News
Knowles: Transportation is Smartest Place to Invest Liquor Privatization Dollars
With a public hearing on liquor privatization now scheduled in the state Senate, a group of state House members is calling for the upfront windfall from the sale of private wine and liquor licenses to be invested in transportation infrastructure. “It takes each and every dollar from privatization of the wine & spirits shops, and […]
Table Games Revenue Sets New Monthly Record in March at Pennsylvania Casinos
Although slot machine revenue declined last month at Pennsylvania’s casinos, table games posted a healthy month. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board says table games generated the highest monthly amount to date in March, 9% higher than the same month last year. Last March had set the previous record for table games revenue. The increase helped […]
Report: Fewer Pennsylvanians Getting Health Insurance via Employer
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has been tracking a decade-long decline in the number of Pennsylvania residents who receive health insurance through their jobs. Back in 2001 78% of Pennsylvania residents received health insurance via their employers. In 2011; 67%. A new report indicates the reduction is due to a combination of fewer employers offering […]
Radio PA Roundtable 04.12.13
On this week’s Radio PA Roundtable, Brad Christman and Matt Paul hash out the background check compromise ironed out by, among others, Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Pat Toomey. The governor is on a trade mission to South America and he checks in by telephone from Sao Paulo. And, Matt has an interview on the subject of […]
Gov’s Tax Reform Plan under the Microscope
The Corbett administration believes the price of doing business in Pennsylvania is too high. So they plan to finally eliminate the capital stock & franchise tax as of January, and want to gradually reduce the state’s corporate net income tax from 9.99% – 6.99% over the next 12-years. “Governor Corbett’s broad-based tax reform proposal sets […]
Two PA National Guard Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
An Apache helicopter went down in eastern Afghanistan, Tuesday, killing 34-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Ruffner of Harrisburg and 27-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Jarett Yoder of the Reading area. Few details are available but an investigation into the crash is underway. “In general when it comes to a helicopter crashes there are three causes,” says […]
Sen. Toomey Brokers Deal to Close Gun Show Loophole
Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey is at the forefront of a bipartisan deal to expand background checks on gun sales. The amendment Toomey crafted with West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin would extend the instant background checks to gun shows and online gun sales. Exemptions would remain for many individuals’ gun sales. While he’s already catching […]
House Republicans’ “Marcellus Works” Bills on the Move
The “Marcellus Works” package of bills is designed to spur job growth through the increased use of Pennsylvania’s home-grown natural gas, and the House Finance Committee has just advanced a series of tax credits for natural gas vehicle fleets, heavy-duty trucks and fueling stations. “With the high unemployment, we know that the Marcellus Shale industry […]
Governor: 74 Jobs Coming to Pennsylvania from Brazil
As Governor Tom Corbett continues his trade mission to Brazil and Chile this week, he has announced the expectation of 74 new jobs to be located in Chambersburg, Franklin County. The governor used a roundtable meeting to disclose the plan by Brazilian company Wipro Infrastructure Engineering to open its first U.S.-based manufacturing facility. The company […]
A Renewed Push for Reform in Harrisburg
A new package of reform legislation has been introduced at the state capitol, on the heels of the formation of a bipartisan, bicameral reform caucus. If the goal is to be as transparent as possible, Republican state Senator John Eichelberger (R-Blair) says there’s no reason not to pass the nine bills unveiled on Monday. “We […]