LEGISLATIVE WRAP: Heard On The Hill

OLDEST roadway bridge in continuous use, Pennypack Creek Bridge, was dedicated by this high-power group. From left are Congressman Bob Brady, State Rep. John Sabatina and State Sen. Michael Stack. Photo by Bill Myers.

STACK CALLS CITY TAXES ‘NATIONAL JOKE’

Calling the City of Philadelphia “a national joke” on property-tax collection, State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) has again called on Mayor Michael Nutter to focus on collecting delinquent property-taxes rather than continue to pursue the Mayor’s Actual Value Initiative property-tax overhaul plan.

Stack sent a letter to the Mayor addressing his concerns over Nutter’s pursuit to grant more authority to the City to pursue the Mayor’s property-tax reassessment, which Stack said will hurt working, middle-class taxpayers. “His idea to grant more authority to a City incapable of collecting the taxes already owed is at best premature, at worst absurd,” said Stack.

In his letter, Stack said, “Philadelphia is a national joke with a property-tax collection rate at barely 80%. This means simply that one out of every five property owners in Philadelphia is not paying property taxes at all. No other major American city has a collection rate that low.”

He said, “We should not consider AVI legislation until we act and collect those unpaid property taxes. This is paramount in order to create accountability, fiscal responsibility and to realize our true tax rate estimates.”

Stack authored legislation (SB 1505) that would prohibit the City of Philadelphia from increasing property taxes if the city’s property tax collection rate is less than 95%. He plans to introduce this legislation again next year.

LEGISLATURE OKAYS PROPERTY-TAX MEASURE

For his part, State Rep. John Taylor (R-Kensington) lauded a move by the General Assembly which he said “will protect the residents of Philadelphia from an enormous and unintended tax increase.” It addresses the collection of property taxes in the City of Philadelphia.

Taylor explained the General Assembly acted to protect the residents of Philadelphia from an enormous and unintended tax increase. “With implementation of the AVI, city residents were facing significant tax increases because state law does not permit the City to reduce the millage rate it collects to fund the School District of Philadelphia.”

Mayor Michael Nutter also welcomed the passage of this measure, HB 1857. He said, “I am very pleased with the action that was taken by the House of Representatives and Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I particularly want to thank the Philadelphia delegation in those bodies for their efforts on this matter, and the leaders of the delegation, State Rep. Cherelle Parker and State Sen. Shirley Kitchen. Equally important to the passage of this measure was the coordinated manner in which my Administration, City Council President Darrell Clarke and School Reform Commission Chair Pedro Ramos worked together to advocate for this bill.”

SABATINA’S REINVESTMENT MOVE AIDS CRIME FIGHT

The Governor has approved a measure introduced by State Rep. John Sabatina (D-Northeast) which will reinvest savings from the recently enacted prison-reform law, Act 112, and streamline Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency processes.

HB 135 authorizes the reinvestment of 25% of the savings under Act 112 to programs that would further help public-safety efforts and lower rates of recidivism. The measure reinvests funds to the PCCD, Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, Dept. of Corrections, Board of Probation & Parole and county probation improvements.

unds issued to the PCCD will be used for a statewide victim notification system, victim-service data collection and for programs for victims of juvenile offenders.

WASHINGTON HOLDS 5TH DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE WALK

State Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Northwest) will lead her 5th annual Walk to End Domestic Violence.

The walk – which is held in conjunction with Women Against Abuse, Women in Transition, Lutheran Settlement House and Congreso – will take place this Saturday, beginning along W. River Drive from Art Museum. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:30 a.m.

“Domestic violence is one of society’s last taboo subjects, and one in every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes,” said Washington, who is a survivor of domestic violence.

All proceeds from this event will go directly to funding Philadelphia’s only Domestic Violence Hotline (1-866-723-3014). Women and men can anonymously call this number and receive assistance in working through the emotional and physical pain, finding a shelter, and working through the day-to-day issues that happen in the wake of leaving a violent situation.

“Online registration couldn’t be easier, and just $5 per walker can help us keep the lines open to women in need,” the Senator concluded.

STACK BILLS MOVE THROUGH ASSEMBLY

Two bills by State Sen. Michael Stack are moving rapidly through the General Assembly.

One is designed to end the growing epidemic of methadone abuse. It creates a Methadone Death & Incident Review Team within the Pennsylvania Dept. of Health. This team would conduct reviews for all deaths where methadone was either a primary or secondary cause of death and would develop best practices to prevent future methadone-related deaths.

The other is a measure to improve protections from hit-and-run incidents which received overwhelming approval from the Senate Transportation Committee. SB 782 would provide a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison and a minimum $1,000 fine for individuals who are convicted of knowingly leaving the scene of a car crash that results in the serious bodily injury of another motorist, passenger, and/or pedestrian. The mandatory minimum sentence and fine are increased to three years and $2,500 if a victim dies.

BISHOP WORKS TO RESTORE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop said she and her staff are working to help restore Medical Assistance benefits to those whose benefits were wrongly terminated.

According to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Public Welfare, beginning in late October or early November, DPW will send a letter on blue paper to approximately 100,000 individuals statewide who were terminated from MA in the past year. The letter will include instructions on how to expedite reinstatement of their benefits. Individuals will have 30 days to fill out the form and return it to DPW.

Applicants are encouraged to also submit pay stubs of anyone in the household who works, unpaid medical bills from the time Medical Assistance was terminated or receipts from medical bills paid while they didn’t have Medical Assistance.

Bishop said she encourages constituents to come to her office for assistance with this process. In July 2011, DPW announced it would be sending out redeterminations packets to thousands who were overdue for redetermination. Since then, there has been a significant increase in individuals losing MA, including approximately 90,000 children.

“I want the community to know that my staff and I are available to help restore the medical benefits they need and deserve,” Bishop said. “This was an unnecessary hurdle that put the health of many people, including children, in jeopardy. I am glad DPW is working to restore the benefits to those who are entitled to them.”

THOMAS FIGHTS TRASH DUMPING IN N. PHILA.

State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas (D-N. Phila.) is calling on the City to provide greater oversight of construction sites in North Philadelphia. North Philadelphia has been the target of illegal short dumping by construction companies working on projects around Temple University.

A report recently released by the City Controller documents how the dumping of construction debris and other pollution are endangering the health and quality of life of residents in North Philadelphia. “I applaud Controller Alan Butkovitz on his report and sympathize with residents who are being affected,” said Thomas, whose district includes Temple University east of Broad Street. “I was riding through Carlisle Street one day and personally witnessed contractors pouring concrete debris into the sewer. I have also seen construction debris dumped on lots throughout North Philadelphia.”

TARTAGLIONE HELPED HISPANIC MONTH

State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione’s (D-Kensington) efforts gave Latinos an impetus as they celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. The designation aligned the state with national Hispanic Heritage Month and recognized the growing contributions of Hispanic Americans including profound success in business, government and military service.

HOUSE ADOPTS 2 WATERS RESOLUTIONS

The State House has adopted two resolutions introduced by State Rep. Ronald G. Waters (D-W. Phila.)

The first resolution honors the life of business leader, attorney, author and historian Dr. Edward W. Robinson, Jr. “While it would seem that a historian with a life goal to uncover the truths about a forgotten past would be preoccupied with the ancient, Robinson proved throughout his life that he was equally concerned with the present and future progression of people of African descent as he was with the past,” Waters said.

The second resolution recognizes Aug. 27, 2012 as “LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Day” in Pennsylvania, in honor of an African American aviation hero of 9/11. Homer piloted Flight 93 on Sep. 11, 2001, and he is credited for being amongst the first to offer resistance against the hijackers who sought to crash the plane into a high profile target in Washington D.C.

STATE SENATE APPROVES FARNESE GUN  BILL

In what State Sen. Larry Farnese  called a victory for public safety, the Pennsylvania Senate, in a 49-to-0 vote, sent legislation (HB 898) that stiffens penalties for straw gun purchases to the State House. Farnese said, “This is good legislation and I pledge to continue to do all I can to make our streets and communities free from gun violence and illegal guns.”

HB 898 mandates a five-year minimum sentence for any person convicted of making more than one illegal firearm transfer or sale. Farnese introduced SB 1028, a measure similar to HB 898, which was universally supported by the public-safety and law-enforcement communities.

YOUNGBLOOD, DONATUCCI HONOR ARLEN SPECTER

State Rep. Rosita C. Youngblood (D-Northwest) has introduced a House resolution noting the many achievements of the late Arlen J. Specter. Specter, who passed away Oct. 14, was a constituent of Youngblood, who crafted HR 935 in conjunction with fellow State Rep. Maria Donatucci (D-S. Phila.).

The resolution notes Specter “was a principled statesman who through his courage and determination did much for Pennsylvania and this country” in a 30-year Senate career spanning 1980 through 2011.

SENATORS TARGET CORBETT’S JOBLESS NUMBERS

State Sens. Jay Costa, Vincent Hughes and Christine Tartaglione are looking ahead as they held a media teleconference to discuss Pennsylvania’s recently released unemployment figures for the month of September, which has the rate at 8.2%, 0.1% higher than last month’s figures.

Sen. Hughes said, “the picture we have right now is Pennsylvania is unequivocally going in the wrong direction economically.”

Tartaglione said the jobs tailspin has occurred in the 19 months of the Corbett administration with Pennsylvania falling from seventh to 38th in new job creation. She added the unemployment rate is now above the national average with Pennsylvania losing dramatic ground while the Commonwealth’s bond and credit rating have dropped.

CITY COUNCIL, INDUSTRY LEADERS SHARE GOALS

Philadelphia City Council hosted industry leaders in the Greater Philadelphia region, reaching out to share their vision of a more-innovative and vibrant urban economy in an economic summit.

Council President Darrell L. Clarke praised the business leaders for their commitment to an economic environment that would benefit Philadelphians from all walks of life. “It has been exciting to view the progress made in sectors including health care, high technology and hospitality,” Clarke said. “But there is no denying Philadelphia could become far more competitive, domestically and internationally, than it currently is. Neither the private sector nor government can ensure that potential is realized on its own. We need to keep talking to each other and working together.”

“Following this economic summit, it is clear we must focus on increasing Philadelphia’s competitive advantage,” said Council Minority Leader Brian J. O’Neill. “We have to make our city more desirable for families and businesses in order to grow our local economy.”

GOODE KEEPS EYE ON CITY BANKS

When City Council approved Councilman at Large W. Wilson Goode, Jr.’s Responsible Banking Review Committee Bill, it marked Goode’s 80th act to become law. This Committee will aid Council in enforcing Goode’s Fair Lending & Community Reinvestment Ordinance, which requires City depository banks to annually submit goals for lending in low- and moderate-income communities, as well as a long-term strategic plan to address any lending disparities disclosed in an annual study.

BASS PUSHES POLICE, PARKS COOPERATION

Eighth Dist. Councilwoman Cindy Bass, Chair of Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs, introduced two ordinances to compel the Parks & Recreation Dept. to provide an annual report of crimes which occur on parkland and in recreation centers.

“We are able to fight crime more efficiently when we have better data,” said the Councilwoman. “In order to prevent crime in our parks and recreation centers, we must first establish the scope of the problem.” The ordinances, she stated, are products of a recent hearing held by her committee on crime in recreation centers which, during this past summer, reached a fever pitch with several violent crimes taking place therein.

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