Fish & Boat Commission lobbying for a part of gas tax
From The Somerset Daily American
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission is out stumping for a share of a gas drilling tax the state Legislature is expected to consider this October.
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State fair budget gets slashed for second year
From The Somerset Daily American
A 50 percent cut in state fair funding has many organizers concerned about the future of local fairs and festivals.
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Legislature moves to close Megan’s Law loophole
From The Somerset Daily American
Megan’s Law has a loophole for out-of-state registered offenders and state lawmakers are trying to close it.
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Education officials mixed on House measure aimed at fixing PSERS
From The Somerset Daily American
The House Bill that changes underfunded pension systems for state workers and public school employees would only “kick the can” further down the road, a local school district business manager said Friday.
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Metzgar has first amendment passed
From The Somerset Daily American
Text of Metzgar’s amendment: If a business operating within an incubator that is administered by a local sponsor relocates outside of this Commonwealth or transfers an ownership interest to an entity located outside of this Commonwealth, the business shall repay the local sponsor the full value of services and assistance the business has received that were funded by grants, loans or guaranteed loans received by the local sponsor under this act.
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Lack of funding delays projects
From The Johnstown Tribune Democrat
As state legislators scramble for ways to pay for much-needed highway and bridge improvements, a look at what might have been had the federal government approved the tolling of Interstate 80 shows Cambria and Somerset counties will have more than $24 million worth of work delayed, perhaps for many years.
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DEP chief calls for stricter water standards
From The Somerset Daily American
Changes to Pennsylvania’s water regulations are brewing, but final details — and the cost to municipalities, Marcellus Shale drillers and other area industries — remain cloudy.
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I-80’s ‘serious impact’
From The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat
JOHNSTOWN — The anticipated annual loss of $472 million caused by the federal government’s denial to toll Interstate 80 likely will have little impact on regional bridge and highway projects planned for 2010.
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States challenge health care bill
From The Somerset Daily American
State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar said the health care reform bill violates the 10th Amendment.
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Legislature tries to clean up mess it helped to create
From The Somerset Daily American
State Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar, R-Allegheny Township, said various legislative proposals have been introduced in the House to increase the minimum funding the state is obligated to provide to the retirement systems.
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School consolidation proposal dies quietly
From The Somerset Daily American
Gov. Ed Rendell, state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak and Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, want to consolidate the state’s 501 school districts into 100 or fewer.
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State forests under pressure to drill
From The Somerset Daily American
Approximately 10 percent of Somerset County’s state forests — totaling twice the size of Somerset Borough — are leased to private citizens or companies.
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Pols: Budget trouble looms
From The Altoona Mirror
BEDFORD - A question-and-answer session among state legislators, Bedford County business leaders and chamber of commerce members began with bad news about this year's state budget.
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