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Keystone State Education Coalition
PA Ed Policy Roundup December 24, 2015:
No Merry XMAS, No Wise Men in Hbgh; House
goes home; Senate Recycles #PABudget Vetoed in June
Blogger commentary: Happy Holidays PA ed policy wonks!
Looks like coal in our
#PABudget stockings. A reasonable person
might ask just what the hell our state legislators have been doing for the past
six months…
Last-ditch budget bill passes, Wolf's
bipartisan deal stalls
Morning Call by MARC LEVY and MARK
SCOLFORO (AP) December 23 8:26 PM
HARRISBURG,
Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's budget impasse is breaking the state's record for
futility, after the Senate sent Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf a last-ditch spending bill Wednesday without
the tax increase he wanted to deliver a record boost in public school aid and
close a long-term deficit. The end of
the 6-month-old stalemate remained up in the air. Wolf's office said a decision
on whether to sign or veto the bill could take days. The pared-down spending bill emerged
Wednesday when it became clear that an eleventh-hour effort to revive the
Senate GOP's legislation to restructure public pension
benefits had stalled in the House. As a
result, leaders of the Senate Republican majority pulled their support from a
bipartisan deal with Wolf that called for $30.8 billion in spending, along with
a $1 billion-plus tax increase. Instead,
Senate Republicans turned to the smaller spending plan approved two weeks ago
by the House, when the chamber's huge Republican majority revolted against the
prospect of the tax increase.
Surprise
budget hits governor’s desk, but it faces an uncertain future
The PLS
Reporter Author: Jason Gottesman/Wednesday,
December 23, 2015
Once all
hope was lost Wednesday after the House abruptly adjourned to send their
members on six-hour call while they awaited a pension and tax plan to support a
$30.788 billion budget their chamber was ready to pass, the Senate surprised
onlookers by taking up a previously-passed House budget ringing in at $30.25
billion and sent it to the governor for his consideration. Without
yet-to-be passed nonpreferred appropriations included in the final spend
number, the bill sent to the governor’s desk rings in at around $29.7 billion,
which was said by senators Wednesday to meet available funds. Regardless of whether the governor signs,
vetoes, or line-item vetoes the bill, both sides in the Senate conceded
Wednesday that the passage of the bill does not represent the five-party
agreement reached before Thanksgiving and still marks a beginning point for
reaching agreement on a pension reform and revenue bill that can support the
$30.788 billion budget plan.
Budget blues: A broken
record
Philly.com by Angela Couloumbis and Chris Palmer, HARRISBURG BUREAU. Updated: DECEMBER 24, 2015 —
1:07 AM EST
Record funding for public education.
Record relief for pained property taxpayers
statewide.
Record overhaul of a state liquor system that
dates to Prohibition.
But on Wednesday,
the only record that Gov. Wolf and the Republican-controlled legislature set
was solidifying the longest budget impasse in modern state history. As legislators headed home for Christmas
without a solution for their deep divisions, political veterans struggled to
recall when there last was such paralysis and straight-up dysfunction in the
Capitol. Even during prolonged budget
battles under another Democrat, Gov. Ed Rendell - he, like Wolf, faced a
GOP-dominated legislature, and did so for much of his two terms - the sides
worked around ideological differences (and, some would say, egos) to deliver
deals.
Capitol empties as Pa.
by Chris Palmer and Angela Couloumbis, HARRISBURG BUREAU. Updated: DECEMBER 24, 2015 —
1:07 AM EST
"It seems that the
Republican Legislature is intent on continuing the Harrisburg
status quo and getting out of town to go on vacation instead of continuing the
hard work to move Pennsylvania
Is this the end to
prolonged state budget impasse? We'll see
By Jan Murphy |
jmurphy@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
December 23, 2015 at 7:11 PM, updated December 23, 2015 at 10:31 PM
For the third time
in six months, the GOP-controlled General Assembly has sent a budget to Gov.
Tom Wolf's desk for enactment. And like
the first two that he vetoed, this is not the budget he wanted. What he will do
with this latest plan is not yet known. However,
a statement issued moments after the Senate voted 33-17 on Wednesday afternoon to pass
the $30.3 billion budget bill made the prospects of him signing it sound dim.
Pennsylvania House
leaders, in the absence of a budget deal, send lawmakers home
Penn Live By Charles Thompson |
cthompson@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
December 23, 2015 at 1:56 PM, updated December 23, 2015 at 8:44 PM
The Pennsylvania
House of Representatives has adjourned for the day, and most members are
leaving town for the Christmas holiday, subject to a return to session on a
six-hour call.
House Republican
leaders announced that decision after a Wednesday morning meeting with Senate
Republican leaders produced no movement in an interlocking stand-off over taxes, spending levels and
public pension reform.
'We can do this': House
Democratic leaders urge budget vote after Republicans call for a recess
Penn Live By Christian
Alexandersen | calexandersen@pennlive.com Email the
author | Follow
on Twitter on December 23, 2015 at 2:03 PM, updated December 23,
2015 at 4:37 PM
Democratic leaders
are urging Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives tocome back into session and vote to end the six-month
budget impasse. On Wednesday, House
Speaker Mike Turzai said no more votes would be taken and place members on
six-hour call. Democrats were upset by the decisions because it delayed any
consideration of a $30.8
billion budget proposal. Republicans
have said they will not vote on the Senate-passed budget bill until it is
accompanied with a tax plan. GOP members said they want to know how the state
plans to pay for what's contained in the budget.
Budget Heads to Governor’s
Desk: Includes Record
School
Speaker Turzai's
website 12/23/2015
Speaker of the House
Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County ) and House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana County
"We are convinced the public truly appreciates the work of the Senate to take up the House legislation we passed Dec. 8. By passing the House General Appropriations Bill, House Bill 1460, we now have a responsible budget that lives within our means while still amply providing for core state budget priorities. “We look forward to working with House Democrats, Senate Republicans and Democrats, and the governor to ensure revenues are in place in a timely fashion. It’s time to bring this budget impasse to a conclusion in a manner which respects our taxpayers.
“It is long past time to get money out to our school districts and human service agencies and keep government operating. We urge the governor to sign this bill when it gets to his desk.”
Representative Mike Turzai, Speaker
Representative Dave Reed, Majority Leader
Pennsylvania
"We are convinced the public truly appreciates the work of the Senate to take up the House legislation we passed Dec. 8. By passing the House General Appropriations Bill, House Bill 1460, we now have a responsible budget that lives within our means while still amply providing for core state budget priorities. “We look forward to working with House Democrats, Senate Republicans and Democrats, and the governor to ensure revenues are in place in a timely fashion. It’s time to bring this budget impasse to a conclusion in a manner which respects our taxpayers.
“It is long past time to get money out to our school districts and human service agencies and keep government operating. We urge the governor to sign this bill when it gets to his desk.”
Representative Mike Turzai, Speaker
Representative Dave Reed, Majority Leader
Governor Wolf Statement on Senate’s Passage of a
Budget
Governor Wolf's website December 23, 2015
Pa. House, Senate send Gov. Wolf lower-cost state
budget bill
By Kate Giammarise /
Post-Gazette Harrisburg
Bureau December 24, 2015 12:19 AM
Senate sends $30.3B budget
to Wolf as record-setting impasse looms
Trib Live By Brad
Bumsted Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, 10:42 a.m.
HARRISBURG —
Gov. Tom Wolf has 10 days to sign a $30.3 billion House-passed budget the
Senate sent to him Wednesday or the measure becomes law without his signature. The Senate voted 33-17 to send the bill to
the governor in the 176th day of a budget impasse, putting the onus on Wolf as
Pennsylvania was about to set a record Thursday for the longest budget
stalemate in at least 40 years. The
budget would increase spending by 3.7 percent but not raise state taxes. Wolf, a Democrat, did not say whether he
would sign or veto the bill. He
expressed disappointment and blasted House Republicans for scuttling a deal he
had cut with both Senate caucuses and House Democrats for a $30.8 billion
budget that would raise taxes but boost funding for public schools by $350
million, reform public pensions and make liquor system changes. It would have
increased spending 6 percent.
LNP Editorial: If Pa.
The LNP Editorial
Board December 23, 2015
THE ISSUE: The
previous modern-day Pennsylvania Harrisburg these days, Pennsylvania ’s state budget is beginning to
resemble “The Wizard of Oz.” Like
Dorothy, our poor state budget is wandering in search of its home. “There’s no place like the governor’s desk,”
our protagonist might be saying, clicking its ink-red heels without result. Playing the part of the Wicked Witch of the
West is any lawmaker who leaves Harrisburg
for Christmas without demanding at least a vote on a full-year budget. House Republican leaders, alas, seem to be
playing the parts of the Scarecrow (“If I only had a brain, I’d not keep
scuttling deals that would get this done”) and the Lion (“If I only had some
nerve, I’d at least permit a vote on the deal that passes muster with the
Senate and the governor”). They also are
playing the pretend-wizard, the man behind the curtain, who has no real answers
— only illusions.
Five more Tweets that explain
what's happening with the #PaBudget: Wednesday Morning Coffee
Penn Live By John L. Micek |
jmicek@pennlive.com Email the author | Follow on Twitter on
December 23, 2015 at 8:15 AM, updated December 23, 2015 at 8:18 AM
Good Wednesday
Morning, Fellow Seekers.
Now that Tuesday's parliamentary drama in the state House is out of the way, today is for all the marbles. Insurgent Republicans, joined by Democrats, will try to get a #PaBudget bill onto Gov. Tom Wolf's desk, thus ending the state's longest-ever budget stand-off. But, you ask, what of pensions? What of booze? What of taxes? What of the fiscal code and lobbyists hung by the chimney with care? Well on, Turzai! On Reed! On Corman and Wagner! On Christiana! On Evankovich, On Metcalfe and Vereb! Assuming today's push is successful, it can go one of two ways: Lawmakers might well press on with all those items ... ...Or ... they might wait until after Christmas, arguing that the approval of a general fund budget bill gives Wolf the authority to release money to schools and nonprofits and then come back and deal with all of it after the holiday. At least that's the impression we were left with after some conversations we had last night. So to bring you up to speed, here are the five (or so) Tweets that explain where things are with the budget on this 23rd day of December.
Now that Tuesday's parliamentary drama in the state House is out of the way, today is for all the marbles. Insurgent Republicans, joined by Democrats, will try to get a #PaBudget bill onto Gov. Tom Wolf's desk, thus ending the state's longest-ever budget stand-off. But, you ask, what of pensions? What of booze? What of taxes? What of the fiscal code and lobbyists hung by the chimney with care? Well on, Turzai! On Reed! On Corman and Wagner! On Christiana! On Evankovich, On Metcalfe and Vereb! Assuming today's push is successful, it can go one of two ways: Lawmakers might well press on with all those items ... ...Or ... they might wait until after Christmas, arguing that the approval of a general fund budget bill gives Wolf the authority to release money to schools and nonprofits and then come back and deal with all of it after the holiday. At least that's the impression we were left with after some conversations we had last night. So to bring you up to speed, here are the five (or so) Tweets that explain where things are with the budget on this 23rd day of December.
Auditor
General DePasquale Reopens Audit of Fell
Charter School
in Lackawanna County
Files
writ in county court to compel compliance by charter school, former management
company
Auditor General
DePasquale's website December 21, 2015
SCRANTON (Dec. 21,
2015) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said he has reopened an audit
released earlier this month of Fell Charter School, Lackawanna County, and
filed a writ in county court to obtain tuition, enrollment, and principal
certification documentation unavailable to auditors during the recent audit. “It is infuriating that Fell Charter
School
Despite a
contractual relationship with a management company, charter schools, like other
public schools, are required to retain records for a period of not less than
six years pursuant to the Public School Code. In addition, as schools
organized as public, nonprofit corporations, charter schools are subject to
other document retention requirements. DePasquale
said the reopened audit also will seek information on the certification of the
school’s principal who, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education,
has not held the required principal certification since the 2009-10 school
year, yet has continued to function as the charter school’s principal.
Blogger note: if these
programs were funded by businesses making charitable contributions instead of
diverting tax dollars this would not be an issue.
"As it stands as I write
this piece, the tax credits for this year will all disappear by Dec. 31, with
no budging from the governor."
Wolf, lawmakers must
reauthorize school tax credit program for needy kids: Kirk Hallett
PennLive
Op-Ed By Kirk Hallett on
December 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM, updated December 23, 2015 at 10:04 AM
Kirk Hallett is founder and director of The
Joshua Group in Harrisburg
The Joshua Group is
a nonprofit organization operating a Learning and Resource
Center on the 1400 block of Allison
Hill in Harrisburg .
Our mission is focused on the education of the youth in this city. We espouse
that education is the anti-poverty program that works. Our center is located right in the middle of the
worst poverty situations, offering a variety of educational programs to help
kids from the city get the most out of their academic experience. It might be
all they have to change the way things are.
To that end, several years ago, we started providing early childhood
classes at the center for any child on the waiting list of Head Start.
"But the unprecedented
federal intervention that resulted didn't do nearly enough to address all the
non-academic challenges that low-performing students bring to the classroom.
The federal scheme simply punished schools that aren't full of students who
show up ready and eager to learn. Teachers who took on the challenge of
educating those students were browbeaten for not being miracle workers."
Inky Editorial: Leaving no
child behind
by Inquirer
Editorial Board. Updated: DECEMBER
23, 2015 — 3:01 AM EST
President Obama and
Congress gave students and teachers across America a welcome holiday present
by completely revamping the well-intentioned but hopelessly flawed No Child
Left Behind education funding law. President
George W. Bush's signature domestic achievement, which was enacted 14 years
ago, forced schools to become academic pressure cookers and turned students
into "test-taking robots," as some critics put it. The "extras" that make a
well-rounded education and encourage the joy of lifelong learning - art, music,
physical education, critical thinking, civic participation - became
afterthoughts, or were sacrificed altogether.
No Child Left Behind was an understandable response to what Bush called
"the soft bigotry of low expectations." For too long, the poor
education many schools delivered to disadvantaged students had been tolerated
as just a grim fact of life.
PSBA New School Director
Training
School boards who will welcome new directors after the election should
plan to attend PSBA training to help everyone feel more confident right from
the start. This one-day event is targeted to help members learn the basics of
their new roles and responsibilities. Meet the friendly, knowledgeable PSBA
team and bring everyone on your “team of 10” to get on the same page fast.
- $150 per
registrant (No charge if your district has a LEARN Pass. Note: All-Access
members also have LEARN Pass.)
- One-hour lunch
on your own — bring your lunch, go to lunch, or we’ll bring a box lunch to
you; coffee/tea provided all day
- Course
materials available online or we’ll bring a printed copy to you for an
additional $25
- Registrants
receive one month of 100-level online courses for each registrant, after
the live class
Remaining
Locations:
- Butler area — Jan.
9 Midwestern IU 4, Grove City (note: location changed from Penn State New
Kensington)
- Allentown area —
Jan. 16 Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, Schnecksville
- Central PA — Jan.
30 Nittany Lion Inn, State College
- Delaware Co. IU 25
— Feb. 1
- Scranton area —
Feb. 6 Abington Heights SD, Clarks Summit
- North Central area
—Feb. 13 Mansfield University, Mansfield
Register here: https://www.psba.org/2015/09/new-school-director-training/
NSBA Advocacy
Institute 2016; January 24 - 26 in Washington ,
D.C.
Housing and meeting registration is open for Advocacy Institute 2016. The theme, “Election Year Politics & Public Schools,” celebrates the exciting year ahead for school board advocacy. Strong legislative programming will be paramount at this year’s conference in January. Visit www.nsba.org/advocacyinstitute for more information.
Housing and meeting registration is open for Advocacy Institute 2016. The theme, “Election Year Politics & Public Schools,” celebrates the exciting year ahead for school board advocacy. Strong legislative programming will be paramount at this year’s conference in January. Visit www.nsba.org/advocacyinstitute for more information.
Save
the Dates for These 2016 Annual EPLC Regional State Budget Education
Policy Forums
Sponsored
by The Education Policy and Leadership
Center
Thursday, February
11 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. - Harrisburg
Wednesday, February 17 - 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. -Philadelphia (University of Pennsylvania )
Thursday, February 25 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. -Pittsburgh
Wednesday, February 17 - 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. -
Thursday, February 25 - 8:30-11:00 a.m. -
Invitation
and more details in January
PASBO 61st Annual
Conference and Exhibits March 8 - 11, 2016
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
The Network for Public Education 3rd
Annual National Conference April 16-17, 2016 Raleigh , North Carolina
The
Network for Public Education is thrilled to announce the location for our 3rd
Annual National Conference. On April 16 and 17, 2016 public education advocates
from across the country will gather in Raleigh, North Carolina. We chose Raleigh to highlight the tremendous
activist movement that is flourishing in North Carolina. No one exemplifies
that movement better than the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, who will be the
conference keynote speaker. Rev. Barber is the current president of
the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, the National NAACP chair of
the Legislative Political Action Committee, and the founder of Moral Mondays.
Interested in letting our
elected leadership know your thoughts on education funding, a severance tax,
property taxes and the budget?
Governor Tom Wolf,
(717) 787-2500
Speaker of the
House Rep. Mike Turzai, (717) 772-9943
House Majority Leader Rep. Dave Reed, (717) 705-7173
Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Joe Scarnati, (717) 787-7084
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Jake Corman, (717) 787-1377
House Majority Leader Rep. Dave Reed, (717) 705-7173
Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Joe Scarnati, (717) 787-7084
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Jake Corman, (717) 787-1377
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