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Monthly Archives: December 2011

Congressional Redistricting Plan Narrowly Passes House, Senate

The Senate narrowly passed its Congressional Redistricting plan by a vote of 26-24, sending the bill to the House where it ultimately passed by a bipartisan vote of 136-61.

Corbett signed the bill into law yesterday, as Act 130 of 2011. Just in time for congressional candidates to start circulating petitions on January 24.

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House Rejects Marcellus Shale Bill, Moves to Conference Committee

The House this week unanimously voted to reject the Senate amendments to House Bill 1950, the House Republican natural gas plan that was gutted in the Senate last week, and replaced with Senate Republican language of Senate Bill 1100.

With no bill actively in play, negotiations among the House, Senate and Governor Corbett will continue. The […]

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Budget Secretary Says State Facing Steep Deficit

Budget Secretary Zogby this week gave a mid-year budget briefing, saying the state needs to not only prepare for an expected revenue shortfall of at least $500 million this fiscal year, but also a projected $800 million in mandatory state spending increases for the coming fiscal year.

Zogby went on to say that the Governor must […]

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Capital Budget, Bond Bills Heads to Governor

Before the State House adjourned until January 3, it took final action on two bills which would authorize issuance of $6.2 billion dollars in new state bonds to support energy and economic development projects.

Senate Bill 1310 (Sen. Gordner, R-Columbia) provides for the repayment of monies loaned from the federal government to pay unemployment compensation. This […]

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EPA Unveils Revised Air Pollution Rules for Boilers, Incinerators

Responding to industry concerns regarding draft regulations released in March, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed revised air pollution regulations for industrial boilers and incinerators. The EPA said during a press conference on Friday that it believes the new draft regulations offer industry more flexibility.

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Senate Moves Marcellus Bill Out of Committee

This week, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted out an amended version of House Bill 1950, the House Marcellus Shale impact fee bill. The amendment, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) replaces the language that recently passed the House with the language approved by the Senate in Senate Bill 1100.

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Congressional Redistricting Meeting Delayed – Again

Press conferences and meetings to unveil Pennsylvania’s Congressional redistricting maps have been delayed once again. The House State Government Committee was scheduled to meet on Dec.5, then again on Dec. 7, and now says it will release the plan for Congressional districts on Dec. 15. The office of State Government Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe said the only information they have at the moment is that “the committee staff was told to withdrawal the bill.” They could provide no information on the reasoning behind the decision.

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Nikoloff Recognized for Exceptional Dedication, Vision and Advocacy by Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians

John Nikoloff, a founding partner and president of ERG Partners, a Harrisburg-based public affairs firm, was recognized by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians for his exceptional “vision, dedication and advocacy which serves as the foundation of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the ACP.” The award was presented during the Chapter’s annual Awards Dinner held in Hershey on December 5.

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Farm Bill Proposal Delivered to Supercommittee, Won’t See Action

Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees completed a proposal for the next farm bill and presented it to the deficit reduction Supercommittee, but the deal was contingent on the committee reaching an agreement by Congress’s self-imposed deadline.

Without an agreed-to deficit reduction plan, the Ag Committees will again be responsible for writing the five […]

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DCED Permitting Portal Bill Introduced

Governor Corbett had proposed early in his campaign that the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), now led by Secretary C. Alan Walker, should be the lead agency for state work with expanding and new business operations throughout the state. Legislation was introduced this week to begin putting his plan into motion.

House Bill […]

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