As we say goodbye to 2014, we also say goodbye to the 2013-2014 legislative session. And while we’re looking forward to what’s to come in 2015-2016, we thought we’d take a moment to recap some of the best parts of the past two years.
Legislative Highlights
Over the course of the 198th session of the General Assembly, 4,068 bills were introduced. Of those, 337 – not even 10 percent – were signed into law. The headliners among those 4,000-plus bills include two on-time budgets, carefully crafted to spend over $29 billon dollars each, a Fiscal Code bill that is now the subject of litigation, and a bipartisan, comprehensive transportation funding bill that will not only repair Pennsylvania’s structurally unsound roads and bridges, but create jobs and move our economy forward.
Of the remaining bills signed into law over the last two years, other notable enactments include H.B. 939 (Act 155 of 2014) and H.B. 2278 (Act 173 of 2014). H.B. 939 reauthorized Chapter 14 of the Public Utility Code and amended the rules governing payment agreements and the termination of service, including prohibiting public utilities from terminating customers on Fridays. It also authorizes the PUC to assess electric generation suppliers and natural gas suppliers. H.B. 2278 imposed monthly reporting requirements on Marcellus Shale well operators.
The Department of Public Welfare is reinventing itself under a new name; H.B. 993 (Act 132 of 2014) changes its name to the Department of Human Services in order to better reflect the myriad services provided by the Department. Additionally, measures to improve the delivery health care are also under way: H.B. 1655 (Act 198 of 2014) established the “Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Advisory Council” that would provide recommendations to the newly named department on containing costs while increasing the quality of health care. Additionally, S.B. 1180 (Act 191 of 2014) expands the prescription drug monitoring program in an attempt to further reduce prescription drug abuse, and H.B. 1907 (Act 169 of 2014) provides clarification to patients as to when they are on observation status during a hospital visit.
School buses got safer and bigger this year: S.B. 57 (Act 9 of 2014) amends the Wiretap Act to allow audiotape on school buses in an effort to reduce bullying and bring more appropriate disciplinary actions, while S.B. 1312 (Act 85 of 2014) allows school buses to be up to 45 feet in length, similar to school buses in other states.
RACP Roundup
During the last two years, we secured $365 million in RACP funding for clients in just about every field imaginable. Grants were awarded to non-profit organizations, educational institutions, health systems, government authorities, financial institutions, professional sports teams, retail, energy producers and utilities.
Fond Farewells
We bid a fond farewell to several members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate over the course of the last two years. Retiring members hailed from the four corners of the Commonwealth and represented Republicans to Democrats by about two to one. In the fall of 2013, we lost the long-serving member and House Transportation Committee Chairman Dick Hess (R-78th). In early 2014, Sen. Mike Waugh (R-28th) resigned from the Pennsylvania Senate to oversee operations at the Farm Show. Rep. Ed Nielson (D-169) resigned from the Pennsylvania House in the spring of 2014 to take a seat on Philadelphia City Council. Representatives Greg Lucas (R-5th), Dick Stevenson (R-8th) , Deberah Kula (D-52nd), Sam Smith (R-66th), Gary Haluska (D-73rd), Jerry Stern (R-80th ), Todd Rock (R-90th) Ron Miller (R-93rd), Gordon Denlinger (R-99th), Rose Marie Swanger (R-102nd), Phyllis Mundy (D-120th), Paul Clymer (R-145th), Nick Micozzie (R-163rd) and Mike McGeehan (D-173rd) all announced their retirements this year as well.
Three members retired from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, but not from state government entirely—Representatives Michele Brooks (R-17th), Ryan Aument (R-36th) and Mario Scavello (R-176th) have been elected to the Pennsylvania Senate. And speaking of the Senate, retiring senators include Senators Ted Erickson (R-26th), Rich Kasunic (D-32nd), Mike Brubaker (R-36th), Jim Ferlo (D-38th) and Bob Robbins (R-50th).
We bid adieu to several other members who were defeated in either their primary or general election or drew a short straw in the redistricting game. Those members include Representatives Erin Molchany (D-22nd), Jesse White (D-46),Mike Fleck (R-81st), Rick Mirabito (D-83rd), Kevin Haggerty (D-112th), Mark Painter (D-146th) James Clay (D-179th) and J.P. Miranda (D-197th), as well as Senators LeAnna Washington (D-4th) and Tim Solobay (D-46th).
Regardless of why they’re no longer serving in the General Assembly, we thank all departing members for their service to the Commonwealth and wish them the best in their future endeavors.
Leadership Line-up
At the very end of the 2013-2014 session, each caucus held their leadership elections for the following year, and in some cases, we’re going to see a new sheriff in town come January.
Among the Senate Republicans, Joe Scarnati (R-25th) will continue to so serve as President Pro Tempore pending a full Senate vote on swearing-in day, January 6. However, the remainder of the Senate Republican leadership team has seen some re-shuffling: Jake Corman (R-34th) will take over as Floor Leader; Patrick Browne (R-16th) will become Chairman of Appropriations Committee; John Gordner (R-27th) is the new Whip; Bob Mensch (R-24th) is the new Caucus Chairman; Rich Alloway (R-33rd) is the new Caucus Secretary; Chuck McIlhinney (R-10th) is the new Caucus Administrator; and David Argall (R-29th) is the new Policy Chair.
The leadership team for the Senate Democrats will now include: Jay Costa (D-43rd), Leader; Vincent Hughes (D-7th), Appropriations Chair; Anthony Williams (D-8th), Whip; Wayne Fontana (D-42nd), Caucus Chair; Larry Farnese (D-1st), Caucus Secretary; John Yudichak (D-14th), Caucus Administrator; and Lisa Boscola (D-18th), Policy Chair.
On the House side, the retirement of House Speaker Sam Smith put the position third in line for the governorship up for grabs; Mike Turzai (R-28th) is the current Speaker-Designee, pending a vote by the full House of Representatives on January 6.
The remainder of the spots have been filled by the House Republican caucus as follows: David Reed (R-62nd), Leader; William Adolph (R-165th), Appropriations Chairman; Bryan Cutler (R-100th), Whip; Sandra Major (R-111th ), Caucus Chair; Donna Oberlander (R-63rd), Caucus Secretary; Brian Ellis (R-11th), Caucus Administrator; and Kerry Benninghoff (R-171st), Policy Chair.
Finally, the House Democrats have chosen the following leadership team: Frank Dermody (D-33rd), Leader; Joseph Markosek (D-25th), Appropriations Chairman; Mike Hanna (D-76th), Whip; Dan Frankel (D-23rd), Caucus Chair; Rosita Youngblood (D-198th), Caucus Secretary; Neal Goodman (D-123rd), Caucus Secretary; and Mike Sturla (D-96th), Policy Chair.
New Faces at Buchanan
In the last two years, Buchanan welcomed four new faces to its state government relations practice. Most recently, John Bane joined the firm after serving as the Assistant Director of Government Relations for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Lauren Orazi joined us last year after nearly 15 years of service in state government. Meghan Fisher and Alexandra Brunory came on board in October of 2013; Meghan had been Senior Government Affairs Representative at PPG Industries, and Alex was Legislative Director for Congressman Tom Price, MD (R-GA). Biographies for the newest members of our team and all of our state government relations professionals can be found on www.bipc.com.
Looking Forward
The 2015-2016 session promises to be no less interesting than sessions past. With newly elected democratic Governor Tom Wolf taking the reins on January 20 and a state legislature more heavily Republican than ever, there’s no magic eight-ball that can tell us what to expect come the New Year. However, as there are any new developments in our Capitol City, we’ll do our best to keep you posted. Check back to this blog or follow us on twitter @BuchananGov.