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Largest State Workers Union Approves New Contract

July 19, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

The state’s largest employees union has approved a new contract calling for some concessions. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13 voted to approve the contract with the state by a 4 to 1 margin.

David Fillman, executive director, says members did lose a couple of sick days and there’s a wage freeze in the first year, but all totaled for the four year contract, it’s a very fair contract. Fillman says it’s fair not only for the employees, but also fair within the confines of the economic situation today and the budgets as we go forward. Members will also have to contribute more to the cost of their health care benefits.

The four year contract does call for wage increases in the final three years. Fillman says it’s four years of labor peace and they can live with that. AFSCME represents about 45,000 state employees.

The Service Employees International Union Local 668 is still voting on a new state contract. The union represents about 10,000 state workers and they are voting by individual ballots. Those ballots are due by mail or to their chapter by August 9^th.

The Corbett administration reached deals with the two unions in late June, after requesting concessions in the face of a difficult budget.

Governor Corbett’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission Votes on Recomendations

July 19, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

The final report of the Transportation Funding Advisory Commission is due to the Governor on August 1st. The panel voted Monday on a series of recommendations, including changes in fees and fines for drivers and uncapping a tax on oil companies. The goal is to fill a transportation funding gap, and develop more predictable funding to fix roads and bridges and pay for mass transit.

The commission recommends raising the driver’s license and vehicle registration fees to reflect inflation. PennDOT spokesman Dennis Buterbaugh says whenever the fee is set, it can take another 10, 15, 20 years before they look at the fee again to see if it needs to be adjusted. The recommendation calls for a 3% annual adjustment for inflation for many of the fees.

The commission is also suggesting some cost savings measures, such as biennial registrations and 8 year driver’s licenses. This would cut registration and licensing paperwork in half and result in annual savings to the state.

The commission is calling for the cap to be removed from the Oil Company Franchise Tax. For the average drivers, that could mean about $132 more a year out of pocket after the change was phased in over five years. But Buterbaugh says those figures assume the entire change in the tax would be passed on to drivers, and the last time the fee was raised, almost none of it was passed along.

The commission has also recommended a number of fund transfers and other efficiencies.

The panel’s goal was to find $2.5 billion dollars in recurring annual revenue for transportation.

State Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch, who chaired the commission, says none of the recommendations should come as a surprise to the Governor. He says Governor Corbett will review each carefully when he receives the final report. Schoch says the Governor put the charge out to them, saying transportation is important to him and he wants to know how to finance it.

Staying Safe in the Heat Wave

July 19, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

The miserably hot weather that’s been gripping the Midwest is beginning to take hold of Pennsylvania. With every heat wave, Dr. Richard O’Brien treats multiple cases of heat related illness. He says nobody is immune to the temperatures. “Often they are sporting people, and sometimes they are little old ladies going to church,” says O’Brien, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and associate professor of emergency medicine at The Commonwealth Medical College.

The three basic levels of heat illness include: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. “Heat exhaustion is a little more serious, we often use IV fluids for that; you might need a visit to the hospital for that. Heat stroke is very serious and life threatening. Think of heat stroke as being as serious as a real stroke,” O’Brien cautions.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion can include weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. “You need to seek care. You need to lie down, you need to be cooled off, you need to be hydrated,” O’Brien tells us. He says the key is to keep heat exhaustion from becoming heat stroke.

Dr. O’Brien urges everyone to limit activities and to keep well-hydrated in this weather: “The reason why we hydrate is so that we can sweat, so that we don’t overheat, so that we don’t get sick.” He points out that children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to heat illness.

AAA Says a Sun Shield Can Minimize Heat Buildup and Protect Your Car's Interior

With children’s safety in mind, AAA is urging us never to leave kids alone in car. Once a car is locked up, temperatures inside can climb by 20-degrees in the first 10-minutes. “The inside of a car, on a day like this – with temperatures in the 90s – can reach 200 degrees,” says AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Jim Lardear. “You can cook food… at that temperature,” Lardear warns.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports at least 27-documented child deaths, per year, which are linked to hot vehicles. Both O’Brien and Lardear say these safety rules for hydration and car safety apply to our pets too.

Governor, First Lady to Welcome “First Pets”

July 19, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

Governor Tom Corbett and his wife Susan can hardly wait to hear the pitter-patter of little paws at the Governor’s Residence. “We have two Airedale puppies coming. We’ve had Airedales, three of them so far. Right now I call them four and five,” Governor Tom Corbett tells us. Without names for the pups, the Corbetts are turning to the children of Pennsylvania for some assistance. “We’ve received a number of entries so far. There are some cute entries, and then there are some adults writing in as kids,” Corbett quipped.

Suggestions can be made online or mailed, but must be received by next Monday, July 25^th. The two kids who submit the winning puppy names will receive an autographed photo of the Governor, First Lady and “First Pets.”

Governor Corbett says there are a few names that are already out of the running: “Maggie was the first Airedale, Fergie was the second Airedale, and Daisy was the one that we had as Attorney General. She lived to be about ten and a half, and she died back in November of 2009.”

Appearing on “Ask the Governor,” Corbett discussed his dogs, both new and old. “It’s the largest terrier of the terrier breed. They’re black and tan. Right now, as puppies, they look like little black bears,” Corbett said of the Airedales. “They were messengers in World War I, they’re police dogs in England. They are great dogs; very loyal,” Corbett explained.

Airedales are also known as skilled hunters. “There won’t be any groundhogs at the Governor’s Residence, I can guarantee you that,” Corbett joked.

(Photo credit: Mary Bloom, copyright AKC)

Bill Would Regulate Non-farm Fertilizer to Improve Water Quality

July 18, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

A state senator who also chairs the Chesapeake Bay Commission has introduced a bill to set limits on non-farm fertilizers in Pennsylvania. Senator Mike Brubaker’s (R-Lanc) bill would require all professional fertilizer applicators to be certified, setting limits on applications to lawns, golf courses and athletic fields.

Brubaker says the science is perfectly clear, that when you apply the appropriate amount of fertilizer to commercial lawns and residential lawns, then water quality is improved. The goal is to reduce the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous in the water and ultimately the Bay. He says similar legislation has already been enacted in Maryland and New Jersey.

He says people’s fertilization habits don’t need to change if a soil test shows the turf needs nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. He says SB 1191 is aimed at getting the correct amount applied.

Senator Brubaker says they have been working with the professional lawn care industry in drafting the bill and they’re getting input from golf courses as well.

He says Pennsylvania and other states in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are under a federal court mandate to reduce the levels of pollution getting into the bay. He believes regulatory changes need to occur in some cases in order to allow the state to meet those limits.

Brubaker says they have to address how turf grass is fertilized, because the number one land use in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed is turf grass, including cemeteries, residential lawns, commercial lawns, golf courses and football fields.

The bill would not apply to farmers, who have been under nutrient management law for decades. It would also not apply to homeowners who are using fertilizer on their lawns. Senator Brubaker says they will attempt to deal with those residential applications through education.

Amish Population Grows… Especially in New York State

July 18, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

Nationally, the Amish population grew by about 10% over the past two years. But New York’s growth rate was three times that of any other state. “Pennsylvania for example… had a growth rate of 7%, in Wisconsin it was 10%, but New York was 31%,” says Don Kraybill, senior fellow in the Young Center for Anabaptist Studies at Elizabethtown College. “Over the last two years, there have been ten new geographical settlements of Amish that were founded in New York state,” Kraybill adds.

Why is the Empire State home to such rapid growth in Amish population? For one, it’s close to the Amish hubs of PA and OH. Kraybill also tells us that central New York is home to plenty of isolated, rural land. “In some of those areas, non-Amish farmers are interested in selling their farms or leaving the farms, so it’s possible to purchase farmland at fairly low cost.”

There are about 261,000 Amish living in 28 states. “In general the Amish population is on track to double about every 16-years or so,” Kraybill says. He assures us that Pennsylvania is still the biggest Amish state with about 61,000 adults and children. Meanwhile, New York has ascended to 5^th on that list, due to its recent growth.

About half of Pennsylvania’s Amish are in the Lancaster settlement. The other half are scattered across 54-different geographical communities throughout the state.

State Reminds Massage Therapists New Licensing Deadline is Approaching

July 16, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

The deadline is approaching for massage therapists to become licensed under the grandfather provision of state law. The Massage Therapy Law requires anyone practicing the therapy to be licensed.

Existing practitioners’ applications must be approved, not just submitted by December 30th, and turnaround will take some time. Anyone applying for licensure after the deadline must pass the state examination to become licensed, even if they already have all of the qualifications.

Katie True, Commissioner of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, says they’re working diligently to get applications processed. She says people being grandfathered in will have to submit paperwork with their applications.

True says they’ve already have a huge number of applications come in. They’ve had to put some extra staff on to properly review the paperwork. She says turnaround time can be anywhere from three to four weeks, so she recommends massage therapists start now in gathering their paperwork and submitting their applications.

For more information on licensing requirements, go online to dos.state.pa.us.

PennDOT to Hold Hearings on 12 Year Plan Update

July 16, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

Pennsylvanians are being asked to share their ideas on highway planning during a series of public hearings to update the state’s 12-year transportation program. The plan is updated every two years and is a “blueprint” of prioritized transportation projects.

PennDOT wants to hear what members of the public, local governments and county governments see as the top needs for transportation in their areas of the state. PennDOT is required by law to conduct the biennial process.

The hearings will be held August 11th in Altoona, August 25th in the Pittsburgh area, August 26th in Gettysburg, September 15th in Shawnee on Delaware, and September 16th in Philadelphia. Pre-registration is required for those who want to speak at a hearing. People can learn more about the hearings at PennDOT’s website.

Pennsylvania’s Education Secretary Expands Review of Standardized Test Results

July 16, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

After an examination of 2009 standardized test scores raised questions, the state Education Secretary is expanding his review. The forensic analysis conducted on the 2009 PSSA test results from around Pennsylvania raised questions about scores in nearly 3 dozen districts and some charter schools.

Education Secretary Ron Tomalis first ordered a review and follow up with the schools listed in it. The schools must investigate the reasons they were flagged and report back in 30 days.

Now, the secretary has ordered a review of all exams since 2009. Education department spokesman Tim Eller says a similar report will be conducted for the 2010 PSSA

State Education Secretary Ron Tomalis

tests. He says the contractor was already preparing the 2011 report and will add the 2010 report to its review.

Eller says the 2011 forensic review should be ready by the end of this month and the 2010 review is expected by mid-September.

Eller says the analysis of the 2010 PSSAs will result in an additional cost of $108,000. He says the secretary believes the integrity and security of the PSSAs is of paramount importance. He wants to ensure the results the state is getting from the tests, which are an indication of how students are performing and meeting state standards academically.

Eller says approximately 1.8 million tests are given statewide each year. He says it’s important to ensure there’s no misconduct going on with the tests. He says the secretary is very concerned with the results of the initial 2009 report, but adds it’s important to note that the report is not an indictment of cheating or misconduct being done.

Eller says having three years’ worth of analysis will give the department a trend of the schools that appear on the report for irregularities, and allow the department to focus on areas where there could be potential issues.

Governor Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Commission Endorses an Impact Fee

July 16, 2011/in News /by PAMatters

The Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission is recommending an impact fee that directs money to local governments to deal with the effects of drilling. Lt. Governor Jim Cawley, who headed the commission, says it does not recommend what the fee should look like or how it would be distributed. He says they believe that’s a matter that best resides in the legislative process.

Cawley says their charge from Governor Corbett was to determine whether or not there were uncompensated impacts that might require an impact fee. He says in some cases they found that there are. He says what that fee what look like is a matter for the administration and legislature to tackle.

Cawley called the report the “end of the beginning.” He says the document will be a recommendation to the Governor. No work begins until he says go. A final written version of the report based on Friday’s voting was being prepared to present to the Governor. It will be made public on July 22^nd.

The panel also recommended a new look at the 1961 law regulating gas extraction, to revisit language barring “forced pooling” of Marcellus gas. Patrick Henderson, the governor’s energy executive, says other formations are subject to pooling under that law, including the Utica Shale. Forced pooling could compel a landowner to lease out mineral rights if most of their neighbors have agreed to leases.

The report of the commission comes after a series of meetings that began in late March. The commission also made a number of other recommendations regarding

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley

emergency response and economic and workforce development related to the Marcellus Shale boom. A number of the recommendations will require legislative action.

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