Vol. II No. 192. (352)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
December 2, 2011
Philadelphia Daily Record
Gotcha! TWO NEW RED-LIGHT CAMERAS are going on duty in Phila. this weekend. See story page 7
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The Philadelphia Public Record Calendar
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State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas hosts Weatherization and Energy Forum at Temple’s Dentistry Student Faculty Ctr., 3340 N. Broad St. (Broad & Ontario), 6-8 p.m. For info Natalie Davis (215) 560-3261. Dec. 14- Jeff and Sandy Brown invite you to Re-Grant Opening of their
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ShopRite of Cheltenham and Einstein FastCare Clinic, 2385 Cheltenham Ave., 11 a.m. sharp. Specialty offerings. Dec. 15- Christmas Celebration in 6300 block Germantown Avenue, 6-7 p.m. Corporate and community donations are welcome! For more info to (Cont. Page 4)
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Toomey’s Reform Would Help Small Firms Go Public US Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced a bipartisan plan to make it easier for growing firms to go public so they can expand and create jobs. Their proposal would make it easier for small and medium-sized companies to access capital through public markets. Studies show more than 90% of job growth occurs after companies go public, but fewer small and medium-sized companies are taking this step in recent years, often citing the administrative and compliance burdens as the main obstacles to going public. The Schumer-Toomey bill, the Reopening American Capital Markets to Emerging Growth Companies Act of 2011, would reduce these
hurdles of an initial public offering by phasing in many of the costliest obligations over time while maintaining key investor protections. Toomey said, “In this struggling economy, Congress should do everything it can to make it easier for small businesses to grow and create new jobs. This legislation will make it easier for firms to go public and in turn, create many more jobs. This legislation offers a bipartisan path for Congress to help get our economy moving again.” With companies taking longer than ever to go public – on average 9.4 years, compared to fewer than five years in the 1980s – rapid expansion and job growth is being de-
layed. The Schumer-Toomey bill would establish a new category of issuers, called “emerging growth companies,” that have less than $1 billion in annual revenues at the time they register with the US Securities & Exchange Commission and less than $700 million in publicly-traded shares after the IPO. The legislation creates a transitional “on-ramp” status for these companies to encourage them to go public. The “on-ramp” period would last as many as five years, or until a company reaches $1 billion in annual revenue or $700 million in publicly traded shares. Full compliance with certain obligations would be phased in during that period.
Casey: Disappointed with Senate Vote on His Middle Class Tax Cut US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, released the following statement on the Senate vote on the Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011. “As the clock ticks down to the expiration of the middle class tax cut, I am disappointed the Senate failed to pass my bill to
extend and expand this tax cut to provide $1,500 to the typical working family. My bill would have also provided tax relief to businesses to help them create jobs and grow. This isn’t the end. I will keep working to reach agreement and pass a bill that protects Pennsylvania families and creates jobs.”
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD (Cont. From Page 2) make a donation A. Neal (215) 438-1768 or A. Alexander (215) 844-9345. Dec. 17- Black Professionals Christmas Party at African American Museum, 7th & Arch Sts., 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $50 includes live music, entertainment. For info Earl Harvey (267) 2443860. Dec. 17- Volunteers needed to help wrap gifts for Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell’s annual Christmas Holiday Party for Homeless. Join her in Room 401 at 9 a.m. Please call to sign up at 215=686-
3418. Dec. 20- Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell hosts City’s homless at her annual Christmas Party at Pennsylvania Convewntion Center, form 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 29- Friends of Council Majority Leader-Elect Curtis Jones host “Black Out Party” at 4130 Main St., next to Manayunk Brewery. Dress in black. VIP Cocktail 6-8 p.m. $1,000 host; $500 sponsor, $250 VIP. General admission, 8 p.m.-1 a.m. $50 guest. Fort info Dorian Stanley (732) 642-2163.
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Revenue Dept. Clarifies Existing Sales Tax Nexus Law For Remote Sellers The Dept. of Revenue issued a Tax Bulletin to explain existing sales-tax nexus law for remote sellers, clarifying the law and the department’s authority to require e-commerce and other out-of-state sellers with physical presence in Pennsylvania to collect sales tax. “There have been many questions about when businesses are required to collect sales tax, and this bulletin spells out the law for remote sellers so they better understand how to comply,” said Revenue Secretary Dan Meuser. “It’s simply a matter of fairness under the existing law, and it’s essential that both e-commerce retailers with nexus and brick-and-mortar stores in Pennsylvania, many of which are small businesses employing thousands of Pennsylvanians with retail jobs, are treated equally.” Sales & Use Tax Bulletin 2011-01 relies on in-state activity to establish nexus, as required by the US Constitution, and provides examples of in-state activity sufficient to require sales-tax registration and collection. The Tax Reform Code nexus language has been in place for many years, but because taxpayers may not be familiar with it, the bulletin is being issued as a clarification of
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD existing law. This effort to address with retailers sales tax collection requirements coincides with a consumer-based approach to simplify use tax reporting and payment. Beginning in January 2012, individuals will be able to self-report use tax on the Pennsylvania personal income tax return. Companies whose business activi-
ties establish nexus in Pennsylvania must become licensed to collect sales tax as soon as possible, but no later than by Feb. 1, 2012. Companies with Pennsylvania nexus that fail to begin collecting sales tax as required by law may be pursued by a variety of escalating enforcement options over time, including audit, assessment, lien and/or referral of the case to a collection agency or the Office of Attorney General.
Companies with legal questions regarding establishment of nexus are encouraged to call the department’s Office of Chief Counsel at (717) 787-1382. Companies with questions regarding sales tax registration, collection and reporting requirements are encouraged to call the business tax Taxpayer Service a& Information Center at (717) 787-1064.
After Sandusky, Stack Fears For Penn State’s Financial Future State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) shared his concerns for the Pennsylvania State University’s ability to handle the financial fallout from the sexual abuse scandal in a letter to the university’s new President, Rodney Erickson. “The sexual assault allegations against former coach Jerry Sandusky are appalling, and my thoughts and prayers are with the
alleged victims of these atrocities,” said Stack. “This scandal has rocked Penn State and will have a long-term affect on the institution.” The Senator said he is reaching out to Erickson to start a conversation about how the university intends to handle potential settlements in civil cases brought against the university.
“As more allegations surface and reported victims file civil lawsuits, I am extremely concerned about Penn State’s level of liability coverage,” said Stack, who is the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee. “Penn State must not consider using taxpayer dollars to offset payouts of these lawsuits.”
Josephs Calls For Public Hearings On Congressional Map State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) said she is discouraged House State Government Committee members are being asked to vote next week on Congressional redistricting legislation (HB 5) because it fails to list any specific geographic information of how the
Congressional districts will be composed and the public has not been given the chance to comment on it. Josephs is the Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee. Committee members were informed Wednes-
day they would be voting on the bill Monday. She immediately wrote to her Republican counterpart on the committee, State Rep. Darryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), asking for a more-transparent process, as well as the complete details. “Earlier this year you and Sen.
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD McIlhinney held three hearings across the state in which you congratulated yourself for how open, transparent and inclusive Congressional reapportionment would be accomplished in this legislative session,” Josephs wrote to Metcalfe. “If you were serious about openness, transparency and inclusiveness, wouldn’t it be wise to share the details of the plan including maps well in advance of a voting meeting and to gather public comment from interested parties and community leaders in no less than three public hearings?”
can Leader Mike Turzai,” Josephs said. “First, the Legislative Reapportionment Commission approves a preposterous preliminary reapportionment plan for State House and Senate districts that has been criticized across the state. Now, they’ll push through a Congressional map that the public will have little to no time to examine or provide input on how it will affect their communities. This is not democracy. It is dictatorship.”
Josephs introduced legislation that would require openness and fairness in the redistricting process. Yesterday, Metcalfe canceled Mon- Her bill (HB 134) was referred to the House State Government Comday’s meeting but rescheduled it mittee more than nine months ago for Wednesday, Dec. 7. Josephs but Metcalfe has not allowed it to said she assumes an amendment be brought up for discussion, let that provides the details she seeks alone a vote. still will be brought out at the last minute, like most of the legislation brought forward by the House Re- Specifically, Josephs’ bill would: publican majority this session. Permit any Pennsylvania resident “The kicks and punches to democracy just keep on coming from Chairman Metcalfe and Republi-
to submit reapportionment plans for legislative districts, which the commission would be required to consider. The commission would
make software and demographic data available for use in developing such plans. Require the commission to hold public hearings to solicit public testimony from as many Commonwealth residents as possible. Five hearings would be held in different geographic regions of the state before the preliminary plan is developed and again before the final plan is voted on. Require the commission to set up a website for the data, the actual maps, hearing and meeting notices and transcripts and other communications. Require the commission to comply with the Sunshine Act and the Right-to-Know Law. Josephs noted Metcalfe has yet to advance a single Democratic bill, while she, when she was majority chairwoman, advanced 28 Republican bills.
Union Challenges Mass Transfers Of Phila. Paramedics The Philadelphia Fire Fighters and Paramedics Union Local 22 filed a grievance yesterday to stop the forced mass transfer of 80% of Philadelphia’s medics.
ing all EMS personnel) to further increase and delay response times and which will place citizens at loss of life risk, union leaders charged.
Not even two months after City Controller Butkovitz reported that ‘EMS units are arriving late to emergency scenes nearly 40% of the time,’ the City has taken the one the one action (excepting fir-
“I would have thought it inconceivable that any official could be so reckless with human life,” stated Bill Gault, president of the union that represents Philadelphia’s fire fighters and medics.
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The grievance, filed with the Philadelphia Fire Department, asserts the changes “will lead to unnecessary delays in providing life-saving services, dangerously diminished coordination with hospitals and emergency room staff and needless disruption of EMS personnel and their families’ lives.” The grievance that is being filed is
THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD based on an agreement stemming EMS personnel until a Commonwealth Court rendered a decision from a past Unfair Labor Practice charge that included a commitment on the ULP. to “Maintain the “Status Quo’” of
The mass forced transfers are presently scheduled to take place on Jan. 8 and 9, 2012.
Mayor Says Funding Is Clinched For Pop Warner Teams Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the Holmesburg Tigers, Fox Rok Ravens of American Youth Football and the Northwest Raiders and Enon Eagles of the Pop Warner Football League have received funding support for travel and lodging expenses as they attend their National Super Bowl Tournaments at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex and Austin-Tindall Park in Florida. A total of $93,500 was donated by the City of Philadelphia and private sponsors to pay for airfare, lodging and meals for the youth, parents and representatives from each team.
The following donors have committed their support: City of Philadelphia: $20,000 Comcast Corporation: $20,000 Philadelphia Foundation: $20,000 Philadelphia Eagles: $10,000 Mitchell & Ness: $5,000 PNC Bank: $5,000 Villa: $5,000 Wells Fargo Bank: $5,000 Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 332: $2,500
Bowman & Partners, LLP: $1,000 “These teams have worked hard all year on the field and in the classroom. I am delighted that the City and our generous private partners can help these young people to participate in the Pop Warner Super Bowl and AYF Championship so they can be representatives of the City of Philadelphia,” said Nutter. Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. is a nonprofit that provides youth football, and cheer and dance programs for youth, from the ages of 5 to 16 years.
Red-Light Cameras Wake Up In Center City, Southwest The Philadelphia Parking Authority announces the red light cameras at Broad & Vine Streets went live today. The intersection is located just a few blocks north of City Hall. Now the two-month grace period is over, drivers found in violation will face a $100 fine. PPA also announced today its
newest red light cameras will be activated on Monday, Dec. 5. This new intersection is located in Southwest Philadelphia at the intersection of Lindbergh Boulevard & Island Avenue. Drivers found in violation will receive warnings for the next 60 days. After the two-month grace period ending on Friday, Feb. 3,
2012 violators will face a $100 fine. “This intersection of Lindbergh and Island is a very busy one at the entrance to a huge commercial area. The many shoppers that cross these streets will be better protected by the cameras, which help prevent red-light running,” said PPA Executive Director Vince
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD Fenerty. “With the cameras going live at Broad & Vine, we hope they will help change the behavior of motorists who blaze through this pedestrian-heavy intersection.”
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The Pennsylvania General Assembly gave the Philadelphia Parking Authority the power to establish a Red Light Camera Program in the city of Philadelphia. In 2005, PPA began equipping intersections with
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cameras that monitor traffic and automatically photograph vehicles that drive into an intersection after the light has turned red.