Vol. II No. 52 (212)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
April 27, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
Muddy Waters
AS PHILA.’S most-heated City Council races in years shoot off sparks, slimeballs and dirty tricks are starting to surface in several contests.
Tartaglione Introduces Legislation To Protect Unemployed Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (DKensington) has introduced legislation intended to prevent as many as 135,000 laid-off workers from losing unemployment benefits. “The economic recovery has been strong on Wall Street, but slow on Main Street,” Tartaglione said. “Banks and large corporations are making money, but hiring hasn’t caught up. Protecting benefits for workers means protecting homes, families and entire communities.” Federally subsidized extended benefits are triggered by a state’s unemployment rate over a defined period of time, called a “lookback” period. Using a two-year look-back, Pennsylvania will not
qualify after May 21, and 45,000 Pennsylvanians would lose benefits on Jun. 11. An estimated 90,000 more would lose regular benefits and not qualify for extended benefits through the end of the year.
ment.
Tartaglione’s bill, SB 994, would make the technical change to Pennsylvania’s unemployment law to allow for the extension. If passed, Pennsylvania would join more than a dozen other states in extending the look-back period to three years, allowing thousands to keep their benefits as the job market begins to slowly recover. About 97% of the cost would be paid for by the federal govern-
“It’s important to remember that unemployment benefits don’t just provide income for jobless workers,” Tartaglione said. “The benefits sustain local businesses and local communities by keeping families solvent and in their homes. This bill would help ensure continued progress in the economic recovery.”
Tartaglione, the Democratic chair of the Senate Labor & Industry Committee, said she hopes the committee and the full Senate will move it quickly.
Josephs: Let Penna. Decide Who Can Pack Concealed Guns State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) has introduced a bill that would close the so-called “Florida gun loophole” by requiring Pennsylvania residents to obtain a Pennsylvania license in order to carry a concealed firearm. “While we cannot tell other states how to issue firearm licenses or to whom, we can do so in Pennsylvania for our own residents,” Josephs said. “This would serve to protect Commonwealth residents from violent individuals who abuse the current loophole in state law to legally carry guns with an out-of-state permit after being denied one in Pennsylvania. “Case after case has been documented in which a violent person is denied a permit in Pennsylvania and then successfully applies for a permit in another state, 2|
such as Florida. Law-abiding citizens don’t seek to circumvent the law like that,” she said. Josephs said her proposal would not affect gun-ownership rights, nor prevent residents of other states with permits from those states from legally carrying a concealed weapon in Pennsylvania. “It simply would ensure the Pennsylvania residents who are granted a license to carry have met the standards of our state and not the standards of another state that potentially could be less stringent.” The bill (HB 1309) has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review.
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Senatorial Duo Sees Growth At Navy Yard
SOMETIMES IT PAYS to be a Senator! Bob Casey, left, and Pat Toomey walk away from their Navy Yard inspection tour with Tasty-Kake gift boxes. Photo by Harry Leech US Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) toured the Philadelphia Navy Yard yesterday and met with representatives from the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. to discuss their ongoing economic development efforts. “The Navy Yard has experienced tremendous growth and I am pleased to see firsthand the progress being made to create jobs for workers in the region,” said Casey. “I look forward to helping the Navy Yard realize its full potential as a home for more than 20,000 workers and a hub for economic growth and innovation in Southeastern Pennsylvania.” 27 APRIL, 2011
“The Navy Yard helps attract and retain employers in Philadelphia, including companies such as GlaxoSmithKline. The pharmaceutical company was planning to leave Center City and move out of state until it learned of the opportunities available at the Navy Yard,” Toomey said. “Because of the Navy Yard, that high-tech employer remains in Philadelphia, and I hope the Navy Yard will continue to bring innovative companies to Pennsylvania.” The Navy Yard is a vital industrial and manufacturing hub and is home to over 80 companies as well as the Naval Ship Systems EngiTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
neering Station, an 1,800-person federal research lab that serves as the anchor of robust activity in technology and research and development at the Navy Yard. The Navy Yard is currently home to over 7,500 employees and will support more than 20,000 workers at full capacity. Last year, the US Dept. of Energy awarded a $122 million grant to a team led by Penn State University to create an Energy Innovation Hub at the Navy Yard to focus on developing technologies to make buildings more efficient.
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The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar Apr. 28Congressman Bob Brady and Sam Staten, Sr., host cocktail fundraiser for State Rep. Jewell Williams for Sheriff at Vesper Club, 233 Sydenham St., 5:308:30 p.m. Suggested donation $250. Apr. 28Robert Archie hosts Fundraiser for Councilman Darrell Clarke at Duane Morris, LLP, 30 S. 17th St., 5:30-7 p.m. Contributions $100/$$250/$500. Checks payable to Friends of Darrell Clarke. RSVP swilliams98@hotmail.com or (215) 631-4939 Apr. 28State Rep. John Taylor hosts Historical Site Cigar & Wine Tasting at Colonial Dames of Phila., 1630 Latimer St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. For info (215) 545-2244. Apr. 28Fundraiser for 1st Dist. Council Democrat candidate Mark Squilla at McFadden’s, Citizens Bank Pk., 5:30-7:30 p.m. For info (267)290-8836. Apr. 28Fundraiser for judicial candidate Vince Giusini at Galdo’s Catering, 1935 Moyamensing Ave., 5:30-8:30 p.m. Open bar, cigar bar, buffet, music. Minimum at door $100, 18-25 young adults $25. Make checks payable to Vince Giusini For Judge. Apr. 28Phila. Children’s Alliance Bear Affair at Crystal Tea Rm., 9th floor, Wanamaker Bldg., 6-9:30 p.m. Awards to be presented. For info Dennille Varney 1 (610) 5979092. Apr. 29State Rep. Rosita Youngblood hosts Senior Fair at NewCourtTHE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
land Life, 5457 Wayne Ave., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For info Rochelle (215) 849-6426. Apr. 29Friends of State Rep. Cherelle Parker hold Fish Fry at Champagne, 21 E. Chelten Ave., 5:30-8 p.m. Tickets $10. For info (215) 437-3925, ext. 202. Apr. 29S. Phila. Realty Board fundraiser for Barbara Capozzi, 2nd Dist. Council Democrat candidate at Galdo’s Catering, 20th & Moyamensing, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tickets $100. Open bar, buffet, food stations open all evening. For info (267) 888-6045. Apr. 29Fish Fry Fundraiser for City Commissioner candidate Michael Bell at Scotty’s Bar, 1420 Ellsworth St., 6-10 p.m. Tickets $10. For info Kajet Washington (267) 253-6970 or Julius Bell (215) 380-9709. Apr. 2959th Ward Dem Committee holds Pre-Primary Beef, Turkey & Beer at Elks Lodge, 210 E. Haines St. Donation $15. Apr. 29Fundraiser hosted by Dan Pellicciotti for Judge Sean Kennedy at Keenan’s in Roxborough. SOLD OUT! Apr. 29Ed Rendell Is special guest at Fundraiser for Joe Grace at Pyramid Club, 52nd fl., 1735 Market St., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Guest $250, Sponsor $2,600, Host $1,000, Supporter $500. Apr. 29-302011 Libertarian Party State Convention at Conference Ctr., 1411 Liberty St., Franklin, Pa. 27 APRIL, 2011
City Employees Take Their Kids To Work Tomorrow City Representative Melanie Johnson will welcome children and representatives/mentors from City of Philadelphia departments and agencies tomorrow morning at 9:30 in the Mayor’s Reception Room, City Hall 202 to kick off the annual “Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day”. The City of Philadelphia’s participation in “Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day” marks the ninth year since young males were added to this international initiative coordinated by the Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Foundation. Youngsters will team up and shadow employees from City departments and agencies during the work day. This year’s nationally adopted theme is “Invent The Future.”
These youth-mentoring components reflect the City’s focus on providing growth opportunities for children and youth. Since 1993, employers from the government and private sector have opened their doors and given young people, ages 8 to 18, an introduction to the work world through this highly regarded mentoring initiative. City departments and organizations actively participate in this career day by planning a program that introduces visiting young people (usually daughters, sons or other relatives) to their workplaces and by providing an opportunity to work one-on-one with staff members in a professional environment.
Pa. Bar Ass’n’s Constitutional Review Schedules Public Hearings Public hearings to examine Pennsylvania’s judiciary and legislative reapportionment process will be held in Philadelphia on May 4 as part of a thorough review of the State’s Constitution by subcommittees of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Constitutional Review Commission. The hearings will take place at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute Conference Center, 100 Penn Square East, 10th floor, Suite 1010. “These hearings are valuable opportunities for citizens to provide information that will help shape the subcommittee’s recommendations to improve the structure and operation of government in the commonwealth,” said PBA President Gretchen A. Mundorff. “If the members of the commission’s committees conclude that changes are needed based on public input and members’ own findings, they will offer suggestions for enacting legislation, amending the state’s Constitution or convening a Constitutional Convention.” “It’s important we hear all points of view during the hearing process,” said James Gardner Colins, a former Commonwealth Court president judge and Philadelphia lawyer who is chairing the commission. “The constitutional scholars, practicing lawyers, sitting judges and public policy experts serving on our commission want to take a broad view and consider the multitude of ideas and opinions that could im27 APRIL, 2011
prove our Commonwealth.” The Legislative Reapportionment Subcommittee is holding a hearing from 10 a.m. to noon on May 4. Scheduled speakers include Lora Lavin, League of Women Voters, and Jeffery Albert, Jewish Social Policy Action Network. The subcommittee is seeking input on the following issues: problems in past reapportionments specific individual or organizational injuries claimed to be created by Pennsylvania’s constitutional reapportionment provisions how reapportionment problems or injuries can be cured by changing the Pennsylvania Constitution by amendment or convention how reapportionment problems would be cured by adopting a non-partisan reapportionment process The Judiciary Subcommittee is holding a hearing from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on May 4. Scheduled speakers include Hon. Phyllis W. Beck, Jewish Social Policy Action Network; Charlotte Glauser, League of Women Voters; John Robinson, Justice at Stake; and Lynn Marks, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. The subcommittee is seeking input on the following issues:
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the judicial conduct system, including reporting judicial officials protecting confidences and insuring quick and thorough investigations judicial selection and financing judicial campaigns representation of the indigent, including juveniles funding Pennsylvania’s courts so as to guarantee an effective judiciary In addition to the judiciary and leg-
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islative reapportionment subcommittees, there are subcommittees of the PBA commission examining public education, the taxation and uniformity clause, the structure of the General Assembly and local government. These subcommittees are also holding public hearings. In early 2012, the commission will submit a report to the association’s House of Delegates, which sets the association’s policies, for review
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
and possible action. For more information on the PBA Constitutional Review Commission, consult the webpages at www.pabarcrc.org. or contact Lindsay Still, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 100 South Street, PO Box 186, Harrisburg, PA 17108, lindsay.still@pabar.org.
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