September 4, 2015

Weekly Wrap:

We’re moving into the third month of the budget impasse with no real news to report.  This week, Gov. Wolf changed his negotiating tactic, opting for smaller, more intimate meetings with members.  It’s yet to be seen if those talks will lead to a budget agreement any time soon.

For more, check out: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150901_ap_4c63c0a5d5e44c9eb22544f43deb9b88.html

Meanwhile, some members were busy this week. The House Consumer Affairs Committee held public hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday, they heard testimony regarding the costs and benefits of the provisions of Act 129 of 2008, which requires electric distribution companies to implement energy efficiency and conservation plans to reduce energy consumption and overall demand.  On Wednesday, the Committee held another hearing to solicit testimony on the current state of net-metering and H.B. 1349, relating to Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards and, specifically, anaerobic digesters.

A Look Ahead:

Next week could be quiet again, with no voting session scheduled in either chamber. However, the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee will be meeting in Pittsburgh on Thursday, September 10, for a public hearing on the regulation of transportation network companies.

Additionally, while the Senate had originally planned to return to Harrisburg on Monday, September 21, that date has been moved up to Monday, September 14. It’s unclear what’s on the docket for those days, but news reports indicate consideration of a stop gap budget is a possibility.

For more, go to: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/09/03/pa-senate-to-consider-temporary-funding-later-this-month/

In Other News: