News
Gov. Ready to Focus on Pension Reform This Fall
Fresh off his second budget cycle, Governor Tom Corbett wants to address Pennsylvania’s rising pension costs this fall. While the Republican majority did not invite Democrats to the table for budget negotiations this spring, Corbett says public pensions are a different matter altogether. “This is not a partisan issue… so we’ll probably be reaching out […]
Lawmaker Wants to be Sure Sandusky Doesn’t Keep State Pension
There has been no clear answer as to whether Jerry Sandusky can keep his state pension once he’s sentenced on child sex abuse charges. A state representative wants to change that. Sandusky was convicted last month on 45 counts and will be sentenced later this summer. York County Democrat Eugene DePasquale is introducing legislation to […]
General Assistance Cash Grants to End Next Month
This will be the last month of state-issued checks for more than 60,000 needy and disabled residents who’ve been beneficiaries of General Assistance cash grants from the Department of Public Welfare. The roughly $150-million dollar program has been on the chopping block since Governor Tom Corbett’s initial budget plan was unveiled in February. Late in […]
New Teacher Evaluations Won’t Apply to Charter Schools
Something is missing from Pennsylvania’s new teacher evaluation law… charter schools. The new teacher evaluation system approved in the late June budget rush will, for the first time, take student performance into account and provide assistance to educators who fall into the bottom two categories of a new four-tier rating system. However, during House debate, […]
Budget Package Signed Just Before Midnight Deadline
The new fiscal year began on Sunday with the second straight on-time, no tax increase budget. “Today we reaffirm our commitment to job growth, to education, to the needy and to the taxpayers… our goal is growing new jobs,” Governor Corbett said upon signing the $27.7-billion dollar spending plan late Saturday night. But critics say […]
Revamped Teacher Evaluations Bill is on the Move
Lawmakers may soon finalize a new system for teacher evaluations in Pennsylvania. The amended bill has already garnered unanimous support in the state House, and the issue has long been one of Governor Tom Corbett’s top education reform priorities. The current system, which is almost entirely based on classroom observations, allows for teachers to receive […]
Radio PA Roundtable 06.29.12
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/Roundtable06-29-12.mp3]
Corrections Secretary Optimistic About Prison Reforms
Pennsylvania’s prison population increased by 40% between 2000 and 2011, driving General Fund spending up by 76% over that same time. State prisons currently house more than 51,000 inmates, and nearly 45% of those released will be back behind bars within three years. These were just a few of the trends confronted by the “Justice […]
State Budget Votes Near
The state’s current budget was enacted with zero Democratic support last year. This year may not be much different if Wednesday’s House Appropriations Committee meeting is any indication. After two hours of debate, the committee advanced the $27.7-billion dollar spending plan along party lines. The spend number may be almost 2% above this current budget, […]
Governor Touts Human Service Block Grants But Faces Opposition
Surrounded by a bipartisan group of county commissioners this week, Governor Tom Corbett called on lawmakers to pass his proposed Human Service Block Grant to replace current state funding in seven human service areas. State Senate Republicans released details Tuesday of a proposed 27.7 billion dollar budget for the next fiscal year, and it did […]