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Governor Corbett Ushers in the Holiday Season

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Governor Tom Corbett was joined by First Lady Susan Corbett and Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley in lighting the state Capitol Christmas tree Tuesday, officially kicking off the holiday season in Harrisburg.

This year’s tree is a 22-foot Douglas Fir grown by Crystal Springs Tree Farm in Carbon County. The tree was donated by the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association, which also contributed 28 additional trees to be used in and around the state Capitol complex. After many years inside under the Capitol dome, this year’s main attraction is located outside, on the Capitol steps. Governor Corbett says he wanted to share the tree with the people of Harrisburg and those who come to the city from around the state.

While preparing to light the tree, the governor asked all Pennsylvanians to remember our soldiers serving overseas this holiday season.

 

 

Pennsylvania Lottery

Another Step toward Private Management of the Pennsylvania Lottery

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The Corbett administration is taking the next steps toward a Private Management Agreement (PMA) for the Pennsylvania Lottery.  Late last week the state announced the terms for a potential PMA, which include profit commitments for 20-years that would ensure growth in the programs that benefit the state’s senior citizens. 

“We are looking to privatize.  The final decision hasn’t been made yet, because we have to wait for bids and see how the bids turn out,” Governor Tom Corbett said at an unrelated event. 

“If I find that it’s going to cause us to lose money, are we going to do it?  No.” 

Pennsylvania Lottery net revenues increased by more than 10% last year and many legislative Democrats question any move toward privatization when the Lottery is producing record profits.  “No corporate operator can guarantee the same low overhead costs, and ever future dollar that goes to a private management company is a dollar taken away from critical senior programs like PACE, shared rids and rent rebates,” says House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny).    

The other terms laid out for a potential PMA include $150-million in collateral, the responsible implementation of monitor and Internet-based games and a provision that ensures ownership and control of the Lottery is retained by the Commonwealth.

RadioPA Roundtable

Radio PA Roundtable 11.09.12

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On this week’s Radio PA Roundtable, Brad Christman and Matt Paul recap Election Night in Pennsylvania, and preview the potential conflict between Attorney General-Elect Kathleen Kane and Governor Tom Corbett.  Also, you’ll hear their experiences covering this past week’s scheduled execution, which was stayed at the 11th hour.  It would have been the state’s first execution since 1999.

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/Roundtable11-09-12.mp3]

Hurricane Sandy Looms

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The early effects of Hurricane Sandy began moving into Pennsylvania late Sunday and with the heaviest rainfall expected on the front side of the massive storm, the flash flooding risk begins today.

The National Weather Service is projecting as much as 10 inches of rainfall associated with Sandy, with the heaviest rains coming in the southeast and southern tier portions of the Commonwealth. Rain will be the main threat on Monday, with high winds taking over late in the day and into Tuesday. Officials are reminding residents to clear their porches and yards of items that might become projectiles in Tropical Storm-strength winds. The winds could also knock out power for large areas of the state, much like they did in last year’s Hurricane Irene.

President Obama has declared a disaster emergency for Pennsylvania and other states in the storm’s path. That will allow Governor Tom Corbett to apply for federal assistance for the steps taken to prepare for Sandy.