County & Local Issues

The County and municipal level regulation has become an area of increasing concern for business. Good relations are essential to facilitate the growth of business and the stewardship of our communities.

News

Sep 3, 2010 Philadelphia Daily News Clout column (Philadelphia Daily News) Chris Brennan Sep. 3, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- PHILLYCLOUT hears that two of Gov. Many of the challenges resulted from City Committee's decision to require at least 10 votes for write-in candidates to become committeemen -- a change in party rules that...    more...  
Sep 3, 2010 DA's 'bad check' collection program lands Jarbola in federal court lawsuit (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) Jarbola said keeps the recidivism rate for check bouncers to about 2 percent. Though Mr. Jarbola is named as a defendant in the suit, he is not the only district attorney who has the same collection program in place. Jarbola believes the suit should be bounced out of court. James J. Scanlon,...    more...  
Sep 1, 2010 Erie County Councilman Giles heading to China (Erie Times-News) Giles to seek county reimbursement for his travel expenses. Smith said that expenses related to council members' trips to conferences, meetings and other events are sometimes covered by county funds. "But this is more of a NACo initiative not directly connected to Erie County," Smith said....    more...  
Aug 31, 2010 Teen sues city, 3 suspended officers (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Miles' coat was a bottle of Mountain Dew. If we have to litigate it civilly, we will," Mr. Miles said. Paula Reed Ward: pward@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2620.    more...  
Aug 29, 2010 Editorial (The Daily Review (Towanda, Pa.)) On average, it costs $4 million to drill a single well in the Marcellus Shale. To do so would be to deprive local governments of equally needed revenue. At the county level here, for example, Commissioner Doug McLinko, a Republican, does not favor a severance tax.    more...  
Aug 29, 2010 In the face of energetic opponents, Dems trying to rally voters (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Wade to the homes of Democratic and independent voters. Connolly was working the opposite side of the street from Ms. She worked in the Obama Pennsylvania campaign in the primary and general elections in 2008.    more...  
Aug 29, 2010 New database details unpaid taxes in Pa. (Erie Times-News) The database lists 39,324 liens assessed since July 1, 2009, for $233 million in back taxes statewide. The state filed 33 liens against individuals and businesses in Erie County for unpaid taxes of less than $300, with the smallest lien for $111. That list contained Erie County property owners...    more...  
Aug 28, 2010 Speakers' list nearly doubles (The Evening Sun) The preliminary list was little more than half that number and, at the time, the hearing was expected to last two or maybe three days. And only 16 individuals and groups have registered to speak on the application of the Bushkill Group Inc., Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County. Now though,...    more...  
Aug 28, 2010 Minersville committee wants answers (Republican and Herald) Council is requesting more information and we are willing to provide it.    more...  
Aug 26, 2010 New county prison solicitor has suit against county (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) Solfanelli's) representation on the prison board, but might be him being paid by the county," Mr. Washo acknowledged issues like this are what commissioners try to avoid by contracting professional services through a request-for-qualification process. Solfanelli, who was unanimously approved by...    more...  
Aug 25, 2010 Rendell bid to tax oil profits draws industry, GOP critics (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Rendell's call for an oil company profits tax is part of his plan to generate $1 billion for fixing state roads, bridges and mass transit. Hanson, who added that he didn't think the oil company profits tax, as outlined by the governor, would even be legal. Mr. Rendell said, adding that they...    more...  
Aug 25, 2010 New juvie unit touted as 'model for state' (The Times Leader) To that end, he said, the income of parents is no longer considered in determining whether they can have a public defender.    more...  
Aug 25, 2010 U.S. Senate campaign is a race to the political middle (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) It ranked Sestak the fourth-most-liberal member of that delegation last year. Democratic Sens. Toomey is a frequent critic of both, and his campaign has called the stimulus "Joe Sestak's stimulus" and a "$787 billion boondoggle." Standing beside Sestak atop Mt. Washington yesterday, Hagel...    more...  
Aug 24, 2010 Scranton considers challenging Hughes' representation of Old Good Things (The Times-Tribune (Scranton, Pa.)) Hughes was appointed city council solicitor in January. Hughes as attorney for M&S Inc., Stanley Stadolny and Mario Piccolino, Judge Robert Mazzoni ruled in 2008 that Mr. Hughes could remain the defendants' attorney. "That case continues in litigation," said Carl Greco, SRA attorney. Mr.    more...  
Aug 24, 2010 Rendell wants $1B for transportation (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Bill Kortz, D-Dravosburg. "It's a real roll of the dice. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, head of the Appropriations Committee and a Rendell ally, couldn't predict whether there are enough House votes to pass the Rendell plan. Rendell pledged that won't happen, saying the proposed law would make it...    more...  
Aug 24, 2010 3rd-party hopefuls 'motivated' (The Times Leader) The action came after almost two days of intensive scrutiny of their petition signatures. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon, has introduced legislation that would eliminate unfair hurdles that obstruct ballot access for minor party and independent candidates. Third-party candidates must meet a minimum that...    more...  
Aug 22, 2010 EDITORIAL (Beaver County Times) ...governor. The AP reported Grove wants the highest ranking state senator, the president pro tempore, to fill the vacant governor's post. The issue of succession has come up twice in this decade. The first time was when Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker replaced Tom Ridge as governor and then-President...    more...  
Aug 20, 2010 EDITORIAL (York Daily Record) Seth Grove, R-Dover Township, is working on legislation to change the state Constitution and eliminate the job. State government is asking others to sacrifice and cut back. Yet cuts to the state Legislature's budget were minuscule in comparison. The pain should be shared. Eliminating the...    more...  
Aug 19, 2010 Rendell moves to close state budget deficit (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Rendell wanted to give districts $354 million in additional basic ed funds. Rendell wanted to give districts $354 million in additional basic ed funds. Rendell said he rejected a request by Senate Republican leaders to shift the additional $200 million for schools to future pension costs.    more...