[Because In Politics, Everything Is Connected To Everything Else] On February 12, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) announced he will join House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) in not seeking re-election and leave the General Assembly at the end of his term in November.
Sen. Scarnati represented the 25th Senatorial District for 20 years. Marc Levy of the Associated Press reported Sen. Scarnati's choice to succeed him from his Senate district is former DuBois Mayor John Suplizio. Click Here for more.
On Friday, self-term limited Rep. Chris Dush announced he is running for the Republican nomination to replace Scarnati in the Senate and is giving up his run for the nomination for Auditor General. He said he was to continue his fight to restore legislative sovereignty over writing laws.
The departure of Sen. Scarnati sets off a shakeup in Senate Republican leadership, just like Speaker Turzai’s announcement did in the House Republican Caucus.
Budget Hearings Start
Ahead of the start of Senate and House agency-by-agency budget hearings February 18, Republican Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) and Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York) called on standing committees of the House to exercise their oversight authority to evaluate, review and make recommendations to promote better effectiveness and efficiencies in Pennsylvania’s executive agencies.
Rep. Saylor noted that over the past several years, Pennsylvania has enjoyed budget surpluses (?). However, the potential benefits of a surplus have been eliminated due to consistent overspending by Wolf and his administration.
[Note: Most of the “overspending” results from underestimating costs for Department of Human Services programs and medical assistance. The result is $545 million in higher costs in the current fiscal year not reflected in the base appropriations and one time sources of revenue to fill budget holes that haven’t materialized, according to the Independent Fiscal Office.]
The three days of budget hearings will kick off with the Independent Fiscal Office and the Department of Revenue, then a variety of state agencies and the Offices of Attorney General And Auditor General. Click Here for the full schedule.
Hearings for environmental-related agencies will be held the following weeks-
-- February 24 - House Hearing: 10:00 - Dept. of Environmental Protection; 1:00 - Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources;
-- February 26 - House Hearing: 1:00 - Dept. of Agriculture;
-- March 2 - Senate Hearing: 10:00 - Dept. of Agriculture;
-- March 3 - Senate Hearing: 1:00 - Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources;
-- March 4 - Senate Hearing: 10:00 - Dept. of Environmental Protection.
Property Tax Reform
Homeowners attending the February 12 Senate Republican Policy Committee workshop on residential school property tax reform asked a tough question-- the Republicans have controlled the General Assembly for a lot of years, so why can’t they get property tax reform done?
Retiring Sen. Scanarti said earlier this year, he is committed to bringing property tax reform up for a vote noting, “You just can’t keep going home telling people you are for property tax reform but secretly don’t want to vote on it.” Read more here.
Wolf Scholarship Proposal
Gov. Wolf started a statewide tour of state-owned university campuses to push his proposal for a $204 million needs-based scholarship program to support students going to state universities. He proposes to take the money from the Horse Racing Fund set up as part of casino gaming.
His tagline? “Are we going to bet on horses or are we going to bet on our kids?” Read more here.
Horse breeders staged a rally last week opposing the initiative saying it would drive them and horse racing in Pennsylvania out of business. Read more here.
AG Sues JUUL
Attorney General Josh Shapiro said his office is filing a lawsuit against JUUL e-cigarette maker for violating the state’s Unfair Trade Practices Act for marketing their products to young people. Read more here.
Wolf Vetoes Residential Center Bill
As promised, Gov. Wolf vetoed legislation that would have kept two residential facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities open instead of transferring residents to community-based housing programs. Read more here.
The move sets up a potential veto override by Senate and House Republicans. Read more here.
Conviction Integrity
Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the creation of the state’s first statewide conviction integrity unit to review and evaluate past convictions to ensure “justice was served.” Read more here.
Legislative Redistricting
The Allentown Morning Call reported House Republicans are not all that keen on taking up legislation to put in place a new process for drawing legislative districts, according to the Republican Chair of the House State Government Committee.
“This does not seem to be an issue of high concern to my colleagues in the House of Representatives except when they have Fair Districts [advocates for redistricting reform] people in their office, prodding them,” said retiring Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), Committee Chair.
Legislation introduced in the House and Senate has enough co-sponsors to pass either chamber, if it’s brought up for a vote. Read more here.
Congressional Fundraising
Fundraising reports for the last quarter of 2019 show members of Congress in vulnerable seats have posted relatively strong numbers, in particular Republican Scott Perry and Democrat Matt Cartwright.
Perry and his likely Democratic opponent Auditor General Eugene DePasquale have been running neck and neck in fundraising, but Perry had the edge in the last quarter. Cartwright easily outraised the six Republicans wanting to oppose him. Read more here.
Mail-In Voting Website
The Department of State launched a new website where voters can request “no excuses” mail-in ballots or regular absentee ballots for the upcoming election. Mail-in ballots were one of the big changes to the way Pennsylvanians will vote this year. To request ballots, a voter must be registered first. Read more here.
500+ Political Parties In PA
On February 14, the Erie Times reported Pennsylvania’s 8.5 million voters have registered as being affiliated with more than 500 political parties including the Not Your Problem Party, Squirrel Reform Party, No Longer In Use Party, Jedi Party, Giant Meteor Party, Depends Party and the Ain’t No Party Like A Political Party. You get the idea. Read more here.
What’s Next?
As noted, the Senate and House begin their agency-by-agency budget hearings this week. They are scheduled through March 5.
The Senate and House are not scheduled to return to voting session until March 16.
And More Interesting Stuff:
Stephen Caruso: Turzai, Scarnati Step Down Facing Uncertain Political Waters
Katie Meyer: Attorneys Expand Lawsuit Seeking Information On Priests Involved In Child Sexual Abuse From PA Catholic Dioceses
Op-Ed: With Trump Budget Cuts, U.S. Would Be Less Equipped To Protect Americans Here And Abroad - Gov. Schweiker, Fmr Cong. Patrick Murphy
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