State Feed: Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania: Council doesn't vote on political activity initiative

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:25:57 -0400

City Council on Thursday approved ethics laws that will regulate lobbyists for the first time and limit contributions to inaugurations, transition committees, and legal-defense funds. Council notably did not vote on the most controversial piece of the package - a ballot initiative that would allow Council to loosen restrictions on political activities by city employees.

Citizens' Rights Safe in Many States as State Legislatures End Sessions

Tue, 18 May 2010 14:23:59 -0400

Of the 45 states whose legislatures hold sessions in 2010, 27 of them have adjourned for the year, and 5 more will wrap up before the end of the month. Of the more than 80 bills dealing with the initiative and referendum process in various states, 51 of them would have reduced citizens’ initiative rights. Thanks to the work of activists in our coalitions, only 3 bills reducing citizen’s rights have passed and become law.

The Initiative Process Might Help Pennsylvania

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:49:51 -0400

Recently there have been calls to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania State Legislature as a way to trim the budget and reduce government spending. Earlier this week, Citizens in Charge Foundation president Paul Jacob addressed the issue in Pennsylvania in one of his Common Sense articles. You can read the article here.

Drink tax off ballot in Pittsburgh

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:50:27 -0400

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s decision to keep voter referendum questions about Allegheny County’s maligned drink tax off the ballot. The tax originally took effect in January 2008 as a 10-percent levy on poured drinks in bars and restaurants. The revenue was set aside for mass transit. It’s since been lowered to 7 percent.

Read the story from the York Daily Record

Pennsylvanian voters favor lifting alcohol ban

Tue, 19 May 2009 16:18:25 -0400

Morning voters in West Lampeter Township leaned toward lifting a 74-year-old ban on alcohol sales in their municipality, an informal survey of early balloting found.
In decisive but not overwhelming numbers, early-morning voters told the New Era they believe alcohol sales would “bring the township into the 21st century” and provide additional tax revenue and jobs.

Read the story at Lancaster New Era

Referendum would give voters a say on property taxes

Thu, 14 May 2009 12:35:23 -0400

A Berks county lawmaker wants to give Pennsylvania voters an opportunity to have a say on property taxes. Property tax reform has been debated in the Legislature for more than 30 years without any results.

Read the story from Phoenixville News

Scranton City Council politics erupts

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:34:03 -0500

With a primary election three months away, campaign politics flared Tuesday at Scranton City Council. Unhappy speakers took shots at the lawmakers running for re-election, then lawmakers took shots at each other.

Council bickered as it chose not to endorse changes to state law sought by state Rep. Kevin Murphy, D113, Scranton. The plan would alter state home-rule charter law to require a voter referendum for “excessive” tax increases by Lackawanna County. It would not directly affect the city.

More fairness cited in bill to change ballot measure rules

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:13:37 -0500

Arizona voters could have the chance next year to change how ballot measures make it into the polling place.

A bipartisan group of state legislators has drafted an overhaul package it wants to put before Arizonans in 2010. The package, introduced in the state House, was spurred by problems with several proposed 2008 ballot measures, including allegations of misleading titles, fraudulent signatures and bogus legal language.

Barring Democracy in Wilkes-Barre

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:52:32 -0500

You may have a right to change your government … but that doesn’t mean government won’t fight back.

In Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, there was disagreement over a firehouse, whether it should be decommissioned, or not. The mayor wanted it gone; citizens wanted it kept. So citizens got active, petitioning to change the town’s home rule charter to allow voters to decide.

Wilkes-Barre activist awarded $67,000

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:42:44 -0500

A federal jury on Tuesday awarded city fire house activist Denise Carey $67,000 in her civil rights suit against the city and Mayor Tom Leighton, but Carey says the citizens of Wilkes-Barre are the real victors in the case.

“This definitely was not about the money. It was about the principle,” a teary-eyed Carey said moments following the jury’s verdict in federal court in Scranton. “This is a win for the community. Now no one has to be afraid of speaking up. That was the point of this.”

Drink tax is kept off ballot

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:43:36 -0400

The Allegheny County Board of Elections yesterday ruled that both referendum questions on the 10 percent drink tax should not be placed on the November ballot because they are illegal according to county and state law.

In a ruling that seems to be a bigger blow to the restaurateurs and bar owners than it is to the county, the three judges temporarily serving as Board of Elections members unanimously declined to certify either ballot initiative.

Make it a double: 2 drink tax referenda likely

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:42:06 -0400

Drink tax foes will submit a petition to the Allegheny County board of elections today, setting the stage for dueling ballot referenda in November on the controversial levy.

Friends Against Counterproductive Taxation amassed far more than the required 23,006 signatures to get its measure on the ballot, said the group’s attorney, Cris Hoel. The referendum, if approved by county voters, would mandate that the tax on poured alcoholic drinks be reduced from 10 percent to no more than 0.5 percent.

Under Charter, Citizens Take 'initiative'

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:04:55 -0400

But the arguments for “initiative and referendum” changed his mind.

Based on citizen input, Miller, a member of the Lancaster County Government Study Commission, and seven others on the 11-person GSC voted in May to amend the draft charter to not only allow people to force the board of county commissioners to consider an issue — but to take that issue to the electorate.

LTE: Give Independents more opportunities

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:26:50 -0500

Regarding the Nov. 28 op-ed column by G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young, ”Reform without change is Pennsylvania’s peril”: The reform agenda must include an open and inclusive, non-partisan political process. As more and more voters become Independent (35 to 40 percent of the electorate) we clearly need to restructure the political process to give Pennsylvanians more direct political control over policy making, government, and the culture of political life. We cannot depend on the Democrats or Republicans to reform themselves. They won’t!

Sharon home rule transition steps outlined

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:01:25 -0500

Steps taken for local I&R.

Vote for Home Rule Charter in Easton

Fri, 02 Nov 2007 09:01:26 -0400

I&R included in new city charter.

Easton would control destiny with home rule

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:55:13 -0400

”The charter provides for an innovative and unified form of government with a full time mayor and six

part-time

council members comprising a seven-member

council…”