November 13, 2015

Weekly Wrap:

This was a busy week in the Commonwealth’s capitol city, and we’ve got news on a number of fronts. First, at long last, reports this week indicate that there is some movement to shake loose a 2015-2016 state spending plan. This year’s budget, now pushing five months late, could be wrapped up by Thanksgiving according to some lawmakers. Highlights of the proposal include:

  • An increase in the state sales tax to 7.25%, which would generate about $2 billion in new revenue which would be used to cut property taxes;
  • Using taxes currently collected from the state’s casinos to fund property taxes to instead help pay down the state pension deficit; and
  • Using money freed up in the General Fund by not having to pay on pension costs to increase state contributions to public education.

For more information on the details and the status of the proposed budget, go to: http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news/politics&id=345139512

As always, the devil will be in the details of this new proposed spending plan. And while we hate to be a wet blanket, two weeks is plenty of time for something to go wrong and for disagreements on the particulars to surface. Let’s say we’re cautiously optimistic for now, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted as things develop.

Second, it’s often said that bad news comes in threes, and that was certainly the case for Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane this week. On Monday, the Special Committee on Senate Address, charged with investigating whether or not Kane can continue to adequately perform the duties of her office without her license to practice law, held its first meeting. The committee heard testimony from a panel of district attorneys, who testified that without their license to practice law, they would not be able to function as their counties’ top prosecutor.

Read more here: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2015/11/09/In-indictment-of-Kathleen-Kane-s-abilities-DAs-say-they-couldn-t-function-with-suspended-law-license/stories/201511090181

On Tuesday, Kane was back in court to testify at a preliminary hearing regarding charges that she lied under oath during grand jury testimony. Kane is already facing charges stemming from a leak of grand jury information.

Read more here: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20151111_Kane_held_for_trial_on_new_perjury_charge.html

Then on Thursday, former Attorney General staffers sued Kane in federal court this week for defamation and for misuse of the authority of her office.

Read more here: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2015/11/12/Former-state-prosecutors-sue-AG-attorney-general-pennsylvania-Kane-in-federal-court/stories/201511120163

Finally this week, the Governor’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force released its draft report. Convened in May and composed of 48-members representing all levels of government as well as industry and environmental groups, the group published a draft of best practices for pipeline safety and infrastructure. Public comment will be taken on the report until December 14, and the final report will be presented to the Governor in February of next year.

Read the report here: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015110967.PDF

A Look Ahead:

Both the House and Senate will be in Harrisburg for three days of voting session next week, and we’re hopeful that most of the work will be on the state budget. However, a number of committees have scheduled voting and informational meetings.

On Monday, the House Liquor Control Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1690. Sponsored by Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), the bill would provide for privatization of the state’s liquor stores. It’s possible that passage of this legislation is part of the budget deal; the House passed similar legislation in June along with the budget, but like the budget, it was vetoed by Gov. Wolf.

Read H.B. 1490 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1690

Also on Monday, the House Consumer Affairs Committee will meet to consider H.B. 1436 (Godshall, Montgomery), which would clarify the calculation of federal tax expenses for public utility companies.

Read H.B. 1436 here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1436

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a voting meeting; among the bills on the agenda is S.B. 524 (Scarnati, R-Cameron), which would give county jails greater access to medications to address opioid dependence as part of an offender’s re-entry program. The House Health Committee will meet on Tuesday as well and will consider H.B. 682 (Murt, R-Montgomery), which would make amendments to Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act.

To read S.B. 524, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0524

To read H.B. 682, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0682

The House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee will consider H.B. 777 (Grove, R-York)on Wednesday, which would allow seniors to keep their PACE or PACENET benefits despite a cost of living adjustment in their Social Security benefit (which might otherwise make them ineligible for benefits). Also on Wednesday, the House Local Government Committee will consider H.B. 1647 (Harper, R-Montgomery) and S.B. 899 (R-Butler), both of which address circumstances under which property tax increases can be appealed after a countywide assessment.

To read H.B. 777, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0777

To read H.B. 1647, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1647

To read S.B. 899, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0899

Finally, there are rumblings of movement on S.B. 76 (Argall, R-Berks) next week. S.B.76 would establish the Property Tax Independence Act and eliminate school property tax through an increase in the sales tax and the personal income tax. It’s hard to say how this ties in with the budget proposal discussed above, but more information will be available late next week.

For the word on S.B. 76, go to: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015111026.HTM

To read the bill, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2015&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0076

For a full list of committee meetings, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm

To see possible Senate floor action, view the Senate Calendar: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/SessionCalendars/index.cfm?Chamber=S

To see possible House floor action, check out The Week Ahead: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015111387.PDF

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