POLITICS

Pennsylvania’s budget battle takes shape

House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, speaks June 28, 2019, with members of the media at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa. Matt Rourke / AP photo Sens. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, and Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, host a panel discussion with cannabis reform activists at the state capitol on April 20, 2021. Image courtesy of the Sen. Sharif Street

By Christen Smith

The Center Square

It’s budget season in Pennsylvania and lawmakers have just 30 days until the state’s newest spending plan comes due.

This year’s challenge, however, comes not from a lack of funds, but rather how the General Assembly will spend the $7.3 billion in federal economic stimulus it received this spring from the American Rescue Plan.

The House’s highest ranking member says it’s simple.

“I think we should pay the bills we already incurred instead of spending it on new programs,” said Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster. “To be clear, we should never play with taxpayer’s money. We need to be good stewards of it and we need to save it.”

It’s a position unlikely to curry favor with Democrats or Gov. Tom Wolf. Leaders say strategic investment of the funds now will help the state move past the impacts of the pandemic.

Democratic lawmakers have even released a package, dubbed “Pennsylvania’s New Deal,” that maps out where the stimulus should be spent. It includes a $250 million line item for hazard pay for front line workers, $500 million for job creation grants and $200 million for infrastructure upgrades like broadband connectivity and water and sewer improvements, among dozens of other proposals.

“Regardless of what you call it, there are working people across Pennsylvania that need that $7 billion to be invested, and there’s no infrastructure legislatively for it that we have seen,” said Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, DPhiladelphia. “These federal funds should not be put on the sidelines. We should use them wisely to help people all across the commonwealth.”

Yearly revenue projections through April have exceeded expectations by $1.3 billion, according to the administration, bolstered in part by sales tax collections that have come in $530 million higher than anticipated.

Lawmakers welcome the excess after months of preparing for a gaping deficit carved by the pandemic’s thwack on the job market. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Pittsburgh, said the rare situation calls for bold and dramatic action now.

“Let’s be clear, as we are closing out the fiscal year, we are better than

Pennsylvania senators revive bipartisan bill calling for transparency in prescription drug costs

By Dave Fidlin

The Center Square

When he was diagnosed with leukemia a dozen years ago, doctors told Paul O’Hara he would live, as he describes it, “a happy and normal life,” so long as he took the critically important drugs prescribed to him.

Then came the sticker shock.

In the early days of his diagnosis, O’Hara, a Doylestown resident, grappled with balancing the cost of monthly prescription, which he said were about the same as his mortgage payment.

O’Hara eventually faced foreclosure notices and other challenges to take his medications, though his financial struggles have since improved.

“I am very fortunate to live in a country that has drugs to treat these sorts of conditions,” O’Hara said at a news conference this week announcing a new bipartisan bill. “But that’s a lot to put on a cancer survivor – it’s a lot to process.”

State Sens. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, and Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, have reintroduced legislation aimed at removing the cloak of mystery around prescription drug pricing. Laughlin and Street had presented a previous iteration of Senate Bill 579, though it had not gained traction in the first go-round.

If it moves forward this legislative session in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, SB 579 would require prescription drug companies to clearly break down the reason for their costs.

When the issue went before state lawmakers previously, several officials within the industry pointed to research and development as a reason for the pricing.

“I think we are all well aware these pharmaceutical companies provide researches that does result in lifesaving medications,” Laughlin said. “We want them to prosper and be able to continue this work. We just want to know how they arrived at these prices.”

Street said he has heard from constituents who face ongoing challenges for critical prescription medications, sometimes balancing their cost with such staples as food.

“Greater information will allow us to be more responsible legislators,” Street said. “We’ll never be able to get our arms around this without basic information.”

Research and development – which Laughlin and Street readily acknowledged likely is a costly part of the balance sheet – is one of multiple expenses for pharmaceutical companies.

The legislators’ bill also is asking for a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with clinical trials, the amount the companies receive in grants from the government and other sources and costs related to patents and licensing specific drugs.

Recent polling data suggests SB 579 would have support among Pennsylvanians. According to Altarum, a research organization, 51 percent of surveyed residents within the state said they are “somewhat” or “very” worried about their ability to afford prescription drugs.

Respondents across the state also reported taking such measures as skipping doses or cutting pills in half to cut down on the cost of acquiring medications. The highest concentration – 33 percent – reported taking such measures in the northwest portion of the state. Other areas hovered around 18 to 19 percent.

According Altarum’s findings, gleaned from polling late in 2020, 92 percent of surveyed Pennsylvanians said they agreed the state Attorney General should take legal action to prevent price gouging and unfair drug price hikes.

“We are seeing a very similar response, regardless of party affiliation,” said Lynn Quincy, a senior adviser with Altarum. “That suggests there is a lot of support.”

Review UNIVERSITY CITY

218 South 45th Street, 218 South 45th Street Philadelphia, PA 19104Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel (215)222-2846 Tel (215) 222-2846 Fax (215)222-2378 Fax (215) 222-2378 Email Email editor@pressreview.net editor@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net newsdesk@pressreview.net graphics@pressreview.net Editor & Publisher Editor & Publisher Robert Christian Robert Christian Assistant Editor Associate Publisher Jack Firneno Claudia Christian Associate Publisher Controller & Bookkeeping Claudia Christian Alexandra Christian Bookkeeping Tina Davis Administrative Website & Social Media Dorian Korein Graphic Designers Graphic Designers Kasia Gadek Kelly Kusumoto Kelly Kusumoto Kasia Gadek Contributing Writers Contributing Editor Nicole Contosta Bob Behr Thom Nickels Haywood Brewster Contributing Writers Napoleon F. Kingcade Nathan Lerner Dea Mallin Marc Holmes III Bill Burrison Thom Nickels Contributing Reporters Tim Legnani Paulina Malek Christopher Doyle Nathaniel Lee Columnists Haywood Brewster Jennifer Jones Community Contributors John Lane Henry Lazarus Kam Williams Nicole Contosta Jim Brown Theater & Arts Contributor Sales Claudia Christian Richard Lord Tim Legnani Arts Contributor Social Media Paula Roberts Kelly Kusumoto Architectural Contributor David Traub Columnists John Lane Henry Lazarus Sales Claudia Christian Dorian Korein

Review UNIVERSITY CITY

prom in as many years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the students and staff tuned into the prom dressed up in gowns and tuxes, while others put up dancethemed Zoom filters. They danced to pop music that has become school-dance staples – including Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A,” Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” Pharrell’s “Happy,” and Katy Perry’s “Firework” – as well as older classics like Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” Tom Cochrane’s “Life is a Highway,” and the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” And in the middle of the ceremony,

organizers played a video honoring students, staff, and alumni for their accomplishments. Among the honored alumni was Anthony Casillas. An HMS staff member and a DJ, Casillas, also known to his colleagues and students as DJ Ant, emceed the prom and put together the night’s playlist. Casillas kept the students energized throughout the night, punctuating songs with his electric enthusiasm. He said that it was exciting to see his students able to have fun after they overcame all the challenges of the last year. “I take that opportunity [to DJ the prom] to bring more joy, in a way, to have the passion that’s in me and bring it out in MOE BETTA UPSTAIRS & DOWN Fast Quality Hair Service

Tuesday SENIOR DAY Haircuts $10ALL DAY! Omar • Lanzo • Rasheed • MOE • Aaron

Mon - Sat 9:00am to 7:00pm • Walk-ins & Appointments 4252 Lancaster Ave., Phila, PA 19104 • 215-416-8544

VISA • MC • EBT • AMEX • DISCOVER • DEBIT other people,” Casillas said.

As a staff member, Casillas takes on “every aspect of the job,” from teaching the curriculum, to helping provide different kinds of physical therapy – with Casillas being someone who can relate to HMS students and their experiences with cerebral palsy, which he has as well. He also hosts his own YouTube podcast, The Matt and Ant Show, which has featured famous retired sports stars, including NFL running back and Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis Anderson, Flyers winger Brian Propp, and Eagles tight end Chad Lewis.

Casillas said that teaching, making his podcast, and especially working as a DJ at events like HMS prom, allow him to welcome people into a positive, welcoming community.

“I started [working as a DJ] at a very young age and I have a passion for music, I love how it made me feel, I love how it made other people feel,” Casillas said. “I realized how much I really enjoy it, how much I bring people together.”

The fabric of Philadelphia:

Without your patronage, businesses, restaurants, theaters and institutions do not survive. We all value the fabric of our city. It is what makes Philadelphia a great city. Please support local business.

Photo by Christopher Doyle

The 2021 prom comes after a school year in which HMS, like schools across the country, held classes online due to COVID-19. Staff and administrators had to rush to devise a virtual curriculum and ensure that their students had whatever specialized computer interface they needed for online learning.

In April, the school opened for partial in-person learning, with half of the students able to come in the building on Monday and Tuesday, and the other half on Thursday and Friday. And with 94% of staff vaccinated, including all of the teaching and therapeutic staff, HMS will be opening up sooner. HMS President Tom Quinn told the University City Review and Philadelphia Free Press that the school would be teaching in-person full time during its extendedschool-year summer session, which runs from June 30 to Aug. 6.

“It’s not the end of this,” Quinn said. “But I think we feel pretty good about next year’s prom being in person, and this [year’s prom] being close to a kind of a culmination to these kinds of types of virtual events that we’ve had to figure out.”

The theme of the prom was “Night of 1,000 Lights.” Students adorned themselves with multi-colored lights and glow sticks sent from the school, creating an array of faces illuminated across the Zoom screen. Casillas said that the theme communicates the mix of passion that HMS students felt throughout their time in school. He added that the lights symbolized how prom can brighten students’ year, while giving them an outlet to express themselves.

“From a student perspective, I think that it shows that it’s a great night to have fun, and you can use those lights in so many different ways,” Casillas said. “’Night of 1,000 Lights’ can mean a lot of different things.”

HMS students and alumni expressed excitement about attending prom for weeks, with the HMS Facebook page documenting the anticipation leading up to the dance. One post shows a student asking another to be her prom date in a moving prom-proposal, or ‘prom-posal.’ (The student she asks says yes.) And Quinn noted that he

JUST DON’T TEXT JUST DON’T TEXT

ANDAND

was told by one recent HMS graduate that she had been waiting all year to get back in touch with the HMS community.

“It really has become a tradition for a long time now to really celebrate the year, celebrate the community,” Quinn said. “For a lot of our alumni, [prom] is really their touchstone for us, yearly to come back for that, and for us to see how they’re doing and to connect with them.”

“It was really neat to see that community we worked so hard to create,” Quinn added “And it wasn’t about [being in] the building, it was really about the connection we were able to make with the kids and with the families.”

Quinn said that celebrations and ceremonies like prom were important – especially for his students, many of whom have attended HMS for 15 years, and have had to overcome so many challenges over the past year because of the pandemic.

“The ritual of [prom], given what we’ve all been through, is really important,” Quinn said. “Our kids have gotten a raw deal, and if there’s some way to get us closer to getting back to quoteon-quote normal and still being able to honor them and give them that sense of closure about their experience, we’re excited to be able to do that.”

Casillas also said that making prom night special was something deeply important to both his students and him personally.

“For me it means the world,” Casillas said. “To know that you can make somebody happy from them having one good night.”

Adventure Aquarium announces a new interactive “Pirates”experience for families to enjoy for a limited time June 18 through July 9.

Pirates are back in Philadelphia after a 300 year absence.

Believe it or not, pirates were once known to sail up and down the Delaware River in search of loot! Blackbeard actually stationed his ship in the Delaware Bay and is rumored to have buried treasure under a black walnut tree in Burlington, N.J.

Now Pirate Darkbeard and his crew are returning to the Philadelphia area in search of treasure and cheer. New this summer, Adventure Aquarium presents Pirates, a limited time engagement June 18 through July 9 where guests will experience interactive shows, scavenger hunts, games, crafts, up-close animal talks and plenty of pirates.

“We’re looking forward to some pirate fun this summer,” said Molly Deese, Executive Director of Adventure Aquarium. “We love seeing families connect and enjoy themselves through entertaining, immersive experiences at the Aquarium like the upcoming Pirates event, complete with Darkbeard and his merry band of pirates.”

The Pirates event will serve as the launch for the redesigned Caribbean Currents, now “Pirate’s Passage” exhibit, home to 10 different exhibits filled with exotic and amazing creatures including hundreds of brightly colored tropical fish, lined seahorses, spiny lobster and lionfish.

Darkbeard and his crew will invite guests on an Aquarium-wide adventure to find sunken treasure: gold, gems and booty! They will sing, dance and safely interact with guests.

The Pirate crew made their first appearance at Adventure Aquarium for the Mermaids event in November 2019. The popularity of these “scalawags” inspired the creation of this dedicated limited time event.

All guests are required to purchase tickets in advance and make a reservation at adventureaquarium.com. A “Pirate Treasure Bag” is available including admission, an eye patch, snack voucher, glitter tattoo voucher, photo voucher, keychain, pieces of treasure and an exclusive plush. This bundle will be on sale June 7. [Adventure Aquarium invites all media to a preview event June 17, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. RSVP’s are required.]

PIRATES AHOY! PROGRAMMING

Pirate Crew - Aargh! There be pirates afoot! Darkbeard and his crew of pirates have docked here at Adventure Aquarium. Make sure you find them during your visit and keep your eyes and ears open for any clues to find his treasure!

Scavenger Hunt - The pirates have a special scavenger hunt just for you. Together as a family, complete the scavenger hunt and enter for a chance to win all the bounty!

Parrot Presenta-

tion - Come see one of our biologists talk about a pirate’s feathered friend – the Parrot. Learn about these amazing birds: where they come from, some of their behaviors, and how people interact with them.

Walk the Plank! - Put the knowledge you learned today to the test in the ultimate Pirate Game Show. Hopefully all ye salty sea dogs have studied hard and we won’t be sendin’ anyone to walk the plank!

About Adventure

Aquarium:

Adventure Aquarium is just minutes from Center City Philadelphia on the Camden Waterfront and features one-of-akind exhibits with more than 15,000 aquatic species throughout two million gallons of water. The Aquarium is home to the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast, the only aquarium in the world to exhibit hippos, and exhibits the longest Shark Bridge in the world, a unique Vshaped rope suspension bridge just inches over Shark Realm. Adventure Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and is held to the absolute highest standards in animal care and exhibition. For more information, visit AdventureAquarium.com.

NEED HELP GETTING YOUR PET VACCINATED?

LOW COST VACCINE CLINIC

June 27th from 9AM to 12PM Located at Philly Auto & Parole 5224 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19143 $20 VACCINE PACKAGES INCLUDES A FREE MICROCHIP!

*Number of packages is limited.

Brought to you by:

by Henry L Lazarus

Totalitarian states occur frequently in Fantasy and Science Fiction. I’m more and more afraid that the US will soon become one.

Two centuries from now Neil Sharpson tells of an idylic world run by three AIs. Most of the population, including AIs, have uploaded to giant servers, The exception is the Caspian Republic where people live in dread of being accused of being a machine and taken out and shot. When the Sparrow Falls (hard from Tor) tells of state security agent Nikolai South who has spent his career trying not to be noticed. When a writer for the propaganda bulletin dies in a bar fight, his body shows signs of being the type of clone Ais use. The AI had lived in the Republic for two decades. For political reasons, the AI’s ex-wife, Lilly, is allowed to come to the republic and identify the dead AI from his writings and effects. That puts Agent South in the middle between the various internal agencies. In addition, he and his partner were working on a case to find who had gotten the uploaded chips from people using this method to escape the Republic. Lily might be the person who was going to smuggle the chips out. This is a no-win situation for someone just trying to survive. I hope this gets nominated for an award.

G R Matthews tells a fascinating tale of Seven

Deaths of an Empire

(hard from Solaris) and how they lead to disaster. The first death is of the Emperor who died with teenage heirs. Helping to guard the body on its trip from the invading a quiet life convinced he used up all his luck in his survival. The cold is coming back and his King wants him to go back. Of course, he’s going to take the money and run. Somehow, instead, he acquires a motley crew and finds it impossible to quit. Opposed by the local church that sends assassins and soldiers, and all the horrors of the far north, it is an impossible trek that brings out the hero in all his crew. Lots of fun.

Tasha Suri starts a fun tale of an unlikely connection of a princess and priestess. The Jasmine Throne (hard from Orbit) won its battle against the Ahranyi by the sacrifice of its elite women in a holy fire. The Ahranyi priests had dominated the continent before that with powers gained from dipping into hidden holy waters. Malini , sister to the current emperor, disappointed him by not letting herself be burned with her handmaidens. So he sent her off to be imprisoned in the old temple of the Ahranyi where she was kept drugged and out of contact. Priya and her brother escaped being burned with the rest of the priests. She had dipped in the holy waters only once and was hiding. Somehow she becomes the maid, and only servant to Malini while outside the temple a revolution has begun. This is a promising beginning a fun series.

Carrie Vaughn has a fun tale of a future theme park with its own island. In Questland (paper from Houghton Mifflin

The Witness for the Dead

(hard from TOR), has the ability to read some memories from the dead. That enables the Prelate sometimes to answer inheritance problems, and sometimes to solve murders. In this tale he uncovers the murderer of an Opera Diva, helps find a man murdering his wives for their inheritance, and goes up in the hills to end a ghoul. Very quiet and also fascinating.

Kim Harrison has a new addition to her tales of Rachel Morgan, a Million Dollar Demon (hard from Ace) trouble for the new master vampire of Cincinnati who thinks that fear will help her control the city. Rachael is thousands of years younger than the older demons. If she had their powers, the confrontation would have been easy. Unfortunately, her demon allies are mad at her. Al even throws her into Alcatraz, a prison for witches. Somehow, of course, with a help of a potion that turns people into mice, Rachael prevails. Lots of fun, as usual.

Tor has reprinted in hard cover the first half of Gene Wolfe’s The

Book of the New Sun; Shadow & Claw.

Dr. Henry Lazarus

is a retired Dentist and the author of A Cycle of Gods (Wolfsinger Publications) and Unnaturally Female (Smashwords). Check out his unified field theory at henrylazarus.com/utf.html that suggests fusion generation requires less energy because only one frequency is needed rather than a full spectrum. It also explains dark matter, the proliferation of subatomic particles, and the limit of light speed for matter.

the northern lands is Apprentice Magician Kyron and his master. Trying to keep the empire together and protect the heirs against assassins is General Bordan. Kyron has to improve his magical abilities as the Company is attacked by Northern tribe warriors. Complicating measures for each is a powerful church. Intense and gripping.

Stephen Aryan has a fun tale of The Coward (paper from Angry Robot). At 17 Kell Kressia joined a group of a dozen heroes headed to the far north to slay an Ice Lich who was bringing the cold south. He was the only survivor. A decade later, unrewarded for his actions, he’s been living Harcourt, John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books) visitors go on a generic fantasy quest in a place with real looking dragons and unicorns. Unfortunately, a force field has sealed off the place. Literature professor Dr. Addie Cox, is recruited to help a group of mercenaries invade the island, find the rogue employee (her ex-lover), and, of course, drop the force field. Lots of fun.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia

has a short tale about The

Return of the Sorceress

(hard from Subterranean Press). Yalxi’s lover had stolen the jewel she used for power. The jewel contained the essence of the sorcerer who had trained them, and who they had been forced to kill to save their lives. Somehow, she has to bring her lover to the swamp where the dead sorcerer lies and fight him. Too short.