February 19, 2016

Weekly Wrap:

This week’s biggest news came from the Governor’s Office just this morning.   Gov. Tom Wolf announced that Secretary of Policy and Planning John Hanger is leaving his post so he can spend more time with his family in Massachusetts. Deputy Secretary of Policy and Planning Sarah Galbally has been promoted to replace Hanger. Also, the Governor announced that current Acting Secretary of Legislative Affairs Will Danowski has been permanently named to that post.

For more, go to: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2016/2016021993.HTM

Aside from that news, this week was a quiet one in the Capitol City, with neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate in town for session. Other than a few members of the Senate Transportation Committee who were in Harrisburg for two public hearings (one on the state’s response to Winter Storm Jonas and one on State Police funding), there was nary a legislator to be seen. This isn’t necessarily surprising, however, given that Tuesday was the last day for candidates (both new and incumbents) to file nomination petitions to appear on the ballot in the April 26th primary.

For an overview of the candidates, go to: http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/02/public_outrage_over_budget_deb.html

The Governor’s office was a little busier; on Tuesday Gov. Wolf signed a number of bills that were presented to him within the last ten days. Among those signed was H.B. 158 (Peifer-Pike), which gives the Secretary of Education the authority to issue weather, safety or health related emergency declaration and also clarifies that school employees must have an updated criminal history record every five years.

Additionally, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) wrapped up its winter meeting in Washington, D.C. earlier this week. Founded in 1889, (NARUC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing the State public service commissions who regulate the utilities that provide essential services such as energy, telecommunications, water and transportation. Hot topics of discussion at this year’s meeting included: the Clean Power Plan, natural gas and water infrastructure, pipeline safety, cyber and physical security, water, telecommunications, broadband and transportation issues. Pennsylvania regulators played a key role in moderating panels of interest: Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Chair Gladys Brown moderated a panel, “Moving into the Future: Updating Existing Regulations to Make Way for Innovation in the Transportation Sector”,” Commissioner Rob Powelson -who is also serving as the First Vice-President of NARUC- moderated a panel on the “EPA’s Waters of the US Rule: What Effects Could it Have on Water Utilities”, finally, Commissioner Pamela Witmer lead a panel on “Natural Gas Pipeline Siting”.

Further from the utility world, the Governor’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force issued its final report and recommendations this week. Task force chairman and Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, John Quigley, noted that, “This report should start a larger conversation in Pennsylvania. It will be a success if it touches off a sustained debate and promotes collaboration between communities, the gas industry, pipeline builders, landowners and other stakeholders,” For more, go to:

http://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/ProgramIntegration/PipelineTaskForce/Pages/default.aspx

And finally, we have more news from the Attorney General this week. While it’s possible that Kathleen Kane will remain in the news past the November election, she will not remain in office. On Wednesday, in her hometown of Scranton, she announced that she will not seek a second term in office, stating that spending time with her sons took priority over her position as Attorney General. However, this news is not stopping the House with beginning the impeachment process against Kane. The House Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Courts will hold a public hearing on Tuesday on the investigation of potential impeachment proceedings regarding the Attorney General. This all comes a week after the House voted 170-12 to charge a subcommittee with investigating Kane.

A Look Ahead:

Next week kicks off three weeks of budget hearings in the House and Senate. For a list of House budget hearings, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/CMS/index.cfm?Chamber=H.   For a list of Senate budget hearings, go to: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/CMS/index.cfm?Chamber=S

All Senate Budget Hearings will be held in Hearing Room 1 of the North Office Building; House Budget Hearings will be held in Room 140 of the Main Capitol Building. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on our twitter feed @BuchananGov.

Also next week, the House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on the investigation of potential impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Kathleen Kane (mentioned above). The likely standing room only hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Room 205 of the Ryan Office Building.

In Other News: