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News from Second and State

November 13, 2015

Weekly Wrap:

This was a busy week in the Commonwealth’s capitol city, and we’ve got news on a number of fronts. First, at long last, reports this week indicate that there is some movement to shake loose a 2015-2016 state spending plan. This year’s budget, now pushing five months late, could be wrapped up by Thanksgiving according to some lawmakers.

November 13, 2015

News from Second and State

November 6, 2015

Weekly Wrap:

With Tuesday having been Election Day, all was quiet in Harrisburg this week. For a recap on Tuesday’s big races, check out our blog from earlier this week: https://www.buchanangovernmentrelations.com/news-from-second-and-state-38/

A Look Ahead:

Only the House of Representatives will be in session next week, and a short week at that since Wednesday is Veterans’ Day. Nevertheless, several committees will be convening voting meetings and public hearings. Of note, the House Gaming Oversight Committee will hold public hearings on Monday and Tuesday: at Monday’s hearing they’ll discuss proposed changes to certain gaming license requirements, and on Tuesday, they’ll discuss fantasy sports and sports betting.

November 6, 2015

News from Second and State

November 4, 2015 Weekly Wrap: One year from now Pennsylvanians will head to the polls to elect the next President of the United States. Yesterday some will say the stakes were just as high, as three new Supreme Court justices were elected to the bench. The seats previously held by Chief Justice Ronald Castille (R), Justice Seamus McCaffery (D) and Justice Correale Stevens (R) were filled by three Democrats. The election of David Wecht, Kevin Dougherty and Christine Donohue give the Democrats a commanding five seats on the seven-member court.

November 4, 2015

News from Second and State

October 30, 2015

Weekly Wrap:

This week’s big news is as easy as ABC: we’ve got lots of things to report on including the Office of Open Records Chief Eric Arneson, the State budget and a special committee established in the State Senate.

Starting with “A”: the much anticipated decision from the Supreme Court in the case of Arneson v. Wolf was delivered this week, with the court finding that Gov. Wolf did not have the authority to remove Erik Arneson from his post as Executive Director of the Office of Open records without cause. Arneson had been appointed to the post in the waning days of the Corbett administration, only to be removed by Wolf shortly after his inauguration. The high court ultimately acknowledged that under the State’s Right to Know Law, “the OOR is a unique, independent agency charged with the delicate task of applying the Right to Know Law,” and there is a need to “insulate the OOR and its Executive Director form the potential for coercive influence from a governor to accomplish the purpose of the Right to Know Law.”

October 30, 2015

Worth Another Look: Special Committee on Senate Address

Yesterday, the State Senate assembled a special committee to investigate Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s competency to carry out the duties of her office. In August, Kane was charged with perjury, false swearing, obstructing the administration of law and abuse of office/official oppression, and her law license was suspended just last week.

All of this has called into question Kane’s ability to effectively serve as the State’s highest ranking law enforcement official, and whether or not she should be removed from office. The Pennsylvania Constitution provides two processes to remove a public official from office: impeachment under Article VI, Sections 4, 5 and 6, or removal by the Governor upon recommendation of the Senate under Article VI, Section 7.

October 27, 2015