Category Archives: Issues

PA House Passes Corporate Tax Cut with Loophole Closure

In Pennsylvania, the state tax code has a notorious loophole that allows corporations to get away without paying millions of dollars in taxes every year, and this is known as the Delaware tax loophole. The PA House recently passed House … More after the jump

Posted in Budget/Taxes/Spending, Business, House of Representatives, State Government, The Economy

Climate Change & Renewable Energy Projects in Pennsylvania

While there are major solar energy and wind energy projects in Pennsylvania and one school district in the state has won an award for cutting their energy usage by one-third, a new report from the Pennsylvania Environmental Resource Consortium says … More after the jump

Posted in Environment and Energy, State Government

Philly Expands LGBT Rights, PA House/Senate Might

The struggle for equal human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Pennsylvania has seen significant developments this month. In the Pennsylvania Legislature, a bill has been introduced that would outlaw many forms of discrimination against LGBT people … More after the jump

Posted in Civil Rights, House of Representatives, LGBT / Gay Rights, Philadelphia and suburbs, Senate, State Government

Philly & Allentown Students Protest Education Cuts

Hundreds of students in two major cities in Pennsylvania recently organized, rallied, and marched in protest of continued slashing of education funding for their schools. In Philadelphia and in Allentown, students held signs and chanted to fight against cuts to … More after the jump

Posted in Budget/Taxes/Spending, Education, Northeast PA, Philadelphia and suburbs

Corbett Aide Says if Medicaid is Expanded it Will Be in 2015; Issue Lives for PA 2014 Gov. Race

This week a top aide to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett said that if the governor winds up accepting the expansion of Medicaid under ObamaCare, it probably won’t be until 2015. If that’s how it happens, it will mean hundreds of … More after the jump

Posted in Budget/Taxes/Spending, Elections, Governor Corbett, Health, Issues, National Politics, Social Services, State Government

Another Spill in PA Town Where Fracking Just Resumed in April After 200,000+ Gallon Spill in March

A natural gas drilling rig operated by Carrizo Oil and Gas from Texas in Washington Township, PA has spilled thousands of gallons of fracking waste-fluid in the surrounding environment. If you’re experiencing any deja vu right now, it may be … More after the jump

Posted in Environment and Energy, Miscellany, State Government

Over 50% of Pennsylvanians Support Real Marriage Equality

Straight from the new F&M poll today: That means, generally speaking, Pennsylvanians “generally” support marriage equality, 54-41 (up two points from last month) — while Pennsylvanians specifically support a PA constitutional amendment to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, 53-43 (up 11 … More after the jump

Posted in LGBT / Gay Rights

Upcoming Potential Milestone in PA Redistricting Reform & What You Can Do About It NOW

Every ten years, following the census, the political party in power gets to redraw the lines of congressional districts. This process, called redistricting, is often used by the party in power to do what is known as gerrymandering, or drawing … More after the jump

Posted in Action Alert, Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Corruption, Elections, Open Government

New Government Reform Caucus in PA & What They Miss – PA Headlines 2/4 Counterpoint PA 5/1-2/2013 (with transcript)

State Senator Rob Teplitz, a Democrat representing Dauphin and York counties, and State Representative Bryan Cutler, a Republican representing Lancaster county, have announced the formation of a new Government Reform Caucus in the Pennsylvania Legislature. The Government Reform Caucus has … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Corruption, House of Representatives, Open Government, Senate, State Government

PA Republicans Attack ObamaCare on Medicaid & Abortion – PA Headlines 1/4 Counterpoint PA 5/1-2/2013 (with transcript)

Welcome to Counterpoint PA, I’m your host, Aaron DiDonato. First up, PA Headlines. Pennsylvania Republicans are doing everything they can to weaken the implementation of President Obama’s health insurance reform law, often referred to as ObamaCare, here in Pennsylvania. Part … More after the jump

Posted in Governor Corbett, Health, House of Representatives, Social Services, State Government