Geisinger Mentioned on Washington Week

Tonight on Washington Week in Review, Ceci Connolly from the Washington Post said something interesting. In talking about the now open cabinet spot for Health and Human Services she suggested that Obama might look for someone outside the box, possibly someone from outside government. She mentioned that Kaiser in California and Geisinger in Pennsylvania were doing some innovative things and that someone from either of those organizations might be a dark horse candidate.

Calling Arlen

Today I called Sen. Specter's office to voice my support for the stimulus bill. Possibly other people had the same idea. His Washington office number was busy, so was his Philadelphia number the two times I called. I had to go to one of the other offices in Pennsylvania to finally get through. The person who answered the phone did not seem pleased to hear from me, though I was polite as could be.

Rendell on Maddow

This evening I watched part of the Rachel Maddow Show since Attytood blogger Will Bunch of the Inquirer was on plugging his new book. As a pleasant surprise it turned out to be a Pennsylvania two-fer. Gov. Ed Rendell was also a guest, to speak in favor of Pres. Obama's stimulus proposal.

Schwartz Statement on SCHIP

From the inbox:

In recognition of over a decade’s work on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz was among the invited guests at the White House today as President Obama signed into law a plan to strengthen SCHIP. This plan, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization Act, will provide healthcare coverage for 11 million children.

Schwartz released the following statement concerning the bill signing.

“It was an honor and a great privilege to be with President Obama, Mrs. Obama and others on such an important day for America’s kids.

“In these difficult economic times families tell me what they need is stability and an opportunity to meet their responsibilities. We are providing this opportunity by strengthening CHIP to reach more than 11 million American children.

“Today’s bill signing demonstrates that we can tackle the tough economic concerns of middle income American families, and provide them with the confidence that even in this economic downturn, access to health coverage for their kids will be okay.”

Stimulus Plan Impact on Pennsylvania

The White House has assembled fact sheets on how the proposed stimulus plan will affect each state. The full list is available here. These are the specifics for Pennsylvania:

AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT PLAN: THE IMPACT FOR Pennsylvania

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan is a nationwide effort to create jobs, jumpstart growth and transform our economy for the 21st century. Across the country, this plan will help businesses create jobs and families afford their bills while laying a foundation for future economic growth in key areas like health care, clean energy, education and a 21st century infrastructure. In Pennsylvania, this plan will deliver immediate, tangible impacts, including:

· Creating or saving 151,700 jobs over the next two years. Jobs created will be in a range of industries from clean energy to health care, with over 90% in the private sector. [Source: White House Estimate based on Romer and Bernstein, “The Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.” January 9, 2009.]

· Providing a making work pay tax cut of up to $1,000 for 4,910,000 workers and their families. The plan will make a down payment on the President’s Making Work Pay tax cut for 95% of workers and their families, designed to pay out immediately into workers’ paychecks. [Source: White House Estimate based on IRS Statistics of Income]

· Making 138,000 families eligible for a new American Opportunity Tax Credit to make college affordable. By creating a new $2,500 partially refundable tax credit for four years of college, this plan will give 3.8 million families nationwide – and 138,000 families in Pennsylvania – new assistance to put college within their reach. [Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis of U.S. Census data]

· Offering an additional $100 per month in unemployment insurance benefits to 1,056,000 workers in Pennsylvania who have lost their jobs in this recession, and providing extended unemployment benefits to an additional 156,000 laid-off workers. [Source: National Employment Law Project]

· Providing funding sufficient to modernize at least 409 schools in Pennsylvania so our children have the labs, classrooms and libraries they need to compete in the 21st century economy. [Source: White House Estimate]

In addition to this immediate assistance for Pennsylvania, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan will help transform our economy by:

· Doubling renewable energy generating capacity over three years, creating enough renewable energy to power 6 million American homes.

· Computerizing every American’s health record in five years, reducing medical errors and saving billions of dollars in health care costs.

· Launching the most ambitious school modernization program on record, sufficient to upgrade 10,000 schools.

· Enacting the largest investment increase in our nation’s roads, bridges and mass transit systems since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950s.

Pennsylvania VOICE Report

In late January Pennsylvania VOICE released a preliminary report on its effectiveness during the November election. The pdf version of Pennsylvania VOICE: Building a Community-Driven Public Policy Voice through Nonprofit Collaboration and Civic Participation, 2008 Outcomes and Initial Reporting is a little hinky at the moment but an html version is available.

According to the press release announcing the report's released:

Pennsylvania VOICE partner organizations were responsible for registering 294,225 voters across the state during the 2008 calendar year (for the primary and general elections), and awarded 12 Pennsylvania nonprofit organizations a total of more than $40,000 in re-grants to support their work in helping to engage under-participating constituencies in the voting process.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

The Latin is usually translated "who watches the watchers?" or "who guards the guards?" (see wikipedia for fuller explication).

In this case I use it to mean who's keeping track of who is watching the Super Bowl with the president and vice president. Mike Allen has the answer in his Politico Playbook Daily Update (Pennsylvania officials are in bold):

THE PRESIDENT'S GUEST LIST, from the White House: 'The following is a list of elected officials who will be guests at the President's Super Bowl party. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA), Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA), Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ), Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Congressman Paul Hodes (D-NH), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC), Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI).'

THE V.P.'s GUEST LIST, from the White House: 'The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will host members of the House and Senate, along with their families, at the Naval Observatory to watch the Super Bowl. The following elected officials will be guests ... Sen. Max Baucus, Sen. Tom Carper, Sen. Kent Conrad, Sen. John Kerry, Sen. Bill Nelson, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Robert Brady, Rep. Jim Clyburn, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. John Larson.'

Biden, Green Jobs, Meeting in Philly

Pres. Obama created a task force on the middle class and appointed VP Biden chair. Their first meeting will be Feb. 27th in Philly. Details from the White House blog:

The task force’s first focus will be green jobs as a pathway to a strong middle class.

Green jobs are jobs that provide products and services which use renewable energy resources, reduce pollution, conserve energy and natural resources and reconstitute waste.

So what do green jobs mean for the middle class?

First, quite simply, it means more jobs. At a time when good jobs at good wages are harder and harder to come by, it is critical we find new and innovate ways to create more such jobs. Building a new power grid, manufacturing solar panels, weatherizing homes and office buildings, and renovating schools are just a few examples of ways to create new good quality jobs – green jobs – and strengthen the foundation of this country at the same time.

Second, more green jobs mean more money in your pocketbook at the end of the month. If we create jobs that aim to reduce your energy costs – like your electric bill and your home heating bill – that means you have more disposable income for other things.

Creating more green jobs has multiple benefits. It helps the economy as a whole; it helps our environment; and it will save you money.

Stay tuned for more information on green jobs following the Middle Class Task Force’s first meeting on February 27, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Interesting Note in Dec Philly Magazine

This was in the "to blog about, if there is blogging" pile. From Philadelphia Magazine, December 2008, note at the bottom of page 50:

Weeks before Election Day, Local 98 boss John Dougherty sent a message to union members, 80 percent of whom are white: Don't let Obama's skin color impede your vote. Even more intriguing than his plea to bridge the racial divide was how it was delivered -- J. Doc mailed 5,000 one-time-use MP3 players loaded with his pro-Obama stump speech, plus words from building trades manager Pat Gillespie, Rep. Pat Murphy and Senator Bob Casey. Operation MP3 ran a cool $90,000 -- but Dougherty says it was worth it: "Everbody loved it. I even saw one on Craigslist for $150."

Allyson Schwartz on WHYY's "This I Believe"

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13) has joined those recording an essay for WHYY as part of their "This I Believe" series. You can listen to the audio on WHYY's site. The planned text is given below; it varies slightly from the recording due to editing.

More than 60 years ago, a young woman, a girl really at 16, named Renee Perl arrived in the United States after years of displacement, uncertainty and abandonment.

Having fled Austria to escape the Nazis, she arrived in America: alone, scared, but, hopeful.

She was sent to Philadelphia, a safe haven with a welcoming community and good public schools. Times were not easy, but she quickly learned English, to dress like an American, and to type fast enough to land a steady job as a secretary.

Over the years, as a young wife, busy mother of four, she worked as so many refuges do to put her troubled times behind her, to embrace her adopted country and build a new life for herself. And, while she was forever haunted by her experiences, she embraced America with joy and gratitude.

Renee Perl was my mother.

She instilled in me a great love for our country, for the freedom, the security, and the opportunity it offered her.

Her life taught me that we each have the responsibility to keep these freedoms alive, that each of us contributes to ensuring that opportunity
for others and that hope can only be fulfilled if it is shared.
My mother told me to not romanticize her experience.

So I believe it's important to enable families to nurture their children, that growing up in fear and violence does not make you stronger.

That we should expect neighbors to respect neighbors, that discrimination and hate are not tolerable.

That we have to work to meet our personal responsibilities to ourselves and our families, and that while this is clearly a full time job, to do only this is not enough. The world around us demands more.

I knew none of this was easy, but to stand on the sidelines is not possible (acceptable).

So, I never have.

I take with me each day, the sadness, as well as the hopes and the dreams of my Mother, to fight for that opportunity and security. at all levels.

First on the community level, then with the City, as a state Senator, and now as a Member of Congress, I seek to improve the lives of our children, to expand access to health care, to create economic opportunities for more Americans, to build a safer, more secure world for all of us.
I know I am sometimes too determined, too demanding of myself and the people around me, but I believe that we must set high goals for ourselves, get as close as you can to achieve them and then pursue new, higher goals.

I believe that few of us can achieve much without hard work, determination and a vision for the future.
I believe that each of us holds our own reasons for caring.

Each of us has to find our own path to meet our responsibilities to
ourselves and to others.
And, the best of us find a way to have people work together on behalf of all of us.

My mother did not live to see me elected to public office, to see me as a mother.

But, she would have been proud of who I am today, and proud of who we are as Americans: willing to find the way to meet our challenges together, to move ahead, and to embrace the future with confidence and hope in each other and our great nation.

That is America’s promise; just as my mother believed, just as I believe.

Public Forum on Gerrymandering

Sorry for the late notice. There will be a public form on gerrymandering and redistricting; announced panel speakers include Philadelphia Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez, State Reps. Josh Shapiro and Babette Josephs, and Chris Satullo, formerly of the Inky and now at WHYY. The event is tomorrow, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia at 2125 Chestnut St.

For more info see Satullo's blog entry on WHYY's It's Our City blog.

Philadelphia: Home of Girl Scout Cookies

Two newsy bits on Girl Scout cookies (yes, it's that time of year again!):

If you want to support the scouts but don't want cookies around the house you can pay for boxes that will be sent to troops overseas. That would be a nice taste of home for soldiers far away. Just a thought.

The first Girl Scouts cookies were baked in Philadelphia. From the inbox:

The Girl Scout Cookie Program began right here in Philadelphia in 1932 when Girl Scouts demonstrated their cooking skills in the windows of the Philadelphia Gas Company. This led to the Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia's first commercial cookie program in 1934, making this the 75th anniversary. The Cookie Program went national with the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. in 1936.

The Case of the Disappearing FEC Reports

Old habits die hard and so last Saturday afternoon I found myself perusing the FEC website, to see if anyone had posted the end of year reports, due the end of January, early. No one had. Pre- and post-general reports were there and provided some entertainment / educational value. The easiest way to do this is to go to www.fec.gov and view the electronic filings.

A few things really struck me. One is that Mark Cohen’s old congressional campaign committee, started when he contemplated running for Congress in 2004 and still hanging around, is not listed as having filed a report for the quarter ending in October. I’d done some checking via back channels about missing reports (see next paragraph) and someone suggested looking at the “view images of all financial reports” function. Sure enough, there was a pdf copy of a letter from the FEC telling Cohen’s treasurer that they were no longer obligated to file reports until they received or spent money. I don’t know why this wasn’t posted with the electronic filings. Just viewing the list of electronic filings it would be easy to assume that a report had not been filed.

Another thing that really surprised me was the absence of reports that used to be listed with electronic filings. I have reviewed quarterly FEC reports for the suburban Philadelphia congressional campaigns for some time now and am familiar with committee names, what sort of reports they file, etc. So, imagine my surprise when the reports for the Republican candidate for the 13th congressional district didn’t appear. Not under the candidates first name. Not under the candidate’s last name. To be double extra sure I printed out a list of all the electronic reports available for Pennsylvania house races. Do not do this at home – it is 120 pages long. No reports for the 2008 GOP candidate for the 13th district. They used to be there. I reviewed them a number of times. But they are gone now. That’s just plain strange.

Reports for the 2006 GOP candidate for that district are all there. There were three primary candidates for the GOP congressional lost in 2004. Their reports are available electronically. Reports for a Democratic candidate who lost in the 2004 primary are available. Reports from a Democratic candidate for the 7th congressional district who withdrew from the race in 2006 are available. Reports from all four Democratic candidates for the 2006 8th congressional district race are available.

Tapping a few people who know more about these things than I do someone suggested checking the reports filed on paper, the “view images of all financial reports” option. Sure enough, all of the reports for the 2008 GOP candidate for the 13th congressional district are all there. However, they have been removed from the electronic reports list. I have never seen that done before.

Looking at the pdf copy of the latest report, a termination report dated 11/24/08 is difficult going. The print is small. The pages are hard to read. It is slow going. However it does appear that the candidate repaid herself for three loans of $95,000 each. There is a $15,000 loan that she appears to have forgiven; that loan also from her personal funds. The interest rate is floating but it looked like she paid herself some interest on the loans. There are also a handful of in-kind donations from the candidate. I’m not well-versed enough in FEC arcane to grasp what, if any, significance all this has.

What I do know for certain is that the FEC reports for this campaign used to be available in the easier to read, easier to use, electronic files and now all of them have been pulled. The only access is the more cumbersome pdf files.

Philly Budget Forums

For those interested:

The people who brought us the Big Canvas meetings, the Project for Civic Engagement, have planned a series of four forums on the Philadelphia budget:

Thursday, Feb. 12. — St. Dominic’s School, 8510 Frankford Ave. (Northeast)

Wednesday, Feb. 18 — Mastery Charter School, Pickett Campus, 5700 Wayne Ave (Germantown)

Thursday, Feb 19 — St. Monica’s Catholic School, 16th and Porter Streets. (South Philadelphia)

Monday, Feb. 23 - Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, 2251 N. 54 TH Street (West Philadelphia)

The forums will run from 7:00pm - 9:30pm

For more details see WHYY's It's Our City blog.

The Return of Anthony Riley

Anthony Riley whose singing talents were mentioned here in June 2007, has returned to the city after a lengthy stay in Las Vegas. For the moment he said the best place / time to catch him is in Suburban Station on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the afternoon.

Interesting Theory or Tinfoil Hat Time?

This evening I talked with an old college buddy who has traveled widely, including a stay in India a few years ago. She told me she thought there was some symbolism in what the new first family was wearing at the inaugural. The colors of their clothes struck her as emblematic of some of the world's religions. I'm not up on what colors represent what religions but did say I would, with her permission, post it here.

Pres. Obama -- black (Muslim)
Mrs. Obama -- close to saffron (Buddhist)
oldest Obama daughter -- purplish blue (Christianity / Judaism?)
younger Obama daughter -- orange yellow and pink (Hindu)

You can vote: interesting theory or tinfoil hat time?

Schwartz Vice Chair of Budget Committee

Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz has been named vice chair of the House Budget Committee. Full press release on her legislative website.

Let's End This Tradition

At one of the televised inaugural parties President Barack Obama gestured to his wife, on stage with him, and asked the audience to agree that she looked great. When Bill Clinton was president he once asked an audience if they agreed that Hillary looked wonderful.

Can we stop this? The First Lady has little choice in these circumstances other than stand there and be examined by everyone in the room. Would anyone enjoy that? It is wonderful when long-married spouses still get a charge out of each other, but those sentiments are better suited for private settings.

A glamorous presidential wife is certainly a plus but Eleanor Roosevelt, admittedly no traditional beauty, accomplished a world of good. The First Lady's husband may rejoice in her physical attributes but the rest of us may have other priorities for the job.

Just my opinion.

In Case You Missed It, Part II

From the Inky's PhillyDeal$ blog on 1/15:

Bucks County's U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., got his second term off to a convincing start today when the House of Representatives in Washington voted 426-0 to approve his amendment that would force the Federal Reserve to explain how it hired BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, Pimco and Wellington Management to manage $500 billion in mortgage-backed securities, how much it's paying them, and how it's making sure they don't trade the MBS for personal advantage. Read the amendment here.

Murphy says he wasn't doing this at the request of other money managers or interested parties. "We have no idea how they found those managers. We don't even know how much they're getting paid," Murphy told me, echoing his speech on the House floor. The worst, he said, was getting blown off by the Fed when he asked for details -- even though it's legally responsible to Congress. "I taught constitutional law at West Point," he said. "I'm not going to stand for that."

In Case You Missed It, Part I

Last Wednesday the Inquirer had a nice article on women in Congress, with a focus on Rep. Allyson Schwartz. Check out "The Young Mothers of Capitol Hill," by Nora Barry