Philadelphia Daily Record

3ol. II No. 170 (330)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

October 28, 2011

Philadelphia Daily Record

Home At Last GOV. TOM CORBETT ordered US and Pennsylvania flags at Capitol Complex in Harrisburg to fly at half-staff tomorrow to honor two World War II airmen whose remains were recently returned to United States. One was Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Karaso, of Phila., who died in April 1944 when his plane went down during an Allied bombing raid over Germany. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

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Oct. 27State Sen. Larry Farnese hosts annual Senior Expo at Fels S. Phila.

Community Ctr., 2407 S. Broad St., 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free health screenings, refreshments. Seating limited. RSVP (215) 592-3121.

Oct. 27Weatherization & Foreclosure Conference hosted by State Reps.

Mark B. Cohen and Jewell Williams at St. William’s Parish, Robbins & Argyle, 5-8 p.m.

Oct. 27Pre-Election celebration sponsored

by Shawn Dillon’s 66A Ward at Chickie’s & Pete’s, 11000 Roosevelt Blvd., 6-9 p.m. Tickets $35.

For info (215) 637-6360.

Oct. 27Fundraiser for Council candidate Al Taubenberger hosted by State Rep. John J. Taylor and Bill Moran at Katie O’Donnell’s, 4501 Woodhaven Rd., 6-8 p.m. $150. For info (267) 507-4282.

Oct. 2845th Anniversary Celebration of Black Panther Party at Hilton Phila. City Ave. Hotel, 4200 City Line Ave., 6-11 p.m. Bobby Seale, keynote speaker. Tickets $65.

Hosted by National Alumni Association of BPP. Call (215) 7870857 or Clarence (215) 276-4453.

Sunday free to public 1-4 p.m. workshops.

Oct. 28Donna Aument’s 33rd Ward super Halloween Party at Juniata G. C., M & Cayuga Sts., 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

Beef & Beer, BYOB, costumes optional. Tickets $25. Inviting all Democrat and Republican candidates. For reservation or ticket info Donna (215) 427-1645.

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Oct. 29Phila. Federation of Young Republicans hosts candidates meeting with GOP leaders from 2nd, 5th, 8th, 14th, 27th and 30th Wards at St. Michael Russian Orthodox Ch., 335 Fairmount Ave., 10 a.m.

Oct. 30Fundraiser for 1st Dist. Council candidate Mark Squilla at Shooting Stars Club, 1931 S. 3rd St., 26 p.m. Platinum host $1,000, Host $500, Sponsor $100, Friend $35.

RSVP (267) 290-8836.

Oct. 31Democrat City Committee throws Autumn Cocktail party at Penn’s Landing Caterers, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets $150. RSVP by Oct. 21. For info (215) 241-7804.

Nov. 1Republican City Committee Fall Cocktail Party at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd., 6-8 p.m. Tickets $125. For info Republican City Committee (215) 561-0650.

Nov. 1Latinos for David Oh at Orlando’s Gallery, 433 W. Girard Ave. Contribution $100, $250 or $500. For info Eunice Lee (215) 561-2000 or elee@zarwin.com.

Nov. 2OpportunitiesPA hosts fundraiser with National Homeless Youth Awareness Month at Univ. City Science Ctr., 3711 Market St., 5-9 p.m. Ticket $30. For info (215) 779-6827.

Nov. 3tate Rep. Louise Williams Bishop hosts Energy Workshop & Lunch at Calvary Baptist Ch., 6122 Haverford Ave., 11 a.m.-1 p.m. For info (215) 879-6625.

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Senate Passes School-Voucher Bill By a 27-22 vote, the state Senate passed a school-voucher plan targeted to low-income children attending poor-performing schools.

The vote on the plan, co-sponsored

by State Sens. Jeffrey Piccola (RDauphin) and Anthony Williams (D-W. Phila.), followed a more than four-hour debate. It now goes to the House for consideration where support remains uncertain for a taxpayer-funded voucher to allow students to attend another public or a private school where they are accepted.

“This is a victory for children and families across Pennsylvania.

Families should not suffer because their local school is not providing their child with a quality education,” Williams said. “With the Senate’s passage of this bill, these families are one step closer to freeing themselves from the trap of failing education.”

SenSB1 would allow families in low-achieving public schools to take the State tax dollars devoted to their child and apply them to the public or non-public school of their choice.

State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.) expressed his dismay at Senate approval of the legislation.

“The voucher plan will make the financial problems of the Philadelphia School District and other struggling districts across the state that much worse,” Hughes said.

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“The financial burden of this plan will strain the budgets of school districts and cost taxpayers millions.”

His colleague Christine Tartaglione agreed in opposing the measure. “Instead of students choosing schools, schools will choose students. The unchosen will be children with disabilities, children with learning disorders, children with language barriers and children trapped in unstable families,” she said. “In a school system marred by inequality, the Senate today created more.”

Advocates of school choice were thrilled by passage of the measure, which marks the first success of a campaign they have waged in Pennsylvania for two generations.

If the legislation passes the House, the new voucher program would make Pennsylvania the 11th state to enact or expand a private school choice program this year.

“The Senate, backed by the leadership of Sens. Williams and Piccola, has taken an important step towards greater educational equality for Pennsylvania kids,” said Betsy DeVos, chairman of American Federation for Children, which is urging the House to pass the bill. “We’re grateful for their hard work, but now the responsibility rests with the House to make sure that it hasn’t been in vain.”

panded to students who live in the districts containing the state’s worst-performing schools. By the seventh year, all students in schools that rank in the bottom half of state math and reading exams would be eligible for the program.

There are already more than 42,000 low-income students participating in the EITC Program, currently the lone private-school choice offering in the Keystone State.

If the measure survives the House, it will be signed into law. Gov. Tom Corbett has already thanked members of the State Senate for passing it.

“I want to commend the members of the State Senate for passing a strong education-reform package that will help improve opportunities for thousands of school children throughout Pennsylvania,’’ Corbett said.

Earlier this month, Corbett outlined his plan for education reform, including providing opportunity scholarships to low-income students in low-performing schools, enhancing educational improvement tax credits, strengthening the Charter School Law and ensuring accountability through rigorous teacher evaluations.

By the second year of the voucher program, eligibility would be ex-

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JEC Chairman Casey Comments On 3rd Quarter GDP US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chairman of the US Congress Joint Economic Committee, released the following statement after the announcement from the Bureau of Economic Analysis that Gross Domestic Product grew by 2.5% in the third quarter of 2011: “The third-quarter economic growth announced this morning is a welcome improvement from the extremely slow growth we had in the first half of the year. Even so, economic growth is not as strong as we would like to see, and it is clear Washington must focus on passing legislation that will provide businesses with

the incentives necessary to add employees and help grow our economy. We need to continue to focus on creating good jobs and strengthening our economy.

“This is why I have introduced the Small Business Job Creation Tax Credit Act of 2011, which creates a one-year, quarterly payroll tax credit that provides businesses incentives to add more jobs and to reverse cuts in salaries and worker hours. This will help tip the balance toward boosting payroll for hundreds of thousands of businesses nationwide, while getting more Americans back to work.

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fort possible to create an environment that will foster stronger economic growth.”

House Speaker Testifies In Computergate Case Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Sam Smith distanced himself yesterday from any direct knowledge of the use of taxpayerfunded, high-tech services for House Republican campaign purposes.

Smith, who had signed off on a series of the contracts in question as House Majority Leader, testified he did ask questions about the deals on several occasions, and was assured by Brian Preski, former chief of staff to then-Speaker John Perzel, they had been reviewed by lawyers and “everything checked out.”

Fattah Announces $1.7 Million For CHOP Congressman Chaka Fattah (DPhila.), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and a Congressional leader for medical training, care and research, announced yesterday Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is receiving $1,725,830 to train pediatric residents.

The training grant comes from the US Dept. of Health & Human Service under the Children’s Graduate Medical Education Program.

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27 OCTOBER, 2011

“These federal resources are critical to CHOP and its mission as one the world’s best children’s hospitals,” Fattah said. “I’ve been lead-

ing the charge for funding CHOP’s medical training program for more than a decade. This grant will allow for future well-trained prac-

titioners who can provide excellent care to young people in Philadelphia and across the nation.”

Lawmakers Hail Success Of Divestment Act Sponsors and proponents of the Protecting Pennsylvania’s Investments Act, which was enacted a year ago, are highlighting the successes of the act in its first year.

The Office of the State Treasurer released the first comprehensive report on the outcomes of the Act. State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast), the prime sponsor of the authorizing legislation, reported Pennsylvania joined 29 other states with its enactment of the Act, which requires Pennsylvania’s three major public pension plans to

divest from companies that have major business activities in Sudan or Iran.

According to the report, 10 have already ceased operations in Sudan and/or Iran and are no longer prohibited investments by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; six companies have declared they plan to, or are in the process of, ceasing their involvement with these regimes in order to avoid divestment; and two prospective companies for investing have been removed from the scrutiny list.

Goode Finally Nets Sick Leave Bill Councilman W. Wilson Goode, Jr.’s Earned Sick Leave Standard Bill is now law. This ordinance will add an earned sick leave requirement to his Living Wage and Benefits Law. Covered employers shall provide to each full-time, non-temporary, non-seasonal covered employee a number of earned sick leave days.

also mandates that if the employer provides healthcare benefits to any of its employees, the employer shall provide each full-time employee healthcare benefits at least as valuable as the basic healthcare benefits that are provided to the employer’s other full-time employees. There is an exemption for small businesses.

Goode’s Living Wage and Benefits Law already requires those City-supported employers to pay at least 150% of the federal minimum wage to its employees. It

Three other Goode bills are also law now, based on mayoral action.

Occupy Philly To Parade Before Bill Clinton Occupy Philadelphia will march Saturday from City Hall at 12:30 p.m. and proceed to Temple Uni27 OCTOBER, 2011

versity, where former President Bill Clinton will be speaking at a political rally. Today’s brain will THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

help clean up their act.

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City GOP Buzzes With Action IN AN ODD election season when all important contests in Phila. are on Republican side, activists are furiously hobnobbing and fundraising. At Racquet Club last night, city’s Republican Party of Penna. drew a passel of major players to its soirée, including, from left, Realtor and former candidate John Featherman, former congressional candidate Rick Hellberg, Council at-Large candidate Mike Untermeyer, Loyal Opposition organizer Kevin Kelly, Penna. Manufacturers Association leader Fred Anton and 5th Ward Leader Mike Cibik.

MEANWHILE, two blocks away at office of Montgomery McCracken on Broad Street, another Council at-Large aspirant, Greater N.E. Phila. Chamber of Commerce head Al Taubenberger, left, received firm support from a gathering of business leaders, among them Joe Mahoney, executive VP for Greater Phila. Chamber of Commerce. Taubenberger vowed to lobby insistently for a business-friendly climate on City Council.

Philly Wins National Rank As ‘Citizen-Engaged’ The City of Philadelphia was named by the Public Technology Institute as one of the top “citizenengaged communities” in the nation. PTI recognizes cities each year that demonstrate excellence in engaging citizens and are evaluated in four key areas: citizen participation processes, integrated communication channels, integrated technology and perform6|

ance reporting. Philadelphia was selected for programs including the establishment of the 311 Call Center, multiple language support through the Global Philadelphia Language Access Program, utilization of social media, and multiple self-service options such as SERVE Philadelphia, a website which links volunteers to volunteer opportunities.

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“Philadelphians have always been eager to be involved in their government,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “Over the past four years, we have created multiple new avenues for Philadelphians to report complaints, suggest solutions and to volunteer their time to make Philadelphia safer, cleaner and healthier.”

27 OCTOBER, 2011

Roebuck Welcomes Richmond’s Mayor STATE REP. JIM ROEBUCK welcomed Richmond, Va. Mayor Dwight C. Jones who was keynote speaker at 129th anniversary service of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in W. Phila. Jones also serves as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of S. Richmond. Jones, a native Philadelphian, is an alumnus of Virginia Union University, as is Roebuck. They have been friends since their college days.

Jones, like his friend, has also served in State legislature.

Photo by Bonnie Squires

Montco Dems Throw House Party DR. WALTER HOFMAN, Montgomery Co. incumbent Coroner, hosted a house party for Cheryl Austin, Esq., candidate for Common Pleas Court there.

Seen here chatting before presentations are, from left, Will Holt, candidate for Sheriff; Linda Hee, candidate for Recorder of Deeds; Commissioner Joe Hoeffel, special guest; Cheryl Austin, Esq., guest of honor; and Dr. Hofman. Photo by Bonnie Squires 27 OCTOBER, 2011

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State Police Will Take Back Unused Drugs – But Not In Philly The Pennsylvania State Police will accept unwanted, expired and unused prescription drugs this Saturday, Oct. 29, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. “The purpose of ‘Drug Take Back Day’ is to raise awareness of the problem with prescription-drug abuse and give consumers an opportunity to safely discard of unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs,” State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said, noting the effort helps to keep controlled substances from falling into the wrong hands.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., unwanted prescription medications may be dropped off at select State Police barracks. No personal information

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is required for drop-off.

But although Philadelphia is by far the largest County in Pennsylvania, its 1.5 million residents can’t do it here. The closest drop-off barracks are in Media, Delaware Co. (1342 W. Baltimore Pike) and in Schwenksville, Montgomery Co. (2047C Bridge Road).

Noonan said the program, conducted in partnership with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, addresses a vital public-safety and public-health issue. More than 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, according to a 2009 national survey.

Each day, approximately 2,500 teens use prescription drugs to get

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high for the first time, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including home medicine cabinets.

“Because of the great success with the first two National Prescription Take Back Days, the DEA has asked us to partner with them again on this national one-day effort,” Noonan said.

During the second Take Back Day last April, in just Pennsylvania and Delaware alone, more than 12 tons of unused and unwanted pharmaceutical drugs were collected and kept from misuse.

27 OCTOBER, 2011