HARRISBURG, June 8, 2012 — Democratic Leader Jay Costa offered the following statement on the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s adoption of a final legislative reapportionment plan:
“The reapportionment process has been long and taken many twists and turns. Unfortunately, we are right back to where we started when the Supreme Court rejected the previous gerrymandered map. Incredibly, in the face of clear guidance from the court and provisions of the state constitution, the commission adopted another gerrymandered map.
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“The map contains way too many inexplicable and unnecessary partisan county splits that run afoul of the court and the constitution. Plus, Republicans applied different data when they drew eastern and western Pennsylvania districts. Their arbitrary and inconsistent use of performance data in the east and registration numbers in the west conveniently benefits their party.
“The final map is the product of a broken and bewildering process in which the public was ignored and negotiation was illusory. The map is a total disappointment.”
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HARRISBURG – June 4, 2012 – State Sen. Jay Costa, the Senate’s Democratic Leader, unveiled legislation that would institute protections for programs serving seniors if Gov. Tom Corbett decides to proceed with privatizing the management of the state lottery.
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“If the governor seeks to privatize the management of the state lottery, there must be parameters and safeguards in place to protect the Lottery Fund,” Costa said. “Programs for seniors are way too important to be put in jeopardy and should not be subjected to the profit imperative.”
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[/frame]Earlier this year, Corbett announced that he was exploring a private management agreement for the lottery, arguing that it is necessary to generate sufficient revenue to fund future costs. The governor’s office released their assessment that a private management team could have generated an extra $275 million in revenue had it been in place from 2008 through 2011.
“The legislation that I am offering does not interfere with the governor’s planned examination of privatization,” Costa said. “My bill puts teeth into the process and ensures that programs helping seniors are not jeopardized, workers are not threatened and that there is proper oversight.”
Costa said his plan relies heavily on openness, public accountability and scrutiny. The lawmaker said his legislation would require the following as a part of the management contract:
- Contracts cannot be longer than five years;
- Control is retained over significant business decisions – the lottery cannot be sold;
- Information may be demanded for any aspect of lottery operations;
- Advance notice must be given about operating decisions that impact public interests;
- Principal offices must be located in Pennsylvania;
- A percentage of the business must be reserved for minority-owned enterprises.
Costa said that an important aspect of his legislation is the public review of the proposed plan. The contact should be open and done through public bidding and the selection based on stringent bidding protection.
“My plan requires that prior to the selection of a vendor, a public hearing is held and the two finalists unveiled,” Costa said. “I also believe it important for the governor to make the final decision and that the reason he choose one or the other bidder be disclosed.”
The Department of Revenue would be required to report back to the General Assembly on a quarterly basis and the entire operation can be completely investigated in the third and fifth year of the contact.
Costa said the language in the bill is patterned after a similar proposal in Illinois which recently privatized its lottery management.
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HARRISBURG, June 4, 2012 – Top Senate Democrats today asked Gov. Tom Corbett to release details of the deal that will bring a petrochemical cracker plant to Western Pennsylvania.
In light of recent reports asserting that the deal with Shell Chemical was sealed with expensive long-term tax breaks, Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Appropriations Chairman Vincent Hughes and Finance Chairman John Wozniak have requested a meeting with Corbett administration officials to discuss details of the agreement.
In a letter sent today, the three Democrats reasserted their praise for the administration’s effort to bring a significant number of jobs to Beaver County, but noted that there is little time left in the current budget negotiations to review complicated – and perhaps controversial – tax and revenue proposals.
“Therefore, it is vital that the members of the committees who handle tax and revenue legislation be informed immediately of possible fiscal impact,” the letter said. “It is critical that the legislature and the citizens of Pennsylvania have all the time possible to examine, consider and possibly amend a plan that could have costs and implications well into the next generation.”
After months of negotiations with several states, Shell Chemical announced in March their intention to develop a $4 billion cracking plant on the site of a soon-to-be-abandoned zinc plant in Beaver County.
The Corbett administration and industry officials said such a plant would generate as many as 10,000 construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions in a region that has been hit hard by the collapse of the steel economy and the recent recession.
FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER:
Dear Governor Corbett:
As you know, Senate Democrats were quick with praise for your administration’s efforts to convince Shell Chemical to develop their petrochemical cracker plant in Western Pennsylvania.
The jobs and economic development from such a facility would be a tremendous boost to a region hit hard by a changing economy and the recent recession. However, there are a number of questions which have arisen and growing indications that important details of the arrangement with Shell have not been disclosed to the members of the General Assembly.
We are sure you are aware of public reports asserting that there are long term tax and revenue implications. Therefore, it is vital that the members of the committees who handle tax and revenue legislation be informed immediately of possible fiscal impact. Then, the full General Assembly should be briefed.
With less than a month to go before the budget deadline, we ask that members of your
administration privy to the particulars of the petrochemical cracker deal meet with Democratic members of the Senate Appropriations and Finance Committees to explain legislative action that might be necessary to consummate the deal with Shell.
It is critical that the legislature and the citizens of Pennsylvania have time to examine, consider and possibly amend a plan that could have costs and implications well into the next generation.
We are available to meet at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Jay Costa
Vincent J. Hughes
WILKES-BARRE, June 1, 2012 – – Northeastern Pennsylvania state Sens. John Yudichak and John Blake today welcomed Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Vince Hughes (D-Philadelphia) to the site of a stalled construction project in Luzerne County to announce the details of a $2.8 billion plan that would upgrade Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and create thousands of jobs.
“Our plan will not only put Pennsylvanians back to work, but it will provide the necessary funding to move forward on critical transportation projects like the South Valley Parkway project where we are standing today,” Yudichak said. “The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Plan will not only improve the quality and safety of our roads and bridges, but will create thousands of jobs and encourage business development.”
The Senate Democrats’ “Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Plan” involves creative new solutions to leverage existing federal, state and private resources in support of $2.8 billion in new infrastructure investment.
At the core of the plan is the creation of a new tax incentive program that would fund $1.5 billion in water, sewer and public transit infrastructure improvements. The principal on the $1.5 billion in bonds would be paid from already earmarked shale tax revenues and local contributions for mass transit projects. The plan would also use federal GARVEE bonds to generate $1 billion to fund a short term transportation improvement plan.
“Our proposal is a fiscally responsible way to repair our infrastructure without overburdening future state budget or increasing taxes,” Blake said. “Pennsylvania – and especially Northeastern Pennsylvania – needs jobs. Investing in transportation and other public works infrastructure can provide them.”
Another facet of the plan would refocus $167 million now available through the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to make infrastructure investments for new commercial and industrial real estate developments. These can attract new businesses as well as support in-state business expansion while financing more small business loans and new venture capital incentives.
“Without raising any taxes, the Senate Democratic plan will create jobs and make an investment in the future of Pennsylvania by improving and upgrading our infrastructure,” Costa added. “This is a smart investment for the future of Pennsylvania and also a proven way to positively impact the state economy.”
Finally, the Senate Democratic infrastructure investment plan will sustain the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) program to invest $60 million through our major academic research institutions for life science research and development.
“Senate Democrats understand that the clearest path to improving Pennsylvania’s economy is through targeted investment in our infrastructure,” Hughes said. “We have a real plan with clear, innovative solutions to leverage existing federal, state and private equity resources to address the dire needs of Pennsylvania’s infrastructure.”
Many other local business leaders and elected officials also participated in the news conference to lend their support to funding improvements to Pennsylvania’s infrastructure.
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Sen. Costa (left) welcomed former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward to the Senate chamber. Ward was honored by the governor and both chambers of the General Assembly for his football career as well as his volunteer work in the community.
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Senator Costa Honors Hines Ward on the Senate Floor :: May 22, 2012
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Hines Ward Speech on Senate Floor
HARRISBURG – May 14, 2012 – Under a bill to be introduced by state Sen. Jay Costa, the practice of Neighborhood Improvement Districts counting unreturned ballots as “yes” votes in district elections would be discontinued.
A Neighborhood Improvement District is a limited geographic area within a municipality in which a special tax is levied for the purpose of promoting the economic and general welfare of the district.
“Under the current law, when property owners within a Neighborhood Improvement District have a chance to vote for the approval, amendment or disapproval of a plan, a ballot that is not returned is counted as a ‘yes,’” Costa said. “That is unfair and unfortunate and the vote should not be counted one way or the other.”
Costa (D-Allegheny) said that the legislation, if enacted, would bring fairness and balance to the system of tabulating votes in a Neighborhood Improvement District.
The Forest Hills lawmaker said that the issue was brought to his attention by a constituent who requested the measure in response to the formation of a local improvement district on the South Side.
“This is common-sense legislation that closes a loophole in the Neighborhood Improvement District Act,” Costa said. “I am hopeful the bill will move quickly through the legislative process.”
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