Thursday 31 May 2007

Pennsylvanians prefer Giuliani and Clinton for President

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 31 May 2007) - Republican Rudy Giuliani and Democrat Hillary Clinton are enjoying the most early support from Pennsylvanians looking ahead to the 2008 presidential primaries. That's according to new polls.

A Quinnipiac University survey of registered Democrats has Clinton in front of Al Gore and Barack Obama, 33 to 16 to 13.

Among Republicans, the clear preference is for Giuliani, who's the pick for 28% of potential primary voters.

It's a three-way tie for second place among John McCain and surging Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney, who check in at 11, 10 and 9 % respectively.

Pollster Clay Richards says the hypothetical November matchups favor Giuliani - except in one case.

"When it comes down to Giuliani versus Clinton, Mayor Giuliani is still ahead, 47-43, which is almost identical to last time. Giuliani beats Senator Obama 45 to 40. But Al Gore, all of a sudden - not running - is 45 to 44, barely over Giuliani," Richards says.

Gore and Thompson are not declared candidates.

Wednesday 30 May 2007

A poll suggests Pennsylvanians . . .

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 30 May 2007) - A poll suggests Pennsylvanians are still very interested in property tax reduction - and most are willing to accept a statewide sales tax increase in exchange.

According to the Quinnipiac University survey, voters support Governor Rendell's proposal to add one point to the sales tax and use the revenue to reduce property taxes.

The poll results were 56 in favor and 39 against, and the margin was a bit wider than when pollster Clay Richards asked the question two months ago.

"At the same time, 57% say property taxes are the most important issue in the state. There have been a number of methods proposed to lower property taxes while providing more money for education, and the answer that is most acceptable to the voters is increasing the state sales tax," Richards says.

Rendell himself is getting mixed feedback.

51% don't blame him for the failure of Act 1, and his approval rating is still 55 percent, but for the first time, more than half of all voters don't approve of his overall handling of property taxes.

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 30 May 2007) - A poll suggests Pennsylvanians are still very interested in property tax reduction - and most are willing to accept a statewide sales tax increase in exchange.

According to the Quinnipiac University survey, voters support Governor Rendell's proposal to add one point to the sales tax and use the revenue to reduce property taxes.

The poll results were 56 in favor and 39 against, and the margin was a bit wider than when pollster Clay Richards asked the question two months ago.

"At the same time, 57% say property taxes are the most important issue in the state. There have been a number of methods proposed to lower property taxes while providing more money for education, and the answer that is most acceptable to the voters is increasing the state sales tax," Richards says.

Rendell himself is getting mixed feedback.

51% don't blame him for the failure of Act 1, and his approval rating is still 55 percent, but for the first time, more than half of all voters don't approve of his overall handling of property taxes.

Fewer PA Memorial Day weekend crashes for 2007

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 29 May 2007) – The roads were a bit safer over the 2007 Memorial Day weekend than they were in 2006, according to state police.

Deaths, injuries and crashes investigated by state police all fell this year.

Spokeswoman Trooper Linette Quinn says the state police investigated a total of 765 crashes over the four-day weekend.

"Seven people were killed, 320 were injured. Of those 7 people that were killed, unfortunately, none of them were wearing a seat belt, and 4 of our 7 fatal crashes were also alcohol-related. So we want to remind everyone to wear your seat belt and don’t drink and drive," Quinn says.

Quinn people generally know enforcement will be tighter over busy weekends and this year, maybe it got people to slow down and take a bit more care.

State police issued about 6500 speeding tickets and charged more than 250 motorists with driving under the influence.

The figures include only crashes to which the state police responded.

PA officials remind employers of child labor laws

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 29 May 2007) – The state is reminding potential employers about Pennsylvania’s child labor laws as summer school vacations begin.

State and federal laws limit when those under 18 can work. Whichever law is more stringent is the one that applies in a given situation.

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry spokesman Troy Thompson notes summer employment can yield gains for both employers and young employees – as long as the rules are followed.

Thompson says children under 14 can be newspaper carriers or caddies, they can do neighborhood chores and they can do some farm work, but that’s about it.

He says young high-schoolers can work more hours, while older teens face fewer restrictions.

"Youth ages 16 and 17 can work a maximum of 8 hours a day – there are no limits between the times they can work – or 44 hours a week during summer vacation with no night work limit. They can be issued a transferable work permit to be used if they change jobs," Thompson says.

Occupations classified as dangerous are off-limits. These include electrical, explosive and excavating work and activities like welding, roofing and mining.

More information is available at the department website, keyword "labor laws."

Sunday 27 May 2007

PA state police urge safe Memorial Day driving

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 25 May 2007) - As the Memorial Day holiday weekend continues, state police are urging folks to drive safely right through the end of Monday night.

Eleven people died and more than 350 were injured in the more than 800 crashes that happened over the Memorial Day weekend in 2006.

State Police spokesman Jack Lewis says it's important for people to take care on the roads.

And he notes that goes beyond the usual, really obvious advice, like "buckle up" and "don't drink and drive."

"Refrain from engaging in any kind of aggressive driving behaviors. You don't want to be speeding. You don't want to be tailgating. You don't want to be making improper lane changes. Probably the best advice we can give is - put lots of room between your vehicle and the vehicle in
front of you. Many crashes occur when a vehicle slows down and is hit from behind by another vehicle," Lewis says.

Lewis notes this weekend is often deadlier than Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year's, even though weather is rarely a factor, because people tend to speed during the summer.

The State Police issued more than 6400 speeding tickets over Memorial Day last year.

Saturday 26 May 2007

Progressive group says oil tax would work

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 25 May 2007) - A proposed new state tax on national oil company profits has been attacked by Republicans, who say it's impractical, possibly illegal and likely to result in higher gas prices.

A report from a progressive think tank suggests none of those fears are accurate.

The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center says the "gross profits tax" would be a "good funding source" for Pennsylvania's public transit systems.

The 6.17 percent levy on the percentage of profits derived from a firm's Pennsylvania business would relieve the company from paying corporate net income tax, but the total tax paid would be much higher.

Researcher Sharon Ward says world demand for oil is so high right now - and refining capacity so low - that oil company profits will remain high and absorb the impact of any change to Pennsylvania law.

"Some lawmakers are concerned that the tax will translate into higher prices at the pump. The issue is much more complex than the discussion has been to date. We use what we believe is a more economically sound model. We think that the bulk of the tax, perhaps as much as 90
percent, will be paid by shareholders, not drivers," Ward says.

So far, the oil profits tax has attracted few fans in the legislature, but many mass transit systems have cut or are cutting service, so some kind of action is expected this summer.

Friday 25 May 2007

Bill in PA legislature would limit landowner liability

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 24 May 2007) - If you let someone hunt on your land in Pennsylvania, without charging a fee, the law limits your liability in cases of on-property injury.

But what if a bullet fired from your land strikes someone on nearby property?

The state legislature is trying to clarify the answer to that question.

A stray bullet fired from a Lehigh County orchard by a hunter travelled half a mile before accidentally hitting a woman sitting in a car on someone else's property.

Last year, a court found the orchard owner partially liable for damages.

A bill approved unanimously by the state House would make it clear that the landowner will not be faulted in these rare cases.

Mark O'Neill with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau says it's "something that probably was not considered back in 1965 when they considered the ability to give farmers and other landowners liability protection if someone was on their land and an accident occurred or damages occurred."

The legislation sponsored by Allegheny County Democrat Harry Readshaw amends laws originally enacted to shield farmers in 1965.

The bill heads next to the Senate.
POSTED BY PUBRADIONEWS AT 06:30

PennDOT lists deteriorating bridges

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 24 May 2007) - A website lists some 800 deteriorated Pennsylvania bridges.

The list can be found at RideOnPA.org, which is a site the Rendell administration is using to make the point that the commonwealth's roads and bridges need more help than current funding can
provide.

Some of these bridges are closed. Others are still safe but are now posted with weight limits.

PennDOT spokesman Steve Chizmar says this information was available from the agency before -- "but it was really - it was kind of convoluted. There was more information out there than what was really necessary. So what this really is is an attempt to put all the information in one place where viewers can go take a look at this and go take a look at the critical challenges facing transportation in Pennsylvania."

Governor Rendell is considering privatizing the Turnpike to close what he says is a $900 million annual shortfall in funding for roads and bridges.

A consulting firm recently told the administration leasing the toll road could generate enough revenue to meet needs for both road repairs and mass transit - but many legislators are skeptical about the plan.

Chambers push for business-friendly PA budget

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 25 May 2007) - As state budget negotiations pause briefly for the holiday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's chambers of commerce are pushing for
business-friendly approaches.

Chamber leaders gathered at the Capitol to lobby against much of Governor Rendell's proposed budget.

They said they have a different philosophy when it comes to how the state should be spending money.

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry vice president Gene Barr said people will be poorly served and negatively affected by higher taxes or fees.

"Letting the free-market system work makes the most sense for Pennsylvania - trusting on the resources and ingenuity of its citizens and letting its citizens make the best decisions about themselves and their families will be the engine that drives Pennsylvania forward. And
state chambers and local chambers are a critical piece of that economic engine driving forward," Barr said.

House Democrats are pointing out that the spending plan they forwarded to the Senate did not contain the sales tax increase originally suggested by Rendell.

The administration says a revenue surplus means the budget can be balanced without that tax hike.

Thursday 24 May 2007

Pennsylvanians embrace electronic tax filing

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 23 May 2007) - More Pennsylvanians than ever filed tax returns electronically this year.

Electronic filing methods include internet and telephone.

Revenue department spokeswoman Stephanie Weyant says more than 2.9 million people - about half of all individual taxpayers - filed electronically this year.

She says the figure reflects the continuation of a trend.

"Pennsylvania has offered electronic filing since 1997. And each and every year, we've seen a dramatic increase in the number of people who are choosing to file their income taxes electronically. Just from last year to this year, we saw a 7 percent increase in the number of people who filed electronically," Weyant says.

Payments and refunds are also being processed electronically more often.

More than half a million taxpayers received refunds through direct deposit.

Nearly a quarter million paid their taxes through automated checking withdrawal or with a credit card.

PA House skips 'fake budget' this year

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 23 May 2007) - This year's state budget process won't include the assembly of a document commonly known at the Capitol as the "fake budget."

Usually, time is reserved for amending the budget bill in the House - giving lawmakers a chance to add pet projects to the plan so they could say they voted for them. Few of these items make the final blueprint.

But Democrats, who control the House for the first time in a decade, announced they would skip the process.

On the floor, Appropriations chair Dwight Evans assured the rank and file that their voices would be heard.

"I will not, from my particular position as chairman of this committee, ignore any thoughts and ideas that you have. We'll have full discussion. But we need to move this process along," Evans said.

The chamber debated only one amendment - a catch-all Republican revision that would have curtailed spending in several areas. It was defeated.

The budget deadline is June 30 but has been missed every year under Governor Rendell.

Wednesday 23 May 2007

Nursing home advocates rally for PA funding

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 22 May 2007) - Advocates for long-termcare environments, including nursing homes, rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday.

Supporters are hoping for an increase for nursing homes in the state budget of about $75 million or 4 percent.

Pennsylvania Health Care Association vice chair Ray Calhoun called upon hundreds of professionals gathered outside the Capitol's East Wing to find their representatives and senators inside and make the case for long-term care.

"They simply don't understand because we haven't done a particularly good job of showing them what it is that we do that provides a high-value load to society with respect to caring for our elderly, who are in our care and are our charged responsibility," Calhoun said.

The last several years have seen additional state resources aimed at home care.

Advocates for each type of long-term care are worried that the total investment will not grow and instead will simply be divided differently.

Rendell promises to keep up gun control fight

by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 22 May 2007) - Mayors from all corners of the state joined Governor Rendell at the Capitol Tuesday to push for greater flexibility in gun control.

They want local control over gun laws and "one-handgun-a-month" purchasing restrictions.

Governor Rendell said these are sensible and reasonable proposals but noted they have been blocked repeatedly.

"You know, there's no secret that gun legislation is an uphill fight in Pennsylvania. It's an uphill fight because this legislature, for toolong, has been in control of the NRA," Rendell said.

Philadelphia Mayor John Street said gun crimes are costing lives - and they're also costing dollars his city doesn't have.

"In the 21st century, as we compete in the global economy, we don't have the resources to just keep investing in the problems of crime and violence," Street said.

But Rendell said it's not just a Philadelphia and Pittsburgh problem.

He predicted that rising gun violence in cities across the state will result, eventually, in a "tidal wave" of support for gun control legislation.