by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 2 March 2006) -- Pennsylvania could soon have roads that are built entirely with private dollars – proposed by private companies that are banking on potential profit.
State lawmakers who support the concept call it a natural next step in the evolution of surface transportation.
Virginia’s about to try it. Washington’s Capital Beltway is really crowded, especially on the Virginia side, but the state said it did not have the billions of dollars it would take to upgrade the highway.
Enter private enterprise, which has said it will construct new lanes by itself in exchange for the right to collect its own tolls.
This could work in the state’s most congested corridors – along the Schuylkill in Philadelphia, for example, or southbound, westbound or eastbound out of downtown Pittsburgh.
House Transportation Committee Minority Chair Keith McCall – a Lehigh Valley Democrat – said that while this would be new to the States, it’s not a totally original idea.
“The Europeans have completely private roads," McCall said. "It really never, I think, gained footing here.”
McCall and Republican Rick Geist plan to develop legislation together to authorize such projects.
Thursday, 2 March 2006
Education sees more money in budget
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 2 March 2006) -- Education is one of the only departments getting more money under Governor Rendell’s proposed 2006-2007 budget.
The head of the agency addressed lawmakers as budget hearings continued at the state Capitol.
Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak told the House budget committee the spending plan includes $517 million more for primary and secondary education.
That includes a five-percent increase in the basic education line item.
Zahorchak says the department has been working to meet the legislature’s charge to improve schools’ access to the internet.
“Ninety-two percent of our buildings have good connectivity now. We expect, by 2008, to have 100 percent of our schools” connected, Zahorchak said.
Zahorchak faced tough questioning from lawmakers.
One Republican was skeptical of the proposed Classrooms for the Future program, which would put a laptop on every desk in core subject classrooms. He said districts might want more local control over the extra dollars it would take.
The head of the agency addressed lawmakers as budget hearings continued at the state Capitol.
Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak told the House budget committee the spending plan includes $517 million more for primary and secondary education.
That includes a five-percent increase in the basic education line item.
Zahorchak says the department has been working to meet the legislature’s charge to improve schools’ access to the internet.
“Ninety-two percent of our buildings have good connectivity now. We expect, by 2008, to have 100 percent of our schools” connected, Zahorchak said.
Zahorchak faced tough questioning from lawmakers.
One Republican was skeptical of the proposed Classrooms for the Future program, which would put a laptop on every desk in core subject classrooms. He said districts might want more local control over the extra dollars it would take.
Wednesday, 1 March 2006
Health agency head asks for funds
by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 1 March 2006) -- The state’s highest-ranking public health official stated his case for more funding as budget hearings continued in Harrisburg.
Secretary of Health Doctor Calvin Johnson told the House budget committee the governor’s proposed budget for his agency includes $1.7 million more for breast and cervical cancer screening.
It also increases funding for HIV/AIDS programs 2.6 percent, even as overall spending goes down.
Doctor Johnson faced several questions about the proposed Jonas Salk Legacy Fund, which would have the state borrow money for big immediate spending to attract researchers and build better labs.
He said members of the board that would select projects would be non-political -- in his words, "experts that can speak to the quality, the scientific validity and quality, of the efforts and the projects that are connected to that, as well as other industry experts that can speak to the biotechnology aspects of it, the commercialization aspects of it."
Republican leaders have described the Salk Fund proposal as having little chance of passing the legislature as proposed.
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 1 March 2006) -- The state’s highest-ranking public health official stated his case for more funding as budget hearings continued in Harrisburg.
Secretary of Health Doctor Calvin Johnson told the House budget committee the governor’s proposed budget for his agency includes $1.7 million more for breast and cervical cancer screening.
It also increases funding for HIV/AIDS programs 2.6 percent, even as overall spending goes down.
Doctor Johnson faced several questions about the proposed Jonas Salk Legacy Fund, which would have the state borrow money for big immediate spending to attract researchers and build better labs.
He said members of the board that would select projects would be non-political -- in his words, "experts that can speak to the quality, the scientific validity and quality, of the efforts and the projects that are connected to that, as well as other industry experts that can speak to the biotechnology aspects of it, the commercialization aspects of it."
Republican leaders have described the Salk Fund proposal as having little chance of passing the legislature as proposed.
Keystone State unemployment falls
by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 1 March 2006) -- Pennsylvania unemployment has reached a five-year low.
It stands at 4.4 percent for the first time since February 2001.
The total number of jobs in Pennsylvania tops 5.74 million, an all-time high, according to the Labor Department.
Spokesman Barry Ciccocioppo notes that peer states such as Michigan and Ohio have not yet created the number of jobs lost since the September Eleventh attacks.
"Pennsylvania has surpassed the pre-recession job levels, and our unemployment rate in Pennsylvania is now well below the national level," Ciccocioppo said. "In fact, it's been better than the national unemployment level for the past five straight months."
The 4-point-4 percent unemployment rate is eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than it was last year at this time.
All of the most recent figures are from January.
County-specific job counts will be released in a couple of weeks.
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 1 March 2006) -- Pennsylvania unemployment has reached a five-year low.
It stands at 4.4 percent for the first time since February 2001.
The total number of jobs in Pennsylvania tops 5.74 million, an all-time high, according to the Labor Department.
Spokesman Barry Ciccocioppo notes that peer states such as Michigan and Ohio have not yet created the number of jobs lost since the September Eleventh attacks.
"Pennsylvania has surpassed the pre-recession job levels, and our unemployment rate in Pennsylvania is now well below the national level," Ciccocioppo said. "In fact, it's been better than the national unemployment level for the past five straight months."
The 4-point-4 percent unemployment rate is eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than it was last year at this time.
All of the most recent figures are from January.
County-specific job counts will be released in a couple of weeks.
Monday, 11 July 2005
PA pharmacists will be able to give flu shots
by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 10 July 2006) – New rules will allow Pennsylvania pharmacists to administer flu vaccine, and drug store operators say they are pleased.
But they say this may only be of some help when it comes to distributing the vaccine.
Pharmacy representatives testified at a special state House hearing, thanking lawmakers for making Pennsylvania one of several states that will allow pharmacists to give flu shots.
"We support this program... because we want to provide greater access to the necessary vaccinations for the general public," said Robert Thompson, a vice president at Cumberland County-based Rite Aid. "We also believe that some consumers may find it more convenient to obtain a vaccination from their pharmacist than from other providers."
But they stressed that pressure on care providers will ease only if supplies of the vaccine are sufficient. Shortages have ranged from sporadic to widespread over the past several years, and Ed McGinley with Pathmark Stores says it’s a continuing concern.
"Because of your foresight and your recognition of the role that pharmacists have in the health care delivery system, Pennsylvania will have the delivery to have ‘all hands on deck,’ so to speak, should the need arise to perform mass inoculations," McGinley told legislators. "That is, of course, if the supply is available."
The new pharmacists’ regulations are published in the July 1 Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 10 July 2006) – New rules will allow Pennsylvania pharmacists to administer flu vaccine, and drug store operators say they are pleased.
But they say this may only be of some help when it comes to distributing the vaccine.
Pharmacy representatives testified at a special state House hearing, thanking lawmakers for making Pennsylvania one of several states that will allow pharmacists to give flu shots.
"We support this program... because we want to provide greater access to the necessary vaccinations for the general public," said Robert Thompson, a vice president at Cumberland County-based Rite Aid. "We also believe that some consumers may find it more convenient to obtain a vaccination from their pharmacist than from other providers."
But they stressed that pressure on care providers will ease only if supplies of the vaccine are sufficient. Shortages have ranged from sporadic to widespread over the past several years, and Ed McGinley with Pathmark Stores says it’s a continuing concern.
"Because of your foresight and your recognition of the role that pharmacists have in the health care delivery system, Pennsylvania will have the delivery to have ‘all hands on deck,’ so to speak, should the need arise to perform mass inoculations," McGinley told legislators. "That is, of course, if the supply is available."
The new pharmacists’ regulations are published in the July 1 Pennsylvania Bulletin.
Wednesday, 17 November 2004
Observers question need for lame duck session
by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 16 November 2004) -- It’s a biennial tradition in Pennsylvania: legislators rush important decisions and pass potentially unpopular laws during a “lame duck” November session, after voters can hold them accountable.
It’s not a tradition in every state, but it’s probably one that will endure here.
The leaders of groups ranging from the liberal Common Cause to the conservative Commonwealth Foundation are critical of post-election lawmaking.
They note that only eleven states have “lame duck” sessions.
But Brenda Erickson – a research analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures – says that’s because not many legislatures are full-time.
Erickson says where there are full-time lawmakers – from California and Wisconsin to New Jersey and Pennsylvania – they generally find ways to fill up the calendar.
“The states that are full-time have been full-time for many years. My feeling is that they will probably follow the same tradition – that it *is* a tradition in those states,” Erickson says.
And state lawmakers are not alone.
Congress, for example, is required to pass 13 spending bills every year to keep the government running. So far they’ve passed four.
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 16 November 2004) -- It’s a biennial tradition in Pennsylvania: legislators rush important decisions and pass potentially unpopular laws during a “lame duck” November session, after voters can hold them accountable.
It’s not a tradition in every state, but it’s probably one that will endure here.
The leaders of groups ranging from the liberal Common Cause to the conservative Commonwealth Foundation are critical of post-election lawmaking.
They note that only eleven states have “lame duck” sessions.
But Brenda Erickson – a research analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures – says that’s because not many legislatures are full-time.
Erickson says where there are full-time lawmakers – from California and Wisconsin to New Jersey and Pennsylvania – they generally find ways to fill up the calendar.
“The states that are full-time have been full-time for many years. My feeling is that they will probably follow the same tradition – that it *is* a tradition in those states,” Erickson says.
And state lawmakers are not alone.
Congress, for example, is required to pass 13 spending bills every year to keep the government running. So far they’ve passed four.
Tuesday, 16 November 2004
Advocates push for affordable housing
by Damon Boughamer
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 16 November 2004) -- For state lawmakers, the 2004 session is wrapping up.
Advocacy groups are already thinking about 2005, and one coalition wants to make sure affordable housing is a top priority next year.
The Keystone State’s home ownership rate is 72 percent. Advocates say that’s good – in fact, it’s significantly higher than the national average. What’s bad, according to Liz Hersh with the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, is that lots of people are still priced out.
“People are really struggling," Hersh says. "Working people can’t afford places to live that are safe and decent in which their kids can get an education. We don’t have places for people to go when they graduate from college. We don’t have places to go for people when they retire. I mean, this is really a problem.”
Hersh’s group has four suggestions for state lawmakers.
First, encourage the construction of more multi-family homes. Pennsylvania’s fourth-to-worst nationally in multi-family home starts.
Second, generate maintenance and repair policies suitable for the state’s older housing stock.
Third, create tax credits for potential homeowners.
Fourth, protect and preserve existing affordable housing.
Hersh says working with local governments and developers will be key – since they’re the ones who actually approve housing plans and build the homes.
Public Radio Capitol News, serving Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Penna. (PRCN, 16 November 2004) -- For state lawmakers, the 2004 session is wrapping up.
Advocacy groups are already thinking about 2005, and one coalition wants to make sure affordable housing is a top priority next year.
The Keystone State’s home ownership rate is 72 percent. Advocates say that’s good – in fact, it’s significantly higher than the national average. What’s bad, according to Liz Hersh with the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, is that lots of people are still priced out.
“People are really struggling," Hersh says. "Working people can’t afford places to live that are safe and decent in which their kids can get an education. We don’t have places for people to go when they graduate from college. We don’t have places to go for people when they retire. I mean, this is really a problem.”
Hersh’s group has four suggestions for state lawmakers.
First, encourage the construction of more multi-family homes. Pennsylvania’s fourth-to-worst nationally in multi-family home starts.
Second, generate maintenance and repair policies suitable for the state’s older housing stock.
Third, create tax credits for potential homeowners.
Fourth, protect and preserve existing affordable housing.
Hersh says working with local governments and developers will be key – since they’re the ones who actually approve housing plans and build the homes.
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