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Governor Willing to Discuss Restoring Some Funding Next Year

May 3, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

Governor Corbett is reacting with caution to word that the state’s revenue figures are starting to show improvement. He says the numbers are encouraging.

However, the Governor adds that just as predictions were made in February anticipating a higher year end deficit based on the facts then, these new projections are based on the facts today, which could change quickly.

Earlier in the week, the Independent Fiscal Office projected a year end deficit of about 300 million. In February, the Governor’s office had projected a gap of more than 700 million. April’s revenue collections came in 99 million dollars over projects. At the end of last month, the state was running 288 million dollars behind projections.

Some lawmakers are calling for funding to be restored to the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, based on the improved numbers. Governor Corbett says he’s open to discussion with the legislature about restoring some cuts, but wants to be cautious.

With less than two months to go in the fiscal year, the Governor was asked about the prospects of a second on-time budget. He says he believes it will be done on time, and hopefully it won’t be ten minutes before midnight (see photo above of last year’s budget signing). He says talks with legislators have been cordial and very productive.

Taking Bets on the Future of the Foxwoods Casino License…

May 3, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

Even after this week’s House vote the fate of Pennsylvania’s only revoked casino license is still up in the air. HB 65 would remove the restrictions that tie the license to Philadelphia and open it up to a statewide auction. “By doing this the state stands to increase its revenue,” says State Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester), the bill’s prime sponsor and chairman of the Gaming Oversight Committee. His bill passed with a bipartisan vote of 140 – 48.

But it’s no sure bet in the Senate. A spokesman says the Republican leader is among those wondering if the gaming market is already saturated and whether the license should be eliminated altogether.

The state Treasurer released a study last year, which indicated market maturation and even saturation on the opposite ends of the state. He suggested that central PA may be the place to maximize revenues.

Governor Tom Corbett notes that plans have always called for the license to be awarded. “I always think that we need to look at property tax relief,” Corbett says. He acknowledges there have been discussions about the license within the administration, but did not offer many details while speaking with the media this week.

Pennsylvania is home to 11-operating casinos, where slot machines raked in more than $214-million in gross revenue last month. That translates into $116-million worth of tax revenue, according to the Gaming Control Board. The lion’s share of slot machine tax revenue is used for property tax relief. Table games tax revenue currently ends up in the General Fund.

The Gaming Board rolled the dice on the Foxwoods casino project in 2006. After four years of delays and financing woes, the license was revoked in late 2010. It’s been in limbo ever since.

Pennsylvania Stands Out in Swing State Poll

May 3, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

While Republican challenger Mitt Romney has caught up with President Barack Obama in Ohio and Florida, Quinnipiac University pollster Peter Brown tells us that Obama has extended his lead to 8-points in Pennsylvania.

Here’s the breakdown, according to Thursday’s swing state poll:

– Romney leads in Florida, 44 – 33

– Obama leads in Ohio, 44 – 42

– Obama leads in Pennsylvania, 47 – 39

“Pennsylvania is a little bit more Democratic than the other two swing states that Quinnipiac polls,” says Brown. In fact, no Republican presidential candidate has claimed the Keystone State since George H.W. Bush in 1988.

A gender gap appears in all three states, but Browns says Pennsylvania women are especially wild about Obama. The President has a 17-point lead over Mitt Romney among Pennsylvania women, and his campaign continues to hammer the former Massachussettes governor on women’s issues.

Mitt Romney – who is scheduled to be in Pittsburgh on Friday – is campaigning on economic issues, including the energy economy. Since 1960, no candidate has won the White House without carrying at least two of these three swing states.

Highmark, UPMC Agree to Another Extension

May 2, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

A contract extension will allow more time to work out issues surrounding a dispute between insurer Highmark and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Governor Corbett says Highmark and UPMC will extend their agreement through the end of 2014.

The extension came after the Governor appointed David Simon, Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Jefferson Health System in Southeastern Pennsylvania, to act as a mediator. Governor Corbett thanked Simon and members of the General Assembly for helping resolve the dispute over in-network coverage.

The dispute began after Highmark announced a takeover of the West Penn Allegheny Health System. UPMC said that made Highmark a direct competitor to its system.

While Corbett did not sit at the negotiating table, he says he did encourage officials from both sides to find a resolution, or the state would get it done for them. He says he and the legislature were in agreement they were not going to let the people of Western Pennsylvania live in with anxiety over the situation, keeping in mind both institutions were nonprofits that had received a great deal of benefit from that status.

He says they sent a clear message that these two institutions had a tremendous responsibility to deal with their disagreements and not affect the people of Western Pennsylvania the way they were.

The Governor’s office says Highmark and UPMC will be negotiating access to unique UPMC services beginning in 2015, including Western Psychiatric Institute, certain oncological services and community hospitals.

Lawsuit Challenges Voter ID Law

May 1, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

Five organizations and ten individuals have joined a new lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s Voter ID law. ACLU of Pennsylvania Legal Director Vic Walczak made the announcement, Tuesday, at the state capitol:VoterID3

While the lawsuit that’s been filed in Commonwealth Court asserts “phantom claims” of in-person voter fraud, Department of State spokesman Ron Ruman says the new law finally gives Pennsylvania a reliable way to verify the identity of a voter. “You can’t prosecute something you can’t detect,” he explains.

Ruman believes the law is on solid legal ground and will be upheld in court. He says the state is working to ensure that everyone who needs a photo ID will get one by the November 6^th election.

Vic Walczak address reporters at the state capitol.

New Reports Indicate Brighter Revenue Future

May 1, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

April’s General Fund collections topped expectations by $99-million dollars, according to the Department of Revenue’s latest report. It’s the state’s third straight month in the black, but fiscal year-to-date revenues are still running $288-million below estimate.

On the same day as the monthly report from the administration, the Independent Fiscal Office released its initial revenue estimate. “We think the year-end shortfall will be $300-million dollars,” says IFO Director Matt Knittel. That’s a marked improvement over the $719-million dollar shortfall that Governor Tom Corbett projected when he made is budget address in February.

“We are seeing additional economic strength moving forward… and we think a lot of that strength will carry forward into FY2012/13,” Knittel says. His office will release its official revenue estimate in mid-June.

Senate Democrats are hailing the dual reports as reason to overhaul the governor’s proposed budget for the new fiscal year. “There is now no question that there will be far more available dollars to restore key budget lines that support job creation, education, safety net programs and investments for the future,” says Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny).

Governor Tom Corbett has previously expressed the desire to finalize budget plans once the May numbers are available. We’ll hear his latest fiscal observations on next week’s “Ask the Governor.”

Map, Travel, Tourism, Drive, Interstates

Industry Marks Tourism Day at PA Capitol

April 30, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

The rally’s theme, ‘I am Tourism,’ plays off of the more than 400,000 jobs attributed to Pennsylvania’s tourism industry. It ranks second only to agriculture as Pennsylvania’s largest industry, and Pennsylvania Association of Travel & Tourism President & CEO Rob Fulton says tourism is actually the number one industry for most counties.

Fulton says the tourism industry’s annual economic impact nears $36-billion, and the reach is broader than one might think. “Restaurants, convenience stores; visitors go the malls to shop, they go to the outlets to shop, they go the grocery stores,” he explains.

Included in the economic impact estimate are the $3.4-billion dollars in tax revenues for which tourism accounts. Officials say their industry is not a part of the state’s budget problems – it’s a part of the solution.

Rob Fulton talks tourism with Radio PA.

Fulton tells us his fear is that without adequate marketing dollars tourists will start to go to other states. “The numbers will lag a little bit,” Fulton says, referring to the ‘Marketing to Attract Tourists’ line item in the state budget. The state poured more than $10-million into such efforts in FY2011. However, the proposed budget for FY2013 would include just over $3-million.

That doesn’t stack up with other states. For instance, Fulton says Michigan invests $25-million dollars a year in tourism marketing.

Looking ahead to this year’s budget negotiations, Fulton hopes Pennsylvania’s policymakers will recognize the important impact 175-million visitors have on the state’s economy.

Radio PA Roundtable 04.27.12

April 27, 2012/in Audio, Media, News, Radio PA Roundtable /by PAMatters

Radio PA Roundtable is a 30-minute program featuring in-depth reporting on the top news stories of the week. Professionally produced and delivered every Friday, Roundtable includes commercial breaks for local sale and quarterly reports for affiliate files.

Click the audio player below to hear the full broadcast:

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/witfaudio/radiopa/Roundtable04-27-12.mp3]

Zippo Nears 500-Millionth Lighter

April 27, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

Sparks will fly in Bradford on June 5^th, when Zippo will produce its 500-millionth lighter. “All manufactured right here in Bradford, Pennsylvania,” emphasizes Zippo President & CEO Greg Booth.

The late George Blaisdell founded the company in 1932, and 80-years later Zippo lighters still carry his lifetime guarantee, “It works, or we fix it free.”

The 500-millionth Zippo lighter will look like this.

On June 5^th the actual 500-millionth lighter will pass through a human chain of employees from the factory floor all the way to the nearby company museum, where it will be placed on permanent display.

Booth says it will be a special day for the 600 plus employees who make the Zippo lighters, which are sold in 162-countries. “Our employees work hard at it, our company works hard at it, and I’m just proud to be part of a company that can compete successfully – globally – and grow a business right here in Pennsylvania.”

Zippo is currently experiencing a resurgence and just wrapped up the best quarter in the history of the company. Booth tells Radio PA they’re up 30% in volume year-to-date.

If a half-billion Zippo lighters were stacked on top of each other, the company says the tower would be the size of 14-Empire State Buildings.

Collectors will be able to own a piece of Zippo history too. About 60,000 lighters manufactured on June 5^th will be marked with a special stamp to commemorate the milestone. The two versions will sell for $50 and $100 dollars respectively.

PUC Puts Impact Fee Final Implementation Order on Hold

April 26, 2012/in News /by PAMatters

A Commonwealth Court judge’s injunction in a lawsuit challenging a portion of the impact fee law has prompted the state Public Utility Commission to delay action on a final implementation order.

The PUC is seeking clarification from the court before moving forward with the final implementation order for the impact fee law. The injunction deals with the zoning portion of the law, but the PUC also has a role in that area. PUC spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher says they do not anticipate that the collection and disbursement of the fee will be delayed by the Commission’s decision to await a clarification. She says work is still continuing on the implementation of the act.

Kocher says the commission’s next scheduled public meeting is May 10^th, but she could not say whether or not the order would appear on that agenda.

The Commission has jurisdiction in both the zoning and fee collection portions of the law. Kocher says the PUC needs clarification on how the injunction impacts its role in reviewing local ordinances on oil and gas operations. She says they hope to move other portions under their jurisdiction forward sooner, but they wanted to put everything on hold at this time to await that clarification. She says they felt there were some ambiguities in the court’s order.

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