s been about 58 municipalities that have either eliminated or reduced their police departments. I mean, State Police stands ready. We are the last resort. If you don’t have police, obviously, we are the ones who have to go in there and do it. But it does stretch us thin sometimes."
Bills in front of both the House and Senate would charge fees to municipalities relying on State Police protection. Similar measures have been introduced in previous years, but have never been passed into law.
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