Day: July 2, 2012

Big Win For School Choice In Pa.

Gov. Tom Corbett signed Saturday, June 30, a bill that creates a new school choice program and expands Pennsylvania’s popular existing one.
The enabling language was found in HB 761, the Omnibus Tax Reform Code and increases funding by $25 million to $100 million for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC) while adding $50 million for the new Education Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (EISC).
“This bill is a landmark victory for parental choice in Pennsylvania,” said Otto V. Banks, executive director of the REACH Alliance & Foundation.  
Both programs use corporate tax credits for funding.
The EISC  will fund scholarships for children from low and middle income families who reside in low-achieving school areas. A low-achieving school is considered a public school that ranked in the lowest 15 percent of its designation as an elementary school or a secondary school based on combined mathematics and reading scores from the annual assessment administered in the previous school year and for which the Department of Education has posted results on its website.
The passage marks the culmination of a two-year effort led by Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-15) and Sen. Anthony Williams (D-8) whose SB 1 this session provided the parental choice framework of statewide EITC expansion coupled with targeted funding for children in low achieving schools, REACH said.  SB 1 passed the Senate 27-22 last fall, marking the first voucher legislation clearing a chamber in 20 years.
Rep. Tom Quigley introduced HB 1330, which would have increased EITC funding to $100 million in the 2011-12 school year, increasing to $200 million in 2012-13. HB 1330 passed the House by a 190-7 vote.
 This month, Rep. Jim Christiana introduced HBl 2468, the bill that provided much of the legislative language included in the passage of this school choice victory.
“This victory would not have been possible without the leadership of Governor Tom Corbett, Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, Speaker of the House Sam Smith, Representatives Mike Turzai, Senator Dominic Pileggi, House and Senate leaders, Senator Jeffrey Piccola, Senator Anthony Williams and Representative Jim Christiana,” said Banks.   
  

Extreme Weather Forecasts Moves Independence Day Tea Party Indoors

This year’s Independence Day Tea Party will be moved inside to the Independence Visitors Center Ballroom, 6th and Market streets, due to forecasts of extreme heat and thunderstorms, according to Teri Adams of the Independence Hall Tea Party which is sponsoring the event.
Reservations and a $10 fee — $5 for children 12 and under– is now being requested as space is now limited. The fee covers the event which is 1-3 p.m. and the after party which ends at 4:30 p.m. There will be refreshments. For reservation information contact teriaa222@yahoo.com

Pa. Has A Budget

Gov. Tom Corbett signed the state budget at 11:30 p.m., June 30 just a half hour before the deadline expired.  

The budget calls for $27.656 billion in General Fund spending over the next fiscal year which is an increase of  $395 million according to the State House Republican Caucus.
The budget enacted June 30, 2011, however, called for $27.150 billion in General Fund spending according to the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget which would make the increase $506 million.
Also, the General Fund accounts for less than half the spending by the state. Commonwealth Foundation noted that its total operating budget in FY 2011-2012 was $63.4 billion taking into account $4.3 billion in special funds, $22.1 billion in federal funds and $9.8 billion in other funds.
Did you know that the state gasoline tax and motor vehicle registration fees do not go into the General Fund? No, they are dumped into the Motor License Fund which is one of the special funds. Money gained by the Pennsylvania Lottery also has a fund of its own and is not included with the General Fund. Here is a primer.
The House Republicans note that in this year’s budget “all 500 school districts will be funded at the same level or greater than 2011-12.“