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Punxsutawney Phil Preps for Big Day

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In just a few weeks, Pennsylvania’s most famous groundhog will make his 125th winter weather prognostication.  We Pennsylvanians have been celebrating Groundhog Day for 127 years now, but Punxsutawney Groundhog Club President Bill Deeley says they took two years off during World War II.  “We just didn’t want to aid and abed the enemy in a weather forecast,” he says. 

There will be no such disruptions this February 2nd on Gobbler’s Knob when Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow and checks for his shadow.  If he sees it, Phil predicts six more weeks of winter.  No shadow means an early spring.  Of course the furry little marmot’s forecasts have always been 100% accurate, according to Deeley. 

Since Groundhog Day falls on a weekend this year, organizers are expecting record crowds in Punxsutawney.  That means 30,000 plus could be swarming this small town for some big fun.  If you go, be sure to bring plenty of warm clothes because Gobbler’s Knob will be frigid in the pre-dawn. 

We caught up with Phil, Deeley and a whole gang of handlers at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show.  What does the groundhog do when he’s not prognosticating?  “He sleeps, eats and gets his picture taken,” Deeley says with a smile.  The Farm Show is just one of many events Phil attends throughout the year.

State System Finalizing Deal with One Unit, Still Talking to Largest Union

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Talks are continuing between the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and its faculty union as another bargaining unit gives thumbs up to a new four year deal.

Members of the State College and University Professional Association (SCUPA) ratified a new contract last week with PSSHE. The union represents about 600 admissions, financial aid, and student support service officers on the 14 campuses.  The agreement goes to the Board of Governors for final approval.  It will mark the 6th of 8 bargaining units that have come to a final resolution.

Talks are continuing with the biggest union, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF), on a four year contract. The union has been working without a new deal for 18 months and leadership has been authorized to call a strike.

PSSHE spokesman Kenn Marshall says they’ve made good progress in each of the last two sessions with APSCUF.  There are more talks scheduled for Wednesday and he hopes they will make progress toward a settlement.

Union officials also report progress, but say significant divides remain on issues including health care and class size.

While the system is still negotiating with faculty, it has reached a tentative agreement with athletic coaches.  That deal has not yet been ratified.

Administration Answers Lottery Questions, Bidder Discusses Plan

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Details of the Corbett administration’s plans to privatize Pennsylvania Lottery management became clearer at a public hearing convened Monday by the Senate Finance Committee.  As the administration seeks to finalize a 20-year, $34-billion dollar deal with Camelot Global Services, Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser did his best to put many of the lingering questions to rest.  “Under the Private Management Agreement, the Commonwealth will maintain ownership and all control of all aspects of Lottery operations, at all times,” he stressed to the panel. 

Pennsylvania’s aging population is the driving force behind the effort to put a private sector company in charge of the Lottery’s day-to-day operations.  With PA’s senior citizen population skyrocketing, Meuser says Lottery funding could fall short of demand as early as 2015.  The numbers have led the Corbett administration to explore private management as a way to guarantee steady growth in the Lottery Fund.   

11-months of work resulted in one bidder, but chief negotiator Pete Tartline says two other companies dropped out of the process, in part, because the Commonwealth was asking for too much in return.  “Yes, this is a sweetheart deal.  It’s a sweetheart deal for Pennsylvania’s seniors,” Tartline said as he explained that Camelot did not know it was the only bidder in the end. 

The public hearing was held three days after the Corbett administration issued a “notice of award,” which officially ended the procurement process.  While there’s no binding contract in place yet, Camelot Global Services also appeared in Harrisburg to answer lawmakers’ questions.  “Millions of people playing, spending relatively small sums of money, is what we believe has been the key to our success in the UK,” says Camelot Global Services CEO Diane Thompson.  Camelot has run the United Kingdom’s Lottery since its inception 18-years ago, however they plan to locate their Pennsylvania operations in the Keystone State and pay the applicable Pennsylvania taxes. 

When the contract is signed, which could be soon, officials say the Attorney General will have 30-days to review it.  Final exeuction of the contract will be followed by a six month transition period. 

The state worker union, which represents about 175 Lottery employees, is filing suit to block the deal.  “None of us have seen Camelot’s proposal.  None of us understand the rush to sell our most successful operation without a vetting process, and none of us want profits skimmed off senior programs to pad the pockets of foreign CEOs,” AFSME Council 13 Executive Director David Fillman told the committee.  Given the same opportunity to expand Lottery options, Fillman believes the current structure can beat Camelot’s profit estimates by 10 – 30%.

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Corbett Opts to Privatize Lottery Management

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Early Friday evening the Corbett administration announced its decision to hire a private sector manager to run the Pennsylvania Lottery.  The administration has been exploring the possibility for months, as a way to secure steady revenue growth for the programs that benefit PA’s senior citizens.  Ultimately it received one bid, from Camelot Global Services – the same company that runs the National Lottery in England.

The “notice of award” comes just days before the Senate Finance Committee is to convene a public hearing on the controversial issue.  Below you will find complete statements being issued by various stakeholders:

 

The Corbett Administration (Department of Revenue):

Harrisburg –– In the effort to secure critical, long-term funding for older Pennsylvanians, Secretary of Revenue Dan Meuser today announced the next step in the selection process for the the Private Manager of the Pennsylvania Lottery. 

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has issued a notice of award to Camelot Global Services PA, LLC, which provides for a 20-year Private Management Agreement.  A notice of award is not a binding contract. 

Under Pennsylvania procurement laws, the issuance of the notice of award allows the Corbett administration the opportunity to disclose contractual and procurement details of the Private Management Agreement at the Senate Finance Committee Hearing scheduled for January 14. 

With the issuance of this award, Secretary of Revenue Dan Meuser, Secretary of Aging Brian Duke and Pete Tartline, Executive Deputy Secretary, Governor’s Budget Office will be able to address all relevant contractual procurement questions at the hearing. 

The administration will gather information at the hearing and the near future will determine what is in the best interest for Pennsylvania seniors.

 

Camelot Global Services: 

“We are delighted the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has issued a notice of award for the private management of the Pennsylvania Lottery. We know the state has placed enormous trust in giving us responsibility for its Lottery and we intend to work tirelessly to earn that trust. We are confident in our projections on growing responsibly the Pennsylvania Lottery over the next 20 years and guaranteeing the economic future for seniors programs. We are committed to make major investments in the lottery – in its brand, in its operations and in its people. We fully recognize that at the heart of any successful organization is its people. We intend to retain as many current lottery employees as possible and increase the number of employees in Pennsylvania overall.”

 

State Senate Democrats:

Harrisburg — January 11, 2012 — Senate Democrats today released statements expressing dismay and disgust at the actions of the Corbett Administration  in announcing the notice of award as it relates to the private management agreement, (PMA), for the Pennsylvania Lottery. 

“This is extremely disappointing and disturbing,” said Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny).  “The action taken by the Corbett Administration was done without public input.  Today’s decision has the potential to jeopardize senior programs and put taxpayers on the hook.”

“This has been a bizarre process that violates the public trust,” Costa continued.  “There were no hearings, little opportunity to understand the proposed PMA and no scrutiny. The process was violated and the citizens of Pennsylvania were abused by this arbitrary action.”

Senator John Blake (D- Lackawanna), Democratic Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee pointed out the proposal needs legislative authorization and it demands legislative scrutiny.

“The process was culminated when the General Assembly was not in session and there was little public examination of the proposal,” Blake said.  “This process wasn’t transparent — it was opaque. No one could see the end result except a small group of the governor’s inner circle.”

Expressing extreme disappointment on behalf of his constituents, Senator Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin) said the use of a secretive process would lead to the privatization of a significant state asset and is unprecedented. “This is not a proper way to alter generations of public policy and violated the public trust.” 

“On a personal level, many of the affected employees are my constituents and have been treated with complete disregard,” Teplitz said.  “The arrogance of this administration in the way this was handled is deplorable.”

“I am extremely disappointed in this administration’s decision to jam this deal through at the last minute prior to a key Senate Finance Committee hearing,” said Senator Matt Smith (D-Allegheny).  “This shows a disturbing lack of transparency by the Corbett administration and hinders a meaningful dialogue regarding this multi-billion dollar deal. The Camelot plan certainly deserves a proper examination by the General Assembly and Pennsylvania taxpayers are entitled to further information.”

Senator John Wozniak (D-Cambria) echoed the sentiments of his colleagues related to the PMA.  “There are many questions related to how this privatization effort impacts seniors and property tax relief related to gaming.  The concerns of taxpayers should have been taken into consideration and questions answered before the governor took this action.”

 

AFSCME Council 13 (State Workers Union):

HARRISBURG – (JANUARY 11, 2013) AFSCME Council 13 will continue to oppose Gov. Tom Corbett’s plan 

to give away as much as $1.5 billion in PA lottery funds that could fund vital senior programs to Camelot

Global Services, the U.K.?based corporation that wants to take over the lottery.

Gov. Corbett signed a contract tonight after months of secretive negotiations with Camelot.

“It’s just incredible that the governor would ignore the General Assembly and the thousands of 

Pennsylvanians we’ve heard from who understand that this is a bad deal for our seniors,” said Dave

Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13.

“This is a midnight raid. The governor rushed this deal through when the legislature was not in session.

He refuses to provide access to any of the documents that they’ve traded back and forth with Camelot

and he has refused to hold a single public hearing on this deal,” Fillman added.

AFSCME has provided a counter?proposal to the administration to modernize and expand the lottery 

that would provide $1.5 billion more for senior programs than Camelot would under its flawed plan. 

“Apparently, the governor wants to privatize something – anything – no matter the costs to 

Pennsylvanians,” Fillman said. “Our lottery is one of the best in the nation and this administration just

two weeks ago was congratulating our team for the great work they’re doing. Now, they’re telling 

people thanks, but we’re terminating your job.” 

AFSCME and seven Democratic lawmakers filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court to stop the governor 

from privatizing management of the lottery. Seniors who benefit from lottery programs and several

lottery employees also joined that litigation.

In addition, AFSCME is working with lawmakers in both parties to oppose Camelot’s proposal to change 

current state law to drastically reduce the Commonwealth’s annual commitment to lottery?funded 

programs. Current state law mandates that the state invest 27 percent of the Lottery Fund in senior 

programs annually. That minimum returns to its standard level of 30 percent on July 1, 2015.

But Camelot is betting that lawmakers will change that law and maintain the 27 percent floor for

the next 20 years, through 2033. This change alone would amount to a $1.244 billion loss to seniors if 

the same sales revenues are achieved without Camelot’s profit taking.

“For 42 years, the lottery has always gone well above the minimum because that’s the right thing to do,” 

Fillman said. “But under this deal, every $1 above that minimum goes to Camelot’s bottom line.”

US Agriculture Secretary Visits PA Farm Show

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While touring the 97th Pennsylvania Farm Show, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack called it an impressive display of what’s grown and produced in the commonwealth.  “It’s great to – in a sense – be back home, having been born and raised in Pittsburgh,” adds the former Governor of Iowa. 

TomVilsack

US Ag. Secretary addressed the Farm Bill at the PA Farm Show.

The rural economy doesn’t always get the appreciation it deserves, and Vilsack wants to be proactive about the opportunities that exist.  He notes that half of the rural counties in the nation lost population in the last decade, according to the US Census. 

The first step in stopping the drain, Vilsack says, is passing a new, 5-year Farm Bill.  He calls it an imperative action in 2013.  “Everybody in the country has a stake in this five year program,” Vilsack explains. “It is about our food system, it’s about our water resources, it’s about our fuel & energy resources, it’s about jobs.” 

In PA, one in every seven jobs is related to agriculture. 

The Farm Bill that Vilsack envisions will start with a strong safety net for producers.  “You can be absolutely the best farmer in the world.  You can do everything right… no water, no rain, no crop.”  He also wants it to include flexible conservation and export programs, as well as an investment in the research that opens up new markets for farmers.

Later Friday, the US Department of Agriculture will announce $25-million dollars in research grants through a biomass development initiative.  Vilsack says $6.8-million of that will be invested in the Keystone State.

RadioPA Roundtable

Radio PA Roundtable 1.11.13

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On this week’s Radio PA Roundtable, Brad Christman and Matt Paul bring you the latest moves by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to save money and why the union for corrections officers is upset about it. Also, Farm Show, Farm Show, Farm Show!

Radio PA Roundtable is a 30-minute program featuring in-depth reporting on the top news stories of the week.

Click the audio player below to hear the full broadcast:

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/witfaudio/radiopa/Roundtable01-11-13.mp3]

Bad Flu Season Likely Has Not Peaked Yet

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Influenza is now widespread across Pennsylvania and it doesn’t appear the season has slowed down yet.  More than 11 thousand lab confirmed flu cases have been reported, with many more coming in each week.  That compares   to just over three thousand cases for all of the last flu season.

Holli Senior of the Pennsylvania Department of Health says they’re hoping the numbers will peak in the next few weeks.  She adds we’re seeing more cases involving one particular strain, the Influenza A H3N2 strain, which is also associated with more severe cases, especially among the elderly. There have been nearly one thousand hospitalizations and 22 deaths blamed on complications from the flu in Pennsylvania this year.

Senior says people can still get a flu shot to protect themselves and others.  This strain is covered in the vaccine.   She adds that even if you got a flu shot, you should still take precautions, such as washing your hands and staying home if you have flu like symptoms. The effectiveness of the vaccine is affected by whether a person has underlying health conditions and other factors.

The department has been providing free flu shots at the Farm Show in Harrisburg.  For those who cannot make it to Harrisburg, Senior says there’s a flu vaccine finder at flufreepa.com. If you still need help getting a flu shot, call 1-877-PA Health.

Cattle Shine at PA Farm Show

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Many of the cows at the Pennsylvania Farm Show will never make it to market, instead they’re more than happy to live out their days on the farm.  Such is the case with Zinny, a Red Angus from Slate Wind Farm in Franklin County.  She won’t be a yearling until March, but Zinny has already been named the Grand Champion in the Farm Show’s “All Other Purebreds” class. 

Exhibitor Kevin Stahl tells us Zinny gets a daily rinse, blow dry and exercise.  “Working with the hair is the big thing,” he explains. 

In the ring Stahl works hard to set Zinny’s hooves just so, in order to look good for the judges.  He’s worked with her enough on the farm to know exactly which angles suit his 800-pound heifer best.       

The judges examine the cows’ composition to pick the winner.  “Their chest, their back… do they have a good undercarriage?  Are their legs and feet in good shape? All those things that you look at in an athlete or something, in terms of what kind of shape they’re in,” says beef cattle judge Dave Miller who came to the Farm Show from West Virginia to ensure an unbiased evaluation. 

Miller, a Texas Longhorn judge, reveals that a cow’s horns don’t factor into his critique all that much. “You can’t eat horns,” he says with a chuckle.

There are only a few more days to check out the 97th Pennsylvania Farm Show.  The beef cows have since moved out to make way for the dairy cows.  The dairy judging will take place Friday morning in the Equine Arena.

PA Preferred

Farm Show Epitomizes “PA Preferred”

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Walking through the 97th Pennsylvania Farm Show, it’s hard not to notice the vivid blue and gold signs boasting “PA Preferred” products.  From blue ribbon-winning veggies to the pork barbeque being served up for lunch, PA Preferred products are all around you.  When you see that logo, you know you’re purchasing a product that was made or grown in the Keystone State.    

“When you purchase local products, you’re helping strengthen our economy,” explains PA Preferred Coordinator Bryan Keister.  “If every household in Pennsylvania spent $10-dollars a week on PA Preferred products, $2.9-billion dollars could be reinvested back into the state.” 

First Lady Susan Corbett – a familiar face at the Farm Show this week – was slicing up some Pennsylvania mushrooms on the Culinary Connection stage, as she and Governor’s Residence Chef Barry Crumlich prepared tarts at one of 50-different cooking demonstrations on the schedule.  “I strongly feel that it’s best if we buy fresh, buy local,” Crumlich told the Farm Show visitors who crowded in for a better view.

Each day is themed at the popular PA Preferred Culinary Connection, located in the Farm Show’s Main Hall.  Thursday is Apple Day, as PA is the fourth biggest apple producing state (439-million pounds), and Friday is 3-Every Day of Dairy, as PA ranks fifth in the nation for milk production (1.2-billion gallons).

State Wants to Shutter Two Prisons As It Opens A New One

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Pennsylvania wants to close two of its older prisons in the western part of the state and move many of the inmates to a newly built facility.  The plan is an effort to save money and shift capacity.

Corrections Secretary John Wetzel says closing the State Correctional Institutions at Cresson and Greensburg is a matter of replacing old capacity with new capacity.  Many of the inmates would be transferred to the newly built SCI Benner in Centre County as well as a new 300 bed housing unit at SCI Pine Grove in Indiana County.

Wetzel says the move is expected to save about 23 million in the next fiscal year.  He says the decision is the next step in the state’s efforts to reform the system.

Wetzel says the question was whether to expand capacity or keep it the same.  The recent drop in prison population was part of the decision to keep capacity the same.  They hope to complete the process by June 30th, before the state of fiscal 2013-14.

More than 800 corrections officers and other employees would be affected by the closings. The corrections secretary says they will be offered transfers to other prisons. A hiring freeze in anticipation of the move has resulted in 700 vacancies in addition to jobs that will be created with the opening of Benner.

Roy Pinto, President of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, says he’s offended the state would be working on such a plan all these months without mentioning a word.   The union questions inmate population and savings figures and is reviewing its next step, which could include a suit or a grievance.  He says the plan needs to be properly and publicly vetted.

Pinto says transferring staff is not as easy as it sounds. He says you’re talking about uprooting families and people who have bought homes and moving them around the state.   The association also questions the impact on the economies of the affected communities in Greensburg and Cresson.