Philadelphia Daily Record

STATE SEN. VINCENT HUGHES explained details of his plan to jump-start

Penna.’s economy – part of an effort to develop a coherent alternative to Gov.

Tom Corbett’s 2012 budget which was announced Tuesday. Story page 5.

PhiladelphiaDaily Record

Vol. III No. 24 (394) Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia February 8, 2012

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T h e P h i l a d e l p h i aP u b l i c R e c o r d

C a l e n d a rFeb. 9- Petition Signing for

State Rep candidateBrian Sims at 215 S.Broad St., 2nd fl., 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Feb. 9- Steve Aldrich of IBEWLocal 269 invites all toreception in honor ofState Rep. Tina Davis atBailey’s Bar & Grille,6922 Bristol Emilie Rd.,Levittown, Pa. Host$1,000, Patron $500,Friend. $250, Supporter,$50. RSVP Seth Skver-sky (215) 550-1186.

Feb. 10- State Rep. W. CurtisThomas holds Job Fairat People for People,800 N. Broad St., 10a.m.-2 p.m.

Feb. 10- Fundraiser for cancersurvivor Vicki Cum-mings at SmokeEatersPub, 7681 FrankfordAve., 7-10 p.m. Dona-tion $35. If you cannotmake event, donation to“Friends of Vicki Cum-mings” c/o The LucasFamily, 3128 CottmanAve., Phila., PA 19149.For info [email protected].

Feb. 10- Arthur Green presents14th Ward Pre-Valen-tine’s Day Cabaret atBarber’s Ha., Broad &Oxford Sts., 9 p.m.-???Donation $10. For infoArthur Green (267) 986-7948.

Feb. 10- Fundraiser for sister ofJoe Rafter - survivor offire at her home.Fundraiser will be heldat Finngans Wake., 2ndSpring Garden Sts. 4-8p.m.

Feb. 10-12- Penna. ProgressiveSummit at ConventionCtr., Broad & Arch Sts.Variety of registrationfees, $50-$150. For infopaprogressivesummit.org.

Feb. 11- Bill Pettigrew launchesPetition-Signing Teamfor Republican Nat’lConvention Delegate atOxford Cir. BurgerKing, Castor Ave. nearRoosevelt Blvd., 10 a.m.

Feb. 13- Fundraiser for State Repcandidate Al Simpson atBreen’s Pub, Hunting-don Pk., 6-9 p.m. Ticket,$35, sold at door.

Feb. 15- State Sen. Larry Farneseaddresses Pt. RichmondCAN at Firm Hope Bap-tist Ch., 2313 E. AuburnSt., 7 p.m. For info (267)650-1668.

Feb. 17- Retirement Receptionfor Judge ThomasDempsey at City Hall,Conversation Ha., Rm.200, 4:30 p.m. Contribu-tion $10. RSVP Rose-mary [email protected].

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

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Gov. Tom Corbett thanked the

members of the House and Senate

for passing House Bill 1950,

which is a comprehensive Marcel-

lus Shale package. The Conference

Committee report passed today in

the House.

“After long negotiations and a lot

of hard work, we have reached a

consensus on how to address the

impacts in the Marcellus Shale re-

gions,” Corbett said. “I am very

pleased with the cooperative spirit

shown by the General Assembly

and their staffs while working to

resolve this complex issue. I look

forward to signing this legislation

into law.”

Last October, Corbett outlined his

Marcellus Shale proposal, which

followed the work of the Marcel-

lus Shale Advisory Commission

and includes a plan to help create

thousands of jobs for Pennsylvania

residents, to enhance protection of

our natural resources, and to move

the state toward energy independ-

ence. HB 1950 contains 24 of the

legislative recommendations of-

fered by the advisory commission.

“This legislation reaffirms our

strong commitment to safe and re-

sponsible natural gas development

here in Pennsylvania,” Corbett

said.

Once the bill reaches the Gover-

nor’s desk, he will have 10 days to

sign it into law.

Governor ApplaudsGeneral Assembly ForMarcellus Shale Law

EnvironmentalistCalls Bill ‘Giveaway’“Gov. Tom Corbett has chosen to

continue to stake the future of

Pennsylvania’s environmental,

economic and public health on

fracking by signing a natural gas

drilling impact fee that was passed

into law by the Pennsylvania legis-

lature,” said Charlie Kratovil, a

spokesperson for Food & Water

Watch.

“The Governor’s support for con-

troversial legislation that will take

away the rights of towns and cities

to regulate or restrict fracking

drilling is most alarming, but we

are also concerned that entrenching

the extractive industry in the state

budget will only force future law-

makers to choose between address-

ing dangers of fracking and

funding important programs like

schools, public safety, and social

services,” Kratovil said.

“The legislation will initiate

drilling impact fees, a major give-

away to the oil and gas industry,

which is happy to pay the rela-

tively small tax now required by

the State.



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“The broad powers granted to the Pennsylvania Util-

ity Commission in the bill are cause for serious con-

cern,” continued Kratovil. “In the event a town

exercises its right to regulate drilling with higher

standards than the State’s, the commission can order

the ‘impact fee’ payments to the municipality

stopped. This is precisely the type of framework for

which the fracking industry lobbied.

“In a classic case of putting the cart before the horse,

the Governor is only admitting the serious impacts

fracking has on communities after serious damage

has been done. In Pennsylvania alone, there have

been numerous cases of water contamination, several

toxic-chemical spills, and an explosion, all related to

fracking.

“Does the Governor really expect the citizens of

Pennsylvania to believe he will now begin to rein in

the industry that has been allowed to run amok and

that contributed over $1.6M to his own campaign?

“Corbett’s continued push for drilling flies in the face

of simple economics: The price of gas has gone down

precipitously, causing hesitation on the part of drillers.

More significant is that the official government esti-

mate for the amount of gas contained in the Marcellus

Shale was cut by 66% just last month. These new de-

velopments make it impossible for drilling to create

even a fraction of the overblown jobs estimates re-

peated by the industry and pro-drilling politicians.”

Hughes Touts PlanFor Investment, Jobs



Following Gov. Tom Corbett’s

budget address, Senate Democratic

Appropriations Chair Vincent

Hughes (D-W. Phila.) is pursuing a

concerted effort to coordinate State

legislators, local-government offi-

cials, and religious, educational,

business and labor leaders for an

alternative plan to boost job cre-

ation and economic investment in

Pennsylvania.

The Senator is engaging in a flurry

of news conferences across the city

today and tomorrow targeting dif-

ferent constituencies. This morn-

ing, he addressed the business

community at the University City

Science Center.

“The Governor un veiled a budget

proposal that does not make an in-

vestment in job creation, provides

no plan to lift Pennsylvania’s lag-

ging economy, and further slashes

job-training programs.”

Hughes said the state’s economy

“has stalled” in the last year. While

the national unemployment rate

has fallen by nearly one percentage

point since January 2011, Pennsyl-

vania’s has inched up for 7.5% to

7.6%, he said.

Hughes discussed four options to

boost the state’s economy. First

was creation of a Pennsylvania In-

vestment Bank Fund within the

Commonwealth Financing Author-

ity to finance proven economic-de-

velopment programs. Other exist-

ing programs have not been proven

effective; Hughes said they should

be “restructured.”

The Senator called on the Gover-

nor to issue Grant Application

Revenue Vehicle (GARVEE)

bonds to deal with the transporta-

tion-funding crisis in the short

term.

Hughes urged adoption of a “re-

sponsible” tax plan to target tax in-

centives and provide help to small

businesses, homeowners and

working families.

The Friends of the Wissahickon

has been awarded a grant of

$150,000 from the Community

Conservation Partnerships Pro-

gram administered by the Pennsyl-

vania Dept. of Conservation &

Natural Resources for capital im-

provements to the Andorra Natural

Area.

According to FOW Executive Di-

rector Maura McCarthy, the trails

in this area are severely degraded,

the habitat is marred by invasive

plants, and educational wayfinding

signage is dilapidated. FOW will

rehabilitate and redesign 18,000

linear feet of trail to benefit the

natural environment and user ex-

perience, install signage, and a

public, ADA accessible compost-

ing restroom. This project is con-

sidered Stage 4 of FOW’s

Sustainable Trails Initiative, a

project to restore 50 miles of natu-

ral surface trails in Wissahickon

Valley Park.

The Andorra Natural Area of Wis-

sahickon Valley Park serves as the

outdoor classroom of the Wis-

sahickon Environmental Center,

also known as the Tree House, the

most visited center within the

Philadelphia park system. FOW’s

work will make the trails a more

suitable educational facility for

visitors to the WEC.

DCNR funding for these types of

projects comes from the Keystone

Recreation, Park and Conservation

Fund (Key 93), the Environmental

Stewardship Fund (Growing

Greener 1) and federal funding

sources. “We are gratified to be the

recipient of these DCNR funds,”

says McCarthy. “It is a very com-

petitive funding process and we

are proud to have the State of

Pennsylvania place its trust in

FOW to make these improvements

on behalf of the public on park

land.”

Key partnering organizations for

this project are: the Philadelphia

Dept. of Parks & Recreation;

Commission on Parks & Recre-

ation; and the Philadelphia Water

Dept., Office of Watersheds.

“FOW would not be able to com-

plete this project without the sup-

port of our partners,” says

McCarthy, “particularly Parks &

Recreation.””

FOW, founded in 1924, is a non-

profit organization dedicated to

preserving the Wissahickon Valley.



DCNR $$s WissahickonTo Spiff Up Andorra

A YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST works on trail maintenance in

Andorra Natural Area.



A bill introduced by State Rep.

John Taylor (R-Kensington) to re-

duce tax assessments for residen-

tial properties in Business

Improvement Districts has passed

both the House and Senate and is

headed to the governor for his sig-

nature.

Introduced as HB 1582, the bill re-

duces the assessments on residen-

tial properties that are within

Business Improvement Districts.

“This would encourage people to

move into areas undergoing a

transformation, but not force the

residents to endure spikes in as-

sessments as the surrounding com-

munity improves,” Taylor said.

A BID is an area within which

businesses pay an additional tax or

fee in order to fund improvements

within the district’s boundaries.

When many BIDs were created, it

was not anticipated that so many

residential units would be built in

these areas throughout the Com-

monwealth, particularly in

Philadelphia.”

Under the bill, assessments on res-

idences in the BIDs would be re-

duced by 50%. It would also

change the way assessments are

made on condominiums to make

sure individual unit owners receive

the reduced assessment.

“This is designed to make our

BIDs more attractive to those

looking for an expanding commu-

nity without the risk of inflated

property-tax assessments,” Taylor

said. “This is a way of helping

everyone win.”

Taylor’s Bill To CutBID Tax Reaches Guv

Josephs Calls OnDeWeese To ResignState Rep. Babette Josephs (D-S. Phila.) demanded former House Speaker William DeWeese’s immediate res-

ignation following his conviction on corruption charges. DeWeese (D-Greene) was found guilty on Monday of

five felony counts, including conspiracy, theft and conflict of interest, but has vowed to keep his seat in the

General Assembly and to run for reelection.

“DeWeese has been convicted in a court of law and he has no business coming back to the House floor,”

Josephs said. “Lawmakers may not use state legislative resources and staff for campaigns, and Mr. DeWeese’s

conduct is a disgrace to himself and to the body he has served. I call on him to resign immediately and to

withdraw from the primary ballot. He’s a felon and he has to go.”

Josephs serves the people of Center City, Logan Square, Bella Vista and Gray’s Ferry. As the minority chair of

the State Government Committee, she is a powerful voice for Democratic values and a staunch advocate for

the city of Philadelphia.



Metcalfe LegislationTargets Copper ThievesLegislation sponsored by State

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) to

make the punishment more ade-

quately fit the crime for copper

wiring theft was approved by the

State House today.

Metcalfe introduced HB 2032 in

response to a group of local small-

business owners who alerted him

to the issue of criminals repeatedly

stealing copper wiring and other

types of secondary metals from

their private-company properties.

A secondary metal is defined as

“wire or cable commonly used by

communications and electrical util-

ities, copper, aluminum or other

metal, or combination of metals

that is valuable for recycling or

reuse as raw material.”

“Two individuals were daring

enough to attempt to steal copper

wiring from an operating electrical

substation located in the center of

my legislative district,” said Met-

calfe. “The incident caused an ex-

plosion that left approximately

3,800 residents in two counties

without electricity for several

hours and caused $61,000 worth of

damage. Final passage of my legis-

lation will create the increased

penalties that actually fit crimes of

this caliber.”

Under current law, individuals

charged with stealing copper

wiring are minimally charged with

theft for the unlawful taking or dis-

position of private property, re-

gardless of total property value.

Once enacted, Metcalfe’s legisla-

tion would create a “grading”

based offense in the Title 18

Crimes Code for thefts of second-

ary metals where criminals would

be “graded” and penalized based

on the total amount stolen.

In an effort to crack down on re-

peat offenders and district attorney

plea bargaining to minimal of-

fenses, HB 2032 would create a

third degree felony offense (maxi-

mum penalty seven years impris-

onment and/or $15,000 fine) for

individuals who are charged with a

third and subsequent theft of sec-

ondary metals, regardless of the

amount stolen.

“By signing this legislation into

law Pennsylvania can send an un-

deniable message, just like more

than 30 other states,” said Met-

calfe. “Repeat offenders who make

a criminal enterprise out of steal-

ing copper wiring or any other sec-

ondary metal should spend serious

time behind bars.”

HB 2032 now advances to the

State Senate for consideration.



Sam Katz AddressesBala-Narberth Rotary

FROM LEFT: Patrick Walsh, senior VP investments of Merrill Lynch, and program director for the

Bala Cynwyd-Narberth Rotary, welcomes Sam Katz to weekly luncheon at Al Dar Bistro. Katz spoke

about his film project, The Great Experiment, a series on the history of Philadelphia, as well as his role

at USA 250, the planning committee for the 2026 celebration of 1776. Katz also mentioned his various

political races for Mayor and Governor. 6ABC will air one of his history films this spring. Photo: Rick

Trivane

Philadelphia Daily Record

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