Vol. III No. 37 (405)
Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia
February 28, 2012
Philadelphia Daily Record
Casey Intros ‘Bill’
FORMER CONGRESSMAN Rev. Bill Gray was honored by Sen. Bob Casey as part of Black History Month. Crowd packs Kennedy Caucus Room in Russell Senate Office Building for a symposium Story page 3
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Mar. 1State Reps. Kevin and Brendan Boyle kick off reelection campaigns at The Hop Angel, 7980 Oxford Ave., 5:30-7:30 p.m. Buffet, open bar and 50/50 raffle $30 per person. RSVP (276) 9886257 or send checks payable to Friends of Kevin Boyle, 8035 Burholme Ave., Phila., PA 19111. Mar. 3Bill Brunkel hosts Irish Night With State Rep. John Taylor at McCullough Ha., 6309 Torresdale Ave., 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Ticket $30. Includes beer, soda, and food. BYOB and setups welcomed. Music: Celtic Connection. For info Paul Kiser (609) 774-1397, Fax (215) 7397776. Mar. 5Councilman David Oh celebrates birthday at Racquet Club, 215 S. 15th St., 6-8 p.m. Trustees $500, Supporters $250, Friends $100Checks payable to “Citizens for David Oh.” No corporate checks.RSVP Eunice Lee elee@zarwin.com or (215) 561-2000 by Feb. 27. Mar. 10NIA-PAC’s Carnevale, 6 p.m. Union League. Vincent Papale, Master of Ceremonies. Formal dinner and auction. Black tie
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preferred. Chair Hon. Amato Berardi. Individual seating $185. For details Judy Camiel (610) 668-1730. Mar. 12Cocktail Event for State Rep. Tina Davis at Zia’s at Red Door, 110 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, Pa. Tickets $50, $100, $500 and $1,000. For info Seth Skversky (215) 550-1186. Mar. 13Friends of Damon Roberts hosts fundraiser at S. Philly Tap Room, 1509 Mifflin St., 6-8 pm. Mar. 15Councilman Jim Kenney’s St. Patrick’s Day Party at Galdo’s, 20th & Moyamensing Ave., 6-8 p.m. Tickets at door, $35 each. Mar. 16-17- Programs for Teaching Educational Conference sponsored by Phila. Federation of Teachers Health & Welfare Fund at Sheraton, 17th & Race. 50 topics. State Rep. James Roebuck, special guest speaker. For info (215) 561-2722. Mar. 17Pentecostal Clergy th holds 12 -Anniversary Breakfast, at View, 800 N. Broad St., 7th fl., 7:30 a.m. Tickets $25. Full tables $250. Call Dorothy Sturgis (215) 991-9830.
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Casey: Bill Gray Is Part of History To commemorate Black History Month, US Sen. Bob Casey (DPa.) honored former Congressman William H. Gray III in a speech on the Senate floor and through a symposium on Gray and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. “For his entire life, Bill Gray has been a minister and shepherd for his congregation, his constituents, historically Black colleges, and all Americans in need of a strong voice,” the Senator said. “In the Senate today, we express our gratitude for the excellent work of Rev. Bill Gray’s ‘whole ministry,’ a
commitment that has touched literally millions of men and women.” In his floor speech, Casey highlighted Bill Gray’s work at the Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, in Congress, with the United Negro College Fund and with various other organizations to bring about positive change and to ensure that a future of opportunity is accessible to all youth. Following his speech on the Senate floor, Casey hosted a symposium to discuss Bill Gray’s contributions to his church, the nation, and education at Historically
Black Colleges and Universities. Symposium panelists included Rev. William “Bill” Moore, pastor at 10th Memorial Baptist Church in North Philadelphia; Rev. Kevin R. Johnson, the successor to Bill Gray as senior pastor at Bright Hope Baptist; Alan Kirschner, president of Kirschner & Associates and former executive VP for development of UNCF; Congresswoman Maxine Waters; and Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, Jr., executive director of the White House’s Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Brady Is Pleased Food Crisis Is Easing In response to the latest Food Research and Action Center report released yesterday, Congressman Bob Brady (D-Pa.) issued the following statement: “According to the FRAC report, food hardship in the 1st Congressional Dist. has declined steadily over the past two years. I am pleased we are moving in the right direction, but we are far from where we need to be. That’s why I
am committed to doing all that I can to ensure people do not go hungry in the 1st Congressional Dist. “In Washington, I created the Hunger Taskforce, a workgroup of Members of Congress who represent districts with the highest rates of food hardship designed to tackle our shared challenges; cosponsored the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, a range of programs that
will expand access to healthy, affordable foods in food deserts across the country; and I am an original cosponsor of the National Cooperative Development Act, legislation that would create jobs and low-cost markets in low-income communities. “I pressed Gov. Corbett to end the Commonwealth’s dangerous and counterproductive reinstatement of an asset test for SNAP; and I am
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD working with US Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and his team to obtain funding for food banks to continue to meet the needs of the hungry. After my last meeting with the Secretary, he joined me in urging Pennsylvania to reconsider its asset test policy. “And by working with the private sector, state, federal and City of Chester officials, we are bringing an innovative supermarket/food bank to Chester. This facility, which is being
spearheaded by Philabundance, a widely respected nonprofit, will be Chester’s first supermarket in years and the first of its kind to be operated by a foodaid group as a nonprofit. “Hunger in America is real and I am committed to continue to work to ensure that in hard-hit cities, such as Chester, we develop real solutions to the issues that are creating hunger hardship.”
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Higher Taxes OK To Boost City Services A new public opinion poll commissioned by The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research Initiative finds Philadelphians are increasingly concerned about the overall local tax burden but many residents appear willing to pay more in return for better services. The survey also finds that Philadelphians favor the idea of commercial advertising at City Hall and other municipal properties in order to raise revenue but are cool to the idea of taxing sugary drinks. Seventy percent of those polled say high taxes are a “somewhat serious” or “very serious” problem in their neighborhoods – up from 55% in 2010 and 62% last year. Fifty-four percent say they “pay too much” for the level of city services they receive, compared with 39% who feel they get their “money’s worth” or a “good deal” for their tax dollars. At the same time, 49% say they would prefer to pay higher taxes for more city services, as opposed to 42% who prefer lower taxes and fewer services. Residents were evenly split on this question in polls conducted the past three years. “Philadelphians send a variety of messages about taxes,” said Larry Eichel, project director of PRI. “On the one hand, a large majority of residents are increasingly concerned about the size of the overall tax bur-
den. On the other hand, a significant number of people say they would be willing to pay more if they thought they would get more for their money.” On the concept of permitting advertisements on city buildings, 56% of Philadelphians approve while 34% are opposed. As for a tax on soda and other sugary drinks, 49% disapprove of the idea, and 46% support it, with positions on both sides deeply entrenched. Legislation allowing advertising on city property was introduced in City Council earlier this year by Council President Darrell Clarke, but has not yet been acted upon. The sugary drinks tax has been put forward twice in the last two years by Mayor Michael Nutter, and Council failed to adopt it on either occasion. The survey also gauged attitudes toward city workers’ pensions. Philadelphians are closely divided on whether newly hired city employees should get the same pension benefits as current workers and retirees, as is the case now, or whether the City should be able to give them lower benefits to save money. Overall, 47% say new hires should receive the same pension package, and 43% favor the alternative. Last year the split was 45-44%.
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Hughes: Better Numbers On Schools Are Needed At yesterday’s Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearing, Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes (D-W. Phila.) questioned Pennsylvania Dept. of Education Secretary Ronald Tomalis about the potential impact of Gov. Tom Corbett’s $400 million in proposed education budget cuts. “There is no doubt Corbett’s school-funding plan will force even greater hardships on many Pennsylvania school districts, parents and students,” Hughes said. “This plan would force more local tax increases, program cuts and spikes in class sizes. “In addition, the Governor and Education Dept. officials continue to be evasive about the total dollars that are being cut and how the budget cuts impact financially strapped districts that are now struggling to pay their bills and stave off insolvency.” The Senator was specifically concerned by Secretary Tomalis’ admission the department is unsure about the number of fiscally distressed schools in Pennsylvania. “I am deeply concerned that the Dept. of Education does not know how many schools are near the edge of the fiscal cliff,” Hughes said. “How can we save these schools if we cannot even identify the school districts? The Corbett Administration needs to be aggressive and try and prevent school district insolvency.” Secretary Tomalis stated the department does not know how many schools are fiscally distressed because the schools don’t 6|
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tell them. Hughes also questioned the Secretary about so-called ‘pay-to-play,’ where parents are now having to pay for their children to participate in school sports and other extracurricular activities. “For parents struggling to make ends meet, paying for their children to play sports or participate in other extracurricular activities is a serious burden,” Hughes said. “With studies showing these activities help prevent these kids from dropping out or getting into trouble, it is important we continue to provide them with little cost to parents. “If we can keep students interested in sports or other extra-curricular activities, we save taxpayers’ dollars in the long run.” Hughes also questioned cuts to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency at a time when students need assistance due to higher-education funding cuts and tuition hikes. “It makes no sense to cut PHEAA’s budget right now when higher education cuts will force tuition hikes and put a college degree out of reach for many promising students,” Hughes said. “Students and parents are simultaneously being whipsawed by tuition increases and aid decreases. We must explore these options, not jam our kids and their parents with disastrous cuts that result in tuition increases.”
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Guv Forms eHealth Advisory Committee Gov. Tom Corbett announced the formal creation of the Pennsylvania eHealth Collaborative Advisory Committee. “This committee will support the Pennsylvania eHealth Collaborative’s efforts to advance health information exchange with the goal of improving patient health and safety,” Corbett said. Corbett issued an executive order last July creating the collaborative. Pennsylvania was awarded $17 million under the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act to help advance health information exchange. The act also provides incentives to doctors and hospitals to
adopt electronic health records. The committee consists of the state health information-technology coordinator and appointees who represent the interests of a broad spectrum of the health-care stakeholder community. “We would like to acknowledge many of the advisory-committee members who have been active participants in the collaborative planning process. We look forward to working with the committee to improve health care in Pennsylvania,” said George White, the State’s chief information officer.
allow health-care providers such as hospitals, clinics and physicians to securely share patient information from multiple sources, including other hospital systems, labs and pharmacies. By protecting patient information and providing fast, comprehensive access to data, health-information exchanges can improve patient safety, reduce redundant tests and procedures, and improve public health monitoring. Among the individuals appointed to the advisory committee is Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Donald Schwarz, MD, MPH.
Health-information exchanges
K. Boyle Says He’s Passed The $200K Mark The reelection campaign of State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Northeast) has officially announced it has already raised over $200,000 for this campaign. The campaign is on track to meet its $500,000 goal for the 2012 campaign. Strong fundraising is not new for Boyle. In 2010, he raised over $400,000 in his successful race against former House Speaker John Perzel. “Kevin is a great fundraiser and his impressive numbers show that,” said Ethan Smith, who is Ex-
ecutive Director of the House Democratic Campaign Committee. In addition to what candidates raise for their own races, HDCC spends its resources in its targeted races, which are typically in competitive districts. “In 2010, the HDCC raised $7 million dollars to help our members and we expect to hit that number again this year,” said HDCC Chairman State Rep. Brendan Boyle (DNortheast), Kevin’s brother.
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St. Louis Charges Cohen ‘Intimidates’ Voters The races for state legislature in Pennsylvania are heating up now, especially in House Dist. 202. Running in this district is the incumbent, Mark Cohen (D-N. Phila.), a Democrat who has been in office for nearly 40 years. His opponent is Numa St. Louis, a committeeman and educator from the 61st ward. St. Louis collected more than three times the amount of petition signatures required to obtain candidacy. The week following the petition phase is usually used by candi-
dates to challenge signatures. However, charges St. Louis, Cohen is using this period to impose “intimidation tactics” on St. Louis’ supporters in the district. St. Louis has been contacted by several voters who reported they received unsolicited contact from Mark Cohen. “This is ironic, considering that during the petition phase, many voters which Numa and his volunteers approached did not know who State Rep. Mark Cohen was,” said St. Louis.
“These reports come right on the heels of evidence that Mark Cohen has misappropriated public funds and tax payer dollars for personal use, and is one of the state’s mostfrequent collectors of per diems,” continued St. Louis. Cohen, who is a prolific Facebook communicator, has bashed St. Louis for being “fraudulent” and exercising poor judgment in the selection of his own Facebook friends.
Kenney Takes Kids To Movies Today City Councilman Jim Kenney hosted a group of approximately 100 local senior citizens and 6th7th-8th-grade students from the Daroff Charter School, 56th & Vine Streets, at a screening of Red Tails, a film about the Tuskegee Airmen – an all-African American World War II fighter-pilot squadron – this
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morning at the Rave Motion Picture University City. Following the screening, box lunches were served and the Councilman will join two retired Tuskegee airmen – Henry Moore and Bertan Levy – for a brief discussion and Q & A on stage. The
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students will be presented with “Red Tail Tuskegee Airman” patches. The senior citizens came from the Haddington Multi-Service Center, located at 5331 Haverford Avenue.
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