Mother's Day Note from PA Budget and Policy Center

truncated press release:

With Mother’s Day this Sunday, the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center and Public Citizens for Children and Youth are highlighting new research showing just how many moms in Pennsylvania rely on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC).
The federal tax credits benefit 670,000 working moms in the Keystone state. The 2013 Mother’s Day Report also shows that the EITC and CTC lifted nearly 118,000 Pennsylvania children out of poverty annually between 2009 and 2011. Learn more at http://pennbpc.org/MothersDay.

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Philly for Change has endorsed three candidates for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, as follows:

Giovanni Campbell http://giovannicampbell4judge.com/

Stephanie Sawyer http://www.friendsofstephaniemsawyer.com/

Inja Coates http://injacoates.wordpress.com/

Giovanni Campbell for Philly Common Pleas

from the inbox:

Philadelphia. Common Pleas Court judges make decisions that affect every individual in the city.  A judicial candidate should have integrity, experience, community involvement, and judicial temperament in order to serve our city in that capacity.  Giovanni Campbell is such a candidate.  Born in Panama,  Mr. Campbell’s multicultural perspective is congruent with Philadelphia’s growing diversity and will help to bring balance to the bench. 

• Recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association's Committee on Judicial Selection and Retention.

• Temple Law School graduate. 1993.

• 20 years of trial and appellate experience in federal and state courts.

• Manages a dynamic law practice focused on criminal defense and civil rights.

• Championed the rights of students with learning differences.

• Giovanni Campbell is an active member of the Federal Bar Association, Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL), the  Philadelphia Bar Association, and Council for Parent and Attorney Advocates (COPAA)

• Giovanni Campbell served as a faculty member with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) training lawyers to enhance their trial skills.

• Participates in Law Related Education (LRE) Programs teaching in high school classrooms and presiding as judge in mock trial tournaments.

• Provides pro bono representation, independently and in partnership with organizations, including the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Bar Association, and Volunteers for the Indigent Program (VIP).

• Assists first responders and their spouses with basic estate planning through the “Wills for Heroes” program and participates in the Senior Law Center’s “hotline” for indigent senior citizens.

 Giovanni Campbell has been endorsed by: Philadelphia Democratic City Committee; Philadelphia AFL-CIO; AFSCME District Council 33; AFSCME District Council 47; Americans for Democratic Action – Philadelphia Chapter; Equality Pennsylvania; Laborers District Council; Laborers Local 332; Liberty City LGBT Democratic Club;  Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals; Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council; Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks;Philly for Change;Transport Workers Local 234; and United Steelworkers Local 10-1.

Franklin Institute Hawks Update

Those who do not follow urban wildlife may not be familiar with the Franklin Institute hawks.  Their nest is on a windowsill at the Institute.  Last year the male hawk was killed before the baby hawks left the nest.  A younger(?) male took over the food providing role.  This year he and the female hawk returned to the nest and have hatched three eggs of their own.

There is a Hawkwatch blog, frequently updated and hosting a number of photographs.  We've had a lot of bad news days lately and checking in with the hawks can be a welcome change of pace.

Change in SEPTA for Komen Race

from the inbox:

SEPTA would like to advise customers about a number of bus detours that will be in place on Sunday, May 12, 2013 for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. There will also be extra pre-race service on some Regional Rail lines.

More than a dozen bus routes operating on and around the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and JFK Boulevard in the Art Museum area and parts of Center City will be adjusted due to road closures for the race.

Starting at approximately 7 a.m. Sunday, the following SEPTA bus routes will be detoured: 2, 7, 9, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 124 and 125. SEPTA will resume normal operations on these bus routes as soon as possible after the race.

Detour route information for all these buses, and any additional service adjustments that may be necessary, will be posted in the System Status section of SEPTA’s Website at http://www.septa.org/realtime/status/system-status.shtml.

SEPTA will also add six inbound Regional Rail trains on Sunday morning to accommodate runners and others traveling to the event. These trips, which supplement regularly scheduled

Regional Rail service, will arrive at Center City stations between 6 a.m. and 6:45 a.m.
The extra trip schedule for Regional Rail is as follows:
 Media/Elwyn Line: Extra trip departs from the Elwyn Station at 5:33 a.m.
 Wilmington/Newark Line: Extra trip departs from the Marcus Hook Station at 5:48 a.m.
 Lansdale/Doylestown Line: Extra trip departs from the Lansdale Station at 5:12 a.m.
 Manayunk/Norristown Line: Extra trip departs from the Elm Street Station at 5:48 a.m.
 Paoli/Thorndale Line: Extra trip departs from the Malvern Station at 5:20 a.m.
 West Trenton Line: Extra trip departs from the West Trenton Station at 5:18 a.m.

For more information, including full schedules and fares, visit www.septa.org. SEPTA Customer Service representatives are also available by phone at (215) 580-7800.

Rob McCord's Mother's Day Message

from the inbox, a Mother's Day note from State Treasurer Rob McCord:

Each day, I am amazed at the care and affection my wife Leigh shows our two sons. This Mother’s Day, I join husbands, fathers, and children across Pennsylvania to celebrate the women who play the important role of mom in our lives.

There are many ways we can express our appreciation to the mothers in our lives – gifts of pampering, some high quality family time, or a meal cooked in her honor. But there is a gift you can give back to your mother that she may not have realized was hers in the first place – unclaimed property from the Pennsylvania Treasury.

Many people don’t realize they have unclaimed property – things like forgotten bank accounts, lost stocks or bonds, or uncashed checks. We estimate that Pennsylvanians have a one-in-10 chance of finding property in their name at www.patreasury.gov, so chances are good that you can find something for mom. This is one time that “re-gifting” won’t land you in the doghouse!

While you are spending time with your mother this weekend, don’t forget to help her find out if she can benefit from these other government programs and services:

·         Homestead Exclusion property tax reduction
·         Property Tax/Rent Rebate
·         PACE and PACENET prescription assistance programs

And please be sure to visit www.patreasury.gov or call 1-800-222-2046 to find out if we are holding any property for the mother you celebrate this weekend. It’s free to search and claim property. If you find something in her name, you can let her know on Sunday that you are helping her put her money back in her wallet!

Legislative Notes for May 8th

HB 1354 was introduced in the State House.  It would change the way legislators are reimbursed for work-related expenses.  It sounds very reasonable to me.

Guns and Little League Don't Mix

from the inbox:

CeaseFirePA and Mayors Against Illegal Guns issued the following joint statement on the May 11^th Coalition for Peace Action gun violence prevention rally and the armed counter-protest:

Several weeks ago, more than a dozen grassroots gun violence prevention organizations came together to plan a peaceful rally for background checks and other common sense gun reforms.

Unfortunately, some individuals who disagree with this message have decided to stage an armed counter-protest in order to bully and intimidate the participants. It’s no surprise that the presence of armed bullies has led the police to recommend that the Little League consider relocating their games. Mayors Against Illegal Guns and CeaseFirePA continue to support the rally and the right of all the groups involved to peacefully assemble and loudly speak their minds. We respect the rights of those with differing views, but we urge them to refrain from intimidation and confrontation and leave their guns at home so the kids can play ball.

Background:On Monday, May 6, 2013, Morrisville Little League President Dan O’Connell was quoted in the Bucks County Courier Times:“I’m not upset with the Bux-Mont Coalition for Peace. I am not against the Second Amendment, and I have no problem with what they are looking to do, but now I hear pro-gun groups are going to be involved and they will be carrying firearms. How can I have all these kids playing baseball with that as a backdrop?”

Legislative Update for May 7th

A few notes from yesterday's daily legislative activity email:

These bills were introduced and / or acted upon:

HB 764 on creating and using online accounts in someone's name (or a fictitious name) to harass or stalk another person, and the penalties for doing so.  (I may not have described this correctly; please read the text of the bill for clarification).

HB 818 prohibits any state health exchange set up under the Affordable Care Act from offering abortion coverage (with exceptions which are referenced by another law and not spelled out), but insists that all state exchange programs offer care for postabortion complications and care for miscarriages.

SB5 really stumps me.  It amends a community health bill to remove language specifying the provision for a mobile prenatal and natal education lab.  It also amends the credentials required by people who staff clinics.  The Senate journal could probably provide some context but today's Journal won't be available for awhile.

Marriage Equality News

Today Delaware became the 11th state to approve a bill recognizing same sex marriage.  Governor Jack Markell is expected to sign the bill.

Pennsylvania seems intent on moving backward in this regard.  Today legislation was introduced that would begin to process to amend the state's constitution in opposition to same sex marriage.  Since the state has already limited marriage to one man and one woman a constitutional amendment serves no additional purpose.

Also today legislation was introduced to end anti-LGBT discrimination in the workplace, housing and places such as restaurants and hotel rooms.  The legislation was co-sponsored by 77 members of the state house and 25 senators.  Both the House and Senate Bills are numbered 300.  According to one press release:

A recent poll showed the bills have 72 percent support statewide, consistent with Pennsylvania polling results on the issue over the past decade. The poll was conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, a firm with many Republican and business clients. Regional results of the poll are available at http://is.gd/hb300poll.

Sponsors of the House bill include: Reps. Frankel, Ross, Bishop, Bizzarro, B. Boyle, K. Boyle, Bradford, Briggs, R. Brown, V. Brown, Brownlee, Caltagirone, Carroll, Clay, Cohen, D. Costa, P. Costa, Cruz, M. Daley, P. Daley, Davis, Dean, DeLissio, DeLuca, Dermody, Donatucci, D. Evans, Fabrizio, Farina, Fleck, Flynn, Freeman, Gainey, Galloway, Gergely, Harkins, J. Harris, Kavulich, W. Keller, Kim, Kinsey, Kirkland, Mahoney, Markosek, McCarter, McGeehan, McNeill, Miranda, Molchany, Mullery, Mundy, Murt, Neilson, Neuman, O'Brien, Painter, Parker, Pashinski, Peifer, Ravenstahl, Readshaw, Roebuck, Rozzi, Sabatina, Samuelson, Santarsiero, Scavello, Schlossberg, Sims, Snyder, Sturla, Taylor, Thomas, Vitali, Waters, Wheatley and Youngblood.

Sponsors of the Senate bill include: Sens. Farnese, Browne, Ferlo, Washington, Stack, Teplitz, Fontana, Costa, Smith, Blake, Schwank, Williams, Wozniak, Hughes, Leach, Tartaglione, Dinniman, Kitchen, Wiley, Boscola, Yudichak, McIlhinney and Brewster.

Pittsburgh-based UPMC health care system announced public support for the bill.

Boyle Bros. Host Academic Challenge

State Reps. Kevin and Brendan Boyle are hosting their 3rd annual Boyle Academic Challenge this Saturday.  Eight schools in Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia will participate in three rounds followed by a championship round.  The goal of the event is to promote academic achievement and scholarship.  In one of the previous years the challenge was held over 150 students participated.

Rob Teplitz on PCN's "Freshman Focus"

Sen. Rob Teplitz, newly elected in the 15th state senate district which includes Harrisburg, is among the legislators featured on PCN's "Freshman Focus" series.  These are short video interviews, done around the time the officials took office in January.  The information is a little dated now but does provide a glimpse of their priorities and personality.  I've heard Sen. Teplitz speak a few times and have been very impressed with him.  This is not intended to be a full transcript but are rough notes.  Interested readers are encouraged to listen to the video themselves.

Q: What was your motivation?

RT:  I grew up in this area.  My wife and I are raising our two young boys here.  I have a passion for public service.  I’ve worked for Bob Casey and Jack Wagner.    I looked for other ways to serve and am honored to have this opportunity.

Q:  Solve one problem for district?

RT:  City of Harrisburg debt crisis.  Want to come in, get all parties around the table.

Q:  Committees?

RT:  Education, local government, appropriations, transportation.  Gave long wish list to Senate Dems

Q:  Background as a lawyer and in govt.

RT:  Experience in private and public sector.  Public sector experience very important, worked in auditor general’s office.  Had my sleeves rolled up, feel prepared

Q:  Hobbies?

RT:  Free time is with family, driving kids around, spent time with wife and kids.  They are excited, happy to have Daddy back.  Excited, honored to have this opportunity.  Providing good constituent services.  

More Being Biden

Vice President Joe Biden has released a few more episodes of the "Being Biden" audio series.  These are short (about a minute) recordings by Biden.  The most recent is a note on Sen. John McCain.  Before that Biden met Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, who plays the vice president on the HBO series VEEP.  

Painter on Property Tax Rebates

from the inbox:

 State Rep. Mark Painter joined his House Democratic colleagues in voting for an amendment recently that would have expanded a program that helps eligible homeowners with property tax rebates, but which was defeated by the state House on a party-line vote with all Republicans voting no.

"My constituents have made it clear that high property taxes are one of their top concerns," said Painter, D-Montgomery. "While we have yet to achieve consensus on how to fund education through another means, without hurting school district budgets on a statewide basis, we had an opportunity to reduce the burden for many people through an expansion of the highly successful Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. However, the majority party decided to vote against helping taxpayers." 

The amendment to H.B. 468 would have tapped $57 million of the Pennsylvania Lottery's $100 million surplus to expand the program. It would have increased the amount of the property tax rebate by $100 in each of the four income categories already in place. It also would have increased the eligibility limit from $35,000 to $45,000. 

House Bill 468 would:
·       permanently extend the program's deadline to Dec. 31;·       double the amount of death benefits to $10,000 that may be exempted when considering income for program eligibility;·       allow an executor to apply for the rebate on behalf of a deceased applicant if the individual was eligible for the program on the date he or she died.

Painter joined the House in passing the bill and sent it to the state Senate for consideration.
 

The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, funded by lottery proceeds, helps hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians to pay their property taxes. According to the Department of Revenue, as of Dec. 31, more than 411,000 homeowners applied for assistance and 79,805 of those will pay no school property taxes.

Darrell Clarke on Boy Scout Settlement

from the inbox:

 Council President Darrell L. Clarke (5^th District) made the following statement on the settlement reached by the City of Philadelphia and the Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America (COLBSA):

“It is unfortunate that the City’s dispute with the Cradle of Liberty Council over its headquarters at 22^nd and Winter Streets could not be resolved outside of the courts. The Cradle of Liberty Council has a long and admirable history of working with young people. I’m disappointed COLBSA was not permitted by the Boy Scouts of America to adopt its own, more reasonable policy of inclusion. 

“That the Boy Scouts of America appears willing to end a ban on openly gay children is just one step in the right direction. As the birthplace of liberty, the City of Philadelphia must expect organizations that partner with us to abhor discrimination as much as we do. I will continue to support COLBSA’s great work with our youth as much as I continue to hope COLBSA will one day ban discrimination against gay children and adults.”

New Montco Planner

from the inbox:

The Montgomery County Commissioners today announced the appointment of Jody L. Holton, AICP, as the new executive director of the county Planning Commission. Holton comes to Montgomery County from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) where she was manager of long range planning.  She has more than a decade of experience as a project manager and planner for a wide range of projects, many of them in Montgomery County. 

An Open Note to CNN

Dear CNN,

Family circumstances leave my only television news viewing time to 9:00 p.m. and later.  My channel of choice is CNN.  For many years my favorite daily news program is AC 360.  I often watch Erin Burnett after that.  

Lately you have been mixing up the programming.  For a week or so there was a shoutfest on in the AC 360 time slot; the group sat around a table and yelled.  I had no idea who most of them were.

Now AC 360 is back but the format has changed.  There are people sitting around a table yelling at each other but I know who some of them are.  The same thing is happening on Erin Burnett.

There are many opportunities during my day to hear people talking over each other and bickering.  It is not my favorite thing.

I'd rather you didn't adopt the "circle of shouting 'experts,'" but if you are, get better behaved guests.

Legislative Infobits: Unions, Booze, and Voter ID

A few interesting notes from today's legislative activity.

HB 50 is one of several bills relating to unions that the House acted upon today.  HB 50 states that people cannot be forced to join a union or contribute to a union, and that a strike or other action that directly or indirectly imposes those conditions on people, is illegal and can be punished by a $1000 fine or 6 months in jail.  As I read it, and I'm not a lawyer, that would outlaw all strikes.  The lead sponsor of this bill is State Rep. Metcalfe (go figure).

Note to college students -- HB 1264 has college police officers (or security) notify the school AND the student's parents if a student is found to have alcohol in his or her possession.   The definitions of types of school seem a little odd to me and I wonder if some categories are left out.  The lead sponsor is State Rep. Kavulich.

Remember Voter ID?  It's still here.  HB 1295 shifts some of the definitions so that student IDs and care facility id's are acceptable even if they don't have an expiration date.

Delco Candidate Website

The Delaware County Democrats have a combined website for county level candidates: http://www.delcovictory2013.com/

Nancy A. Walker and Steve Chanenson are the Democratic candidates for the court of common pleas.  Candidates from other parties can cross file and also appear on the ballot as Democrats.

At present, according to the county Democratic party, there is only a slight difference in voter registration between Republicans and Democrats.  There are 737 more Rs than Ds in Delco.

SEPTA Bus Routes

from the inbox:

SEPTA is alerting customers to a number of bus detours that will be in place on Sunday, May 5 for the Blue Cross Broad Street Run. SEPTA will also run extra service on the Broad Street Line subway to accommodate the event.

Dozens of bus routes operating on, across and around Broad Street in parts of North Philadelphia, Center City and South Philadelphia will be altered due road closures that will be in place for the race. Detours are expected to start at approximately 8 a.m. Sunday. SEPTA will resume regular service as soon as possible after the race.

Detours are currently scheduled on the following bus routes: 3, 4, 7, 9, 12, 16, 17, 21, 42, 23, 27, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44, 48, 53, 54, 56, 60, 61, 64, 68, 75, 79, 124, 125, G, J, H, XH and R. The Route 15 Trolley shuttle bus will also be detoured. For details on detours for specific routes, customers can visit the System Status section of SEPTA’s Website at http://www.septa.org/realtime/status/system-status.shtml. System Status will also have up-to-the-minute updates on detours before, during and after the race.

[paragraph removed by blogger]

SEPTA will run extra subway service on the Broad Street Line before the race. Special northbound trips will run every 10 minutes from AT&T Station, which is located near the finish line, from 5:35 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. These trains will stop only at Walnut/Locust and City Hall stations en route to Olney Transportation Center, which is a short walk from the starting point of the race. SEPTA is offering this trip free to registered runners. Participants must display their official race bib with their competitor number to ride for free.

SEPTA will also run extra Broad Street Line service for Sunday’s Phillies-Marlins Game at Citizens Bank Park. Four additional Express trips will be deployed, running every 10 minutes during the hour leading up to the first pitch at 2:35 p.m.

For more information, visit www.septa.org.