Friday, May 10, 2013
PA governor declares May as a safety month.
Warm weather brings us nicer days at the park, the season's sports and longer days of sunshine. With them also comes an increase of another sight and sound of spring. Motorcycles are out more than ever, as clear weather is a welcome mat for area riders. "With the increasing popularity of motorcycling in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett has signed a proclamation commemorating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month," said Jan McKnight, of PA Internet News Service, said in a recent release. To bring the issue of such safety measures more into the Commonwealth's citizens' eyes, the governor Act, which was passed in 2012, reminds drivers to be careful. "Motorcycle safety was emphasized with Corbett's signing of Act 84 of 2012, which …
Saturday, May 4, 2013
PennDOT reminds drivers to share the road.
- GOVERNMENT
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Saturday, May 4
With the increasing popularity of motorcycling in Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Corbett has signed a proclamation commemorating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Motorcycle safety was emphasized with Corbett's signing of Act 84 of 2012, which requires motorcycle permit holders under 18 years of age to take and successfully complete the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program's (PAMSP) Basic Rider Course (BRC) in order to receive their license.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
State's governor says some are unemployed because they've taken illegal drugs.
Pennsylvania's governor has a new explanation for high unemployment rates. He says many of the unemployed can't pass a simple drug test. In a recent radio talk show, Gov. Tom Corbett said that while some of the state's issue with unemployment is a result of training for the new century's jobs, another has to do with applicants' abilities to pass a drug test. "We can't find anybody that has passed a drug test in a while," Corbett told PAMatters.com that employers have explained to him. Corbett relayed this on its live show. The governor said it is a "serious problem." According to ThinkProgress.org, the "number of people working in Pennsylvania tumbled by about 14,000 in March, following a drop of 6,000 in February."
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Don't count the county commissioner out just yet.
As Patch has previously reported, Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor is still undecided on whether to run or not in the 2014 Pennsylvania governor race. Castor's run against current Republican Gov. Tom Corbett once before, and it is unclear if he'll make a run in the coming year's primary. According to TribLive.com, Castor may want a rematch of the 2004 attorney general primaries. Castor told the Trib "he doesn't want the GOP to repeat the mistake it made in 2006 by backing then-Sen. Rick Santorum for re-election." "Castor, 51, called Corbett a 'ham-handed' politician who has failed to deliver on a conservative agenda," said the Trib. "He said Corbett blew his opportunity to push through conservative priorities, such as a right-to…
Monday, April 8, 2013
Multiple media outlets reporting Schwartz has filed to run in 2014 on Monday.
We've been hearing the rumors for months, but it is finally official. U.S. Rep. Alyson Schwartz filed paperwork today to run for governor in 2014. According to philly.com, Schwartz said she hopes to beat out current Gov. Tom Corbett and his “failed leadership” that "has crippled the Pennsylvania economy in a competitive world." “He’s just missing in action most of the time,” Schwartz, of Montgomery County, said in an interview with philly.com. Schwartz told the online news source the state’s unemployment rate "has been well above the national average during Corbett’s term." “What I’m hearing from people around the state is that they know we need a fresh perspective about the economy and growth,” she said. According to The Hill, Schwartz "…
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Corbett meets with PA leaders, still undecided in action.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, April 3
Though he met much of the day with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Gov. Tom Corbett is still undecided on an action. He is facing a decision to expand Medicaid in the state of Pennsylvania under the Affordable Care Act, though many area politicians do not think he should. Montgomery County Commissioner, and possible future contender for governor in the state, Bruce Castor told PoliticsPA.com that he wants Corbett to reject the current plan, though the publication says "he has expressed support for a private insurer-based option." The governor's office released a press release Wednesday indicating no change has been decided upon at this time. “Corbett indicated that he will await further information from HHS and that …
Local judge is taking the required retirement age to task.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, April 3
If you've served jury duty in Montgomery County, there's a pretty good chance you've met long-time Montgomery County Judge Arthur Tilson. He speaks to most all jurors before selections begin. Tilson, however, may sit on the other side of the courtroom come May. Tilson is taking Gov. Tom Corbett to court over a "retirement mandate," according to PennLive.com. "They are arguing that it violates their civil rights under the U.S. and state constitutions," said PennLive.com. "Last week, the state Supreme Court agreed to hear and fast-track one of those cases filed by [Tilson]. The state's highest court is to hear arguments on the Tilson case in May." A federal judge is allowing the Pennsylvania Supreme Court the first hearing to decide "…
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
As Gov. Tom Corbett's plan is discussed in Harrisburg to privatize the liquor business, one state senator calls liquor a 'core service of the government.'
Did you know that Pennsylvania and Utah are the only states in the country with fully state-controlled liquor systems? Governor Tom Corbett spoke to Harrisburg last week on his plan to privatize the liquor system. He discussed his plan to "sell the state liquor business to help fund public education with a grant known as the Passport for Learning Block Grant," according to the YourErie.com website. "He wants to get Pennsylvania out of a business he says it doesn't belong in. It's one time revenue he says will total $1 billion," said the site. State Senator Sean Wiley (D-Erie) told the press he doesn't agree with the governor's plan. He says he "doesn't like the idea of tying our education system to privatization of our core services." …
Sunday, February 17, 2013
An extension filed through Friday will allow Corbett more time to consider options.
Gov. Tom Corbett's chance to accept a bid from a British firm to manage the Pennyslvania lottery was about to run out. Had it not extended its offer, the firm's $3.5-billion bid would have expired Saturday at 5 p.m. According to 6ABC, a "top budget aide to Gov. Tom Corbett" has announced the extension. The extra time is designed to allow Corbett's office more time to consider options. The changes come on the heels of last week's announcement by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane who rejected Corbett' initial plan. "It is our duty to defend and protect the Constitution of our Commonwealth and that is what our office has done by declining this contract," Kane said on Friday. "She said the contract infringes on the Legislature's …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Could privatizing the lottery mean fewer people will play?
Pennsylvanians do not want their lottery to be privatized, as Gov. Tom Corbett is proposing, according to a new Franklin & Marshall College Poll. The poll found that 47 percent of those polled strongly opposed the privatization with 17 somewhat opposing it. Only 7 percent were strongly in favor with 11 percent being somewhat in favor of the move. Most people polled, 75 percent, said they would play the lottery about the same amount as they do now if it were privatized, but a not insignificant number of people, 19 said they would play less frequently. The Franklin & Marshall College Poll interviewed 622 Pennsylvania voters between January 29 and February 3. The margin of error is reported as plus or minus 3.9 percentage points. A recent …
Spud
10:14 pm on Tuesday, May 14, 2013
How about reminding Motorcyclists to follow traffic laws? When we are 20 cars deep stuck at a red light, they should have to stay in lane like the rest of us instead of flying up on the shoulder and bypassing any traffic jam they want. If you want to share the road like you are a car, then act like it! Last summer on 202 in KOP I was right next to a motocyslists who was hit by a car for this very… more ›