Labor
Higher teacher salaries sound appealing, but can districts afford them long term?
Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal contains a provision that’s hard to argue with, at least on the surface: higher salaries for teachers. In his 2019-20 budget, Wolf provides nearly $14 million to bump up salaries in districts where teachers make less than $45,000 per year to start. According to state Department of Education records, 178 […]
Payday lenders just scored a win in Washington — will they try again in Pennsylvania? | John L. Micek
And, as ever, it’s those who are cheering the loudest for him that will end up suffering the most. Let's hope Pa. lawmakers have more sense.
Lawmaker who chaired Liquor Control Committee moves to lobbying role for Pa. brewers
Former Rep. Adam Harris, a Republican who spent 16 years in the General Assembly before retiring last session, has a new job leading outreach for Pennsylvania’s beer brewing industry. Harris was chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee in 2016 when the state reformed its liquor laws, including letting distributors sell six packs. “Brewers across Pennsylvania […]
This Pa. university helps single moms and their kids get out of poverty. The Wolf administration wants to copy that success
In his Tuesday budget address, Gov. Tom Wolf focused on ways to get Pennsylvanians into good-paying jobs, from more investment in early education to revamped workforce programs. He also highlighted the work of Misericordia, a 2,879-student liberal arts university in Northeastern Pa. The school “is home to one of only eight programs in the country that […]
In State of the Union, Trump calls for unity – will Pa. lawmakers buy in?
By Robin Bravender, Capital-Star Washington Bureau WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump implored Congress Tuesday to move past political gridlock in favor of bipartisan cooperation before he dug in in on the border security fight that threatens to shut down the government yet again. “We can make our communities safer, our families stronger, our culture richer, […]
This is why House Democrats are focusing on economic security for working families | Opinion
By Frank Dermody Many Americans have become discouraged with today’s politics of personal destruction and the influence of big money in campaigns. They are looking for something different. People want to vote for candidates up and down the ballot who will stand up for their ideals and fight for their interests. In 2018, more than […]
Democrats are happy with Wolf’s budget proposal — but want to go further
The reaction from Gov. Tom Wolf’s own party to his Tuesday budget address? It’s a start. Members of the Democratic minority from both chambers sees Wolf’s proposed budget as an uncontroversial kickoff to negotiations they hope to expand to include more policies in the coming months. “It’s consistent with the previous budgets of the governor, […]
Regional news outlet, RadioPa, has a new owner in Maryland Media One
Radio PA, a Keystone State broadcast stalwart that faced the prospect of closing up shop in April, has a new owner. Baltimore-based Maryland Media One LLC, which runs the Maryland News Network, says it’ll take over operations of the regional news network starting April 16. In a news release, Maryland Media said Radio PA’s current […]
Republican leaders praise Wolf’s proposed workforce initiatives, bristle at spending increases
State Republicans this afternoon had measured praise for Gov. Tom Wolf’s fifth budget proposal, saying that while they support his initiatives to develop Pennsylvania’s workforce, they may oppose proposals to increase overall spending. “I think we’ll break the normal tradition as the opposition to come out and ridicule or complain about the governor’s proposal,” Senate […]
Gov. Tom Wolf wants a higher minimum wage and more money for teachers — with no new taxes
Gov. Tom Wolf wants to raise the minimum wage, increase the base salary for teachers, and invest heavily in workforce development.
‘Pennsylvania must do better:’ Advocacy community splits on Wolf’s budget plan
Where you stand on the administration's proposal for the fiscal year that starts on July 1 largely depends on where you sit.
Read the full text of Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2019 budget address
The administration's $34 billion spending plan increases state spending by nearly $1 billion without any major tax increases.