Governor Corbett to Nominate Judge Correale Stevens to the PA Supreme Court

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Governor Tom Corbett today will submit his nomination for a vacant seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. That seat opened up with the resignation last month of former Justice Joan Orie Melvin who was convicted on corruption charges earlier this year. She is appealing that conviction.

The governor has selected longtime Superior Court Judge Correale Stevens for the post. Stevens has been on that bench since 1998, serving as President Judge since 2011. Prior to that, Stevens was a Luzerne County Judge and District Attorney. He also spent four terms in the state House of Representatives.

The nomination, expected to be delivered to the state Senate today, requires a two-thirds confirmation vote. If that happens, Stevens will be seated on the high court for the term that ends in January of 2016. The election to select a permanent justice is due in November of 2015.

 

Batten Down the Hatches for Bumpy Weather Thursday

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The weather system feared to form a phenomenon known as a derecho began moving into Pennsylvania early this morning, sweeping through western PA in the 3 and 4 o’clock hours and then continuing its path across the Commonwealth. Much of the state is in store for severe thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging winds, along with the possibility of tornadoes and large hail. The saving grace is that the system is moving rapidly. As the storms moved into PA, it appeared that the middle swath of the state would see the strongest thunderstorms, while the heaviest sustained rains could come in the northern and southern tiers.

 

House Passes Republican Spending Plan

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After nearly five hours of debate, the state house has approved a 28.3 billion dollar Republican spending plan.  The 108 to 92 vote came along party lines.

Education was a main theme as members rose to speak about the proposed General fund budget.   Republicans say it increases spending for education.  Democrats say it does not come close to restoring the cuts of the last two years.

House majority leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) called the spending plan responsible, compassionate, caring and fiscal stewardship. He says it recognizes we have to live within our means.

House minority leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) says the budget once again turns its back on our children.  He says schools have been forced to slash the most fundamental tools for educating our children; teachers and books.  He called it unconscionable and shameful.

The measure now goes to the senate.  A spokesman for the majority leader says they’ll continue working with the House and Governor Tom Corbett to reach an agreement on next year’s budget.  They’re confident the work will be completed by June 30th.  The Senate is expected to take up budget-related bills the week of June 24th.

Capitol, State Capitol, Dome

House Budget Vote Could Come Today

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Democrats and Republicans postured and battled Monday in the state House of Representatives, but in the end the Democrats fell short to the GOP majority on every critical vote.

The Democrats were pushing their own budget plan, which they said would increase spending for education and expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a move that the Corbett administration has balked at due to what the governor calls a lack of information from the feds. Democrats argued that at least three independent studies show that if Pennsylvania were to opt in to Medicaid expansion, there would be health and economic benefits for the Commonwealth. Republicans argued that it was still too soon to consider the expansion, which would take effect in 2014.

Monday’s defeat of Democratic amendments clears the way for a possible vote on the Republican budget as early as today. Governor Tom Corbett reiterated Monday that he not only wants a budget by June 30th, but also a transportation funding plan, pension reform and liquor privatization.