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Category Archives: ERG Blog

Mandates, Budgets and Compromises – What’s Next?

The 2015-2016 session of the State General Assembly started with a new slate of leaders – in the House, Senate and a new Governor. Each thought the 2014 election had given them a mandate: Republicans increased their control of the House and Senate, and Democrat Tom Wolf was elected Governor in a near landslide win.

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US House and Senate: Time for a Consensus Energy Bill

The last time Congress managed to pass a major energy bill was the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. And for the past ten years, until recently, it appeared that the only hope for another would be a significant realignment of the House, Senate and White House. But recent events suggest an opportunity may be here to pass a consensus energy bill.

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ERG Partners Primary Report

In the Pennsylvania’s Presidential primary, Donald Trump won easily over Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, gaining more than 55% of the vote, assuring him of the 17 statewide delegates on the first ballot.

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FILING DEADLINE PASSED. PRE-PRIMARY REPORT 2016

This year is the big one, there is no off-year election for PA. The President, state row offices, US Senator, our entire Congressional delegation, the entire PA State House and one-half of the State Senate are all up for election/re-election in November.

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Wolf Rails Against Legislative Leaders

Proposes $32.7 Billion Budget, $2.7 Billion in New Taxes.

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Impasse Collapses Budget Framework

As the state budget impasse passed a record 200 days, explaining how we got here gets more difficult with every passing social media commentary. Perhaps the best route is to use an analogy – building the state’s financial house…

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Budget Framework …time to build?

WARNING – EXTENDED ANALOGY: An architect wants to build a house in a new development, but is told two contractors must be hired to complete the job.

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Budget “Update”

Senate Republicans last week attempted another override of Governor Wolf’s veto of the Emergency Funding Budget, but fell three votes short on a 30-19 vote.

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Supreme Satisfaction for PA Democrats

State Democrats are gleeful after winning all five statewide judicial races this week. The State Supreme Court, which has been controlled by Republican judges by a 4-3 majority for most of the last decade, will now be controlled by Democrats who have a 5-2 majority now, and apparent control of the court for at least ten years. But Republicans picked up a State Senate Seat, expanding their control in the upper chamber to 31-19.

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Tax Vote: Day 99 of Impasse Has Same Outcome As Day 1

During a six hour session in which a litany of legislators debated the impacts that Wolf’s new tax plan would have on the Commonwealth’s citizens and businesses, it was clear that most weren’t swayed from the original vote they cast almost 100 days ago.

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