Center On Regional Politics

Bulletin Volume 2, Number 3 | Fall 2013

A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR PUBLIC PENSIONS, SCHOOL FUNDING, AND ARTS AND CULTURE TOP CORP’S 2014 AGENDA As Temple’s Center on Regional Politics begins its second year, we look forward to working on ways to address two Continued work on reforming and funding public pensions, huge and inter-related challenges that face our region and helping rebuild Pennsylvania’s state education funding the Commonwealth: the rising costs of funding public formula, and identifying options to strengthen the arts and pensions and the increasing strains of adequately and fairly culture sector in Southeastern Pennsylvania top the 2014 funding public education. Polls shows schools are a top agenda for Temple’s Center on Regional Politics (CORP), as concern of voters. approved by its Executive Committee in November. Modest increases in the state’s basic education subsidy in the wake of the recession have been overtaken by even “These issues, all of which involve large public finance larger increases in the costs of funding the Public School challenges and could require the restructuring of delivery Employees’ Retirement System, which has an unfunded systems, have eluded durable solutions for many years,” liability of $29 billion. CORP’s Fall 2012 Issue Memo, said Joseph P. McLaughlin, Jr., center director, “despite January 2013 Board of Fellows Symposium, and June 2013 widespread agreement of their importance to the Working Group Report raised the visibility of the pension economy and quality of life in our region. problem, influenced the debate, and identified options. During 2014, we will attempt to build on that momentum. “We hope to improve public understanding of the challenges and opportunities and to help identify politically Even steeper pension funding increases loom in the feasible options to make progress in dealing with them.” future for the Commonwealth, school districts, and municipalities, all supported by the same taxpayers. Having co-sponsored a symposium on reforming Meanwhile, the formula for distributing state aid to Philadelphia’s taxes with the Pew Charitable Trusts, CORP schools is in need of updating or rebuilding to reflect also will continue to work on ways to improve the current demographic and fiscal realities. Our goal is to competitiveness of the city’s tax structure, which is heavily explore options for consideration by the governor and impacted by both pension and school funding challenges General Assembly when they take office in January 2015. and which has indirect effects on the regional economy. In addition, CORP will focus on ways to strengthen the region’s arts and cultural institutions, which are important Changing the dialogue on public pensions economic assets facing major economic challenges. Schools, pensions, arts: our menu for 2014. CORP also At the Executive Committee’s direction in 2012, CORP will respond to opportunities to contribute ideas to conducted research, organized a symposium, convened the public dialogue on other important issues, with the a working group of key public and private leaders and approval of our Executive Committee or the relevant experts, and issued several reports on public pension Policy Committee co-chairs. Please stay tuned. issues in Pennsylvania and the Southeast Region. This work culminated in a report in June entitled “What to Do about Joseph P. McLaughlin, Jr., Director Public Pensions? Options for Funding and Reform.” The

TempleCenter University on Regional Politics Center on www.temple.edu/corpRegional Politics Bulletin | Volume 2, Number 3| Fall 2013 report highlighted options for making pension funds more Pennsylvania is one of just three states (with Delaware sustainable that are now under discussion in Harrisburg, and North Carolina) in the nation without a standardized including “stacked hybrid” plans that combine defined- funding formula. Others note that the state erred in benefit and defined-contribution components. using federal stimulus funds not just to stabilize but to expand school aid, making painful cuts inevitable as the The report also suggested that the 1% Philadelphia sales stimulus funds faded and recovery faltered. Although much tax due to expire on June 30, 2014, be extended and attention has been focused on this issue as a failure of the dedicated to reducing the City’s $4.8 billion unfunded last few years, the reality is that, with brief exceptions, the liability, accompanied by changes to make the pension Commonwealth has not had a stable and durable school system more sustainable for plan members and taxpayers funding formula for most of the last 20 years. going forward. This option became part of the public dialogue during the 2013 budget season, as the state and A usual formula works from a base cost, or what’s City searched for ways to provide financial support to the needed to meet academic standard (used by 36 states); school district as well as address the City’s pension funding formula factors like poverty (30 states); English language problems. learners (27 states); disability (25 states); if students are in foster care, neglected, etc.; and school district factors A number of public and private sector leaders represented like size and local property taxes (29 states). Although in the working group have asked that CORP continue Pennsylvania uses such factors to distribute relatively small to work on this subject, as it seems likely that the annual increments in the basic education subsidy, the bulk issue will remain a high priority on the agendas of the of public education funding is simply a re-enactment of Commonwealth and its municipalities for the foreseeable older distributions whose relevance to current needs has future. CORP’s working group report noted that this type decayed. By some accounts, the era of comprehensive and of research-based consensus-building activity took place in durable school funding formulas in Pennsylvania ended in Lexington, Kentucky and ultimately led to reforms in the 1992, and attempts to enact such formulas since then have pension system and financial stability for the city. been fitful and short-lived.

Finding new options to fund public schools The effects of the recession and the rising costs of school pensions have squeezed the ability of both the state and Public education continuously ranks in public opinion polls local school districts to fund classroom instruction, making as one of the most important issues facing Pennsylvania it more important that the state funds available be used today, in some polls ranking even higher than concern in a more efficient and transparent manner. Although the about jobs. (See the graph below.) Critics contend that Commonwealth spends more state funds in the budget’s basic education line item than at any time in history, other

Most Important Problem (MIP) Facing PA 60

50

40 All economic issues

30 Education, Schools 20 Unemployment, Personal Percent of Percent of Respondents 10 Finance

0 Nov. Feb. Aug. Aug. Oct. Aug. Aug. May Aug. Oct. 2005 2006 2006 2007 2010 2011 2012 2013 2013 2013

Sources: MIP for unemployment and personal finance are directly from the Franklin and Marshall College Poll. These responses are combined with concern about taxes and the economy in the Pennsylvania Policy Database (www.temple.edu/papolicy) recoding for fiscal and economic issues. Temple University 2 Center on Regional Politics Bulletin | Volume 2, Number 3| Fall 2013

Average State Share of State + Local Education Funding for critical line items that affect the ability of school 5 County Southeast Region districts to support classroom instruction have 28% been cut or eliminated in the wake of falling state revenues. 27% 26% Further, the Commonwealth and local districts 25% have had to increase their payments to the

24% statewide pension system for school employees by a combined $1 billion since 2009, and these 23% payments are projected to escalate by 155%, 22% or an additional $3 billion, by FY 2018. Most of 21% these pension contributions are needed to pay 20% Five for services performed in the past, not to pay for County Average 19% current or future school operations. Many school districts -- and not just in distressed urban or 18% Percentage of State Share of State + Local Education Funding Education Local + State of Share of State Percentage rural areas -- have had to raise taxes, reduce their complement of teachers and other employees, Source: PA Department of Education increase class sizes, and curtail programs like art, music, and athletics. In response, some legislators Average State Share of State + Local Education Funding for are seeking to eliminate school property taxes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties and replace the revenue with state taxes. Nearby 28% graphs summarize declining state aid, and a 27% table on page 5 and 6 documents pension cost 26% increases for Southeast school districts. 25%

24% In addition to dealing with these budget

23% pressures, local schools and teachers are

22% expected to meet more rigorous federal, state, and professional standards for measuring the 21% educational progress of students. The combined 20% 4 County fiscal and educational pressures on schools will 19% Average increase demands for a rational and transparent 18% funding system. Percentage of State Share of State + Local Education Funding Education Local + State of Share of State Percentage The General Assembly has already recognized Source: PA Department of Education that its special education formula is outdated and State Share of State + Local Education Funding for in need of an overhaul. The House and Senate Philadelphia School District unanimously passed Act 3 of 2013 establishing a 64% bipartisan commission to report in November on 63% recommended revisions to its method of funding 62% this critical component of basic education. Any

61% effort to develop a more rational basis for the rest of basic education funding needs to take 60% account of the work of this commission. 59% 58% The challenge for CORP is to identify options for 57% improving the fairness, efficiency, predictability, Phila. 56% School and transparency of school funding for District 55% consideration by a newly elected governor and the General Assembly in 2015. 54% Percentage of State Share of State + Local Education Funding Funding Education Local + State of Share of State Percentage

Source: PA Department of Education

Temple University 3 Center on Regional Politics Bulletin | Volume 2, Number 3| Fall 2013

Average State Share of State + Local Education Funding for The last legislative attempt to secure funding emerged All Pennsylvania School Districts during state budget discussions in 2009-10. Hoping to 43% raise $100 million in new tax revenue, key negotiators

42% proposed to eliminate the state sales tax exemption

41% for cultural events - to include theater, concerts, ballet,

40% museums and similar activities - yet exclude motion picture and sporting events. The region’s arts and 39% culture sector has for many years sought a dedicated 38% tax similar to those levied in other metropolitan areas. 37% According to a 2007 report issued by the Federation of 36% Tax Administrators, 31 states levy a sales tax (or similar 35% tax) on admissions to cultural or arts events. While

34% Statewide Pennsylvania is not among this group, the Commonwealth Average 33% does allow local governments to impose an amusement

Percentage of State Share of State + Local Education Funding Education Local + State of Share of State Percentage tax through the Local Enabling Act (P.L. 1257, No. 511). Philadelphia levies a 5% sales tax on tickets to an array of Source: PA Department of Education activities including arts, cultural, and sporting events. Reforming Philadelphia taxes remains an A myriad of government programs makes up 7% of the important issue total public funding dedicated to non-profit arts programs, but as government budgets continue to feel the effects More than 200 civic, business, labor, and political leaders of a slow economy, arts and culture projects continue attended a symposium on Philadelphia tax policy co- to suffer from leveled or decreased public funding. This sponsored by CORP and Pew’s Philadelphia Research trend is reflected by the recent spending package released Initiative on May 3, 2012 at the Pennsylvania Convention by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee in July that Center. Six city and state legislators who are members proposes a 49% funding cut for the National Endowments of CORP’s Board of Fellows responded to a panel of for the Arts, as well a state budget agreed to in June that economists, civic leaders, and fiscal and tax experts. The offered the arts community modest to level funding from experts largely agreed that if the City could reduce its the Commonwealth. Ranked first in job creation, arts and reliance on wage and business taxes, it would realize culture offer the Southeast both economic and quality of gains in the value of real estate and hence property tax life advantages; however, varying levels of prviate funding revenues. Perhaps the chief obstacles to further progress commitments and the lack of a dedicated revenue handicap are the fiscal challenges of meeting public school and City the community’s ability to plan ahead. Providing 10.9 jobs pension funding needs. CORP will continue working with per one thousand residents, arts and culture have the tax experts and constituencies who support movement in potential to help the region’s overall economy grow if this direction. supplied with meaningful and consistent support.

Stabilizing the region’s arts and culture sector GPCA data and recent in-depth reporting by the Philadelphia Inquirer show increasing numbers of the According to the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance region’s arts institutions and cultural facilities are (GPCA), the arts and culture sector generates more operating in the red, with some engaging in mergers or than $169 million in tax revenue for local and state contemplating bankruptcy, a path already taken by the governments, 44,000 full-time jobs, and $3.3 billion in Philadelphia Orchestra. The Inquirer’s series has raised the direct and indirect spending. From hotels to restaurants, question of whether the number and scope of arts and retail, tourism, and transportation, the effects of the arts culture facilities exceeds the demand, thereby suggesting transcend geographic and industry lines. However, despite a need not only to research funding opportunities but to its economic footprint and the significant quality-of-life provide neutral grounds for discussion of ways to achieve advantages it provides to the region, this community is efficiencies within the arts and culture community itself. ailing from the decline of philanthropic assistance, and CORP will coordinate its efforts with the Metro Caucus from unpredictable (and in most cases decreasing) public and the Pennsylvania Economy League, which are working financial support as other pressing issues, such as funding on a white paper to document the importance not just of schools, prisons, and pension obligations, overwhelm arts and culture but other regional assets, such as parks federal, state, and local budgets. and open space.

Temple University 4 Center on Regional Politics Bulletin | Volume 2, Number 3| Fall 2013

MANDATED PENSION INCREASES SQUEEZE SOUTHEAST SCHOOL BUDGETS Southeast Pennsylvania’s 62 school districts had to increase their pension contributions by $61 million, or an average of almost 42%, between FY 2011-12 and FY 2012-13, while the state’s basic education subsidy was flat-funded. Districts were thus forced to raise taxes, cut budgets, or do both. On average, local districts pay 44%, and the state 56%, of the employer contributions. The state increased its basic education subsidy by $122.5 million for FY 2013-14. State and local pension fund increases would be even larger if the legislature had not suppressed contributions in the short run, pushing the burden of reducing the system’s $29 billion unfunded liability further into the future.

COUNTIES and DISTRICTS 2011-12 Payments ($) 2012-13 Payments ($) % Change Difference ($)

BUCKS BENSALEM TOWNSHIP SD 2,243,445.06 3,230,144.82 43.98% 986,699.77 BRISTOL BOROUGH SD 395,127.81 541,616.48 37.07% 146,488.67 BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SD 2,330,402.64 3,165,766.68 35.85% 835,364.04 CENTENNIAL SD 2,163,789.05 3,061,770.83 41.50% 897,981.78 CENTRAL BUCKS SD 5,757,337.77 8,332,177.09 44.72% 2,574,839.33 COUNCIL ROCK SD 4,576,515.46 6,542,549.73 42.96% 1,966,034.27 MORRISVILLE BOROUGH SD 325,340.78 432,271.06 32.87% 106,930.28 NESHAMINY SD 3,084,773.67 4,320,650.22 40.06% 1,235,876.55 NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY SD 686,123.52 1,016,472.52 48.15% 330,349.00 PALISADES SD 715,030.81 1,050,264.84 46.88% 335,234.03 PENNRIDGE SD 2,407,952.87 3,461,058.77 43.73% 1,053,105.90 PENNSBURY SD 3,745,131.32 5,330,472.55 42.33% 1,585,341.23 QUAKERTOWN COMMUNITY SD 1,804,172.32 2,617,227.89 45.07% 813,055.56 CHESTER AVON GROVE SD 1,180,989.43 1,591,816.39 34.79% 410,826.96 COATESVILLE AREA SD 2,133,253.72 2,926,247.43 37.17% 792,993.71 DOWNINGTOWN AREA SD 3,224,585.09 4,714,015.82 46.19% 1,489,430.72 GREAT VALLEY SD 1,543,435.34 2,163,036.22 40.14% 619,600.88 KENNETT CONSOLIDATED SD 1,284,539.59 1,809,432.55 40.86% 524,892.96 OCTORARA AREA SD 750,238.60 1,091,418.52 45.48% 341,179.92 OWEN J ROBERTS SD 1,622,544.53 2,335,014.97 43.91% 712,470.44 OXFORD AREA SD 740,522.84 1,035,115.69 39.78% 294,592.85 PHOENIXVILLE AREA SD 1,287,953.25 1,814,354.04 40.87% 526,400.79 TREDYFFRIN-EASTTOWN SD 2,350,661.40 3,353,992.93 42.68% 1,003,331.53 UNIONVILLE-CHADDS FORD SD 1,448,326.58 2,089,162.04 44.25% 640,835.46 WEST CHESTER AREA SD 3,681,282.92 5,167,584.56 40.37% 1,486,301.65 DELAWARE CHESTER-UPLAND SD 576,202.06 886,229.88 53.81% 310,027.83 CHICHESTER SD 1,139,930.45 1,554,709.00 36.39% 414,778.56 GARNET VALLEY SD 1,839,727.25 2,548,028.35 38.50% 708,301.09 HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP SD 1,872,379.48 2,867,337.87 53.14% 994,958.39 INTERBORO SD 1,075,396.94 1,446,807.41 34.54% 371,410.47 MARPLE NEWTOWN SD 1,331,104.86 1,906,089.79 43.20% 574,984.94 PENN-DELCO SD 966,328.82 1,401,445.19 45.03% 435,116.37 RADNOR TOWSHIP SD 1,583,005.42 2,232,796.04 41.05% 649,790.62 RIDLEY SD 1,853,050.37 2,572,881.08 38.85% 719,830.71 ROSE TREE MEDIA SD 1,622,691.51 2,281,174.82 40.58% 658,483.31 SOUTHEAST DELCO SD 897,187.40 1,242,560.32 38.50% 345,372.92 SPRINGFIELD SD 1,242,100.45 1,612,618.38 29.83% 370,517.93 UPPER DARBY SD 2,910,322.30 3,850,773.63 32.31% 940,451.33 WALLINGFORD-SWARTHMORE SD 1,354,300.69 1,943,966.30 43.54% 589,665.60 WILLIAM PENN SD 1,049,856.13 1,498,576.44 42.74% 448,720.31

Temple University 5 Center on Regional Politics Bulletin | Volume 2, Number 3| Fall 2013

MANDATED PENSION INCREASES SQUEEZE SOUTHEAST SCHOOL BUDGETS (continued from page 5) COUNTIES and DISTRICTS 2011-12 Payments ($) 2012-13 Payments ($) % Change Difference ($)

MONTGOMERY ABINGTON SD 2,887,686.49 4,305,725.25 49.11% 1,418,038.76 CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP SD 1,948,278.71 2,769,553.36 42.15% 821,274.66 COLONIAL SD 2,028,445.01 2,928,782.82 44.39% 900,337.81 HATBORO-HORSHAM SD 1,765,692.86 2,592,146.11 46.81% 826,453.25 JENKINTOWN SD 263,633.31 389,880.55 47.89% 126,247.24 LOWER MERION SD 4,217,442.69 6,674,379.42 58.26% 2,456,936.73 LOWER MORELAND TOWNSHIP SD 783,601.53 1,084,641.73 38.42% 301,040.20 METHACTON SD 1,757,420.65 2,724,738.51 55.04% 967,317.86 NORRISTOWN AREA SD 2,492,094.19 3,569,100.58 43.22% 1,077,006.39 NORTH PENN SD 4,692,586.25 6,793,459.68 44.77% 2,100,873.43 PERKIOMEN VALLEY SD 1,798,155.06 2,624,650.90 45.96% 826,495.84 POTTSGROVE SD 1,008,410.43 1,468,769.87 45.65% 460,359.43 POTTSTOWN SD 787,229.85 1,107,686.52 40.71% 320,456.66 SOUDERTON AREA SD 2,130,036.76 2,967,620.63 39.32% 837,583.87 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP SD 912,075.29 1,340,951.70 47.02% 428,876.41 SPRING-FORD AREA SD 2,420,252.76 3,507,392.41 44.92% 1,087,139.65 UPPER DUBLIN SD 1,661,735.52 2,446,570.26 47.23% 784,834.73 UPPER MERION AREA SD 1,610,487.25 2,395,648.10 48.75% 785,160.85 UPPER MORELAND TOWNSHIP SD 1,104,741.72 1,561,894.86 41.38% 457,153.15 UPPER PERKIOMEN SD 980,290.80 1,394,900.64 42.29% 414,609.85 WISSAHICKON SD 1,900,647.86 2,742,918.36 44.31% 842,270.50 PHILADELPHIA PHILADELPHIA SD 34,195,866.77 46,358,639.36 35.57% 12,162,772.59 Source: PSERS Center on Regional Politics Board of Fellows * Executive Committee (Co-Chair or At-Large) Federal Elected *The Honorable Chaka Fattah Member, U.S. House of Representatives (At-Large) *The Honorable James W. Gerlach Member, U.S. House of Representatives (At-Large) The Honorable Patrick Meehan Member, United States House of Representatives The Honorable Allyson Y. Schwartz Member, United States House of Representatives State Elected The Honorable Jim Cawley Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate The Honorable Robert M. McCord Treasurer, State of Pennsylvania State Administration Carol Aichele Secretary of the Commonwealth of PA, and former Chair, Chester County Commissioners Joshua Novotney Director Southeast Region, Governor Corbett Pennsylvania Senate The Honorable Andrew E. Dinniman The Honorable Edwin “Ted” B. Erickson *The Honorable Vincent J. Hughes (Health and Human Services) The Honorable Shirley M. Kitchen The Honorable Daylin Leach *The Honorable Dominic Pileggi (Fiscal Policy and Governance) *The Honorable John C. Rafferty, Jr. (Transportation) The Honorable Michael J. Stack III The Honorable Christine M. Tartaglione The Honorable Robert M. Tomlinson The Honorable LeAnna M. Washington *The Honorable Anthony H. Williams (Urban Affairs) Pennsylvania House of Representatives The Honorable William F. Adolph, Jr. The Honorable Brendan F. Boyle The Honorable Kevin J. Boyle The Honorable Timothy P. Briggs The Honorable Gene DiGirolamo The Honorable Dwight Evans The Honorable Robert W. Godshall The Honorable Kate Harper The Honorable Tim Hennessey The Honorable William F. Keller The Honorable Thomas H. Killion The Honorable Michael H. O’Brien The Honorable Cherelle L. Parker The Honorable Marguerite C. Quinn The Honorable James R. Roebuck, Jr. *The Honorable Chris Ross (Urban Affairs) *The Honorable Steve Santarsiero (Economic Development) The Honorable John J. Taylor The Honorable W. Curtis Thomas Temple University 6 Center on Regional Politics Bulletin | Volume 2, Number 3| Fall 2013

Local Elected Officials The Honorable Cindy Bass Councilwoman, City of Philadelphia The Honorable Kathi Cozzone Vice Chairwoman, Chester County The Honorable Mario Civera, Jr. Vice Chair, Delaware County The Honorable Darrell L. Clarke President, Philadelphia City Council The Honorable Ryan Costello Chairman, Chester County *The Honorable Robert G. Loughery Chair, Bucks County Commissioners(Education and Workforce Development) The Honorable Tom McGarrigle Chairman, Delaware County The Honorable Brian J. O’Neill Minority Leader, Philadelphia City Council *The Honorable Michael A. Nutter Mayor, City of Philadelphia (Fiscal Policy and Governance) The Honorable Maria D. Quiñones-Sanchez Councilwoman, City of Philadelphia *The Honorable Josh Shapiro Chair, Montgomery County Commissioners (Energy, Environment, and Land Use) Community/Civic/Governmental Laurie Actman Deputy Director for Management and Admin., EEB Hub George Burrell Attorney, Kleinbard, Bell, and Brecker Joseph M. Casey General Manager, SEPTA *Patricia A. Coulter President and CEO, Urban League of Philadelphia (Education and Workforce Development) Paul R. Decker President, Valley Forge Convention & Visitors Bureau Jack P. Ferguson President and CEO, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Neil I. Goldfarb Executive Director, Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health John Grady President, Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) *Feather Houstoun Former CFO, SEPTA (Transportation) Debra Kahn Executive Director, Delaware Valley Grantmakers Patrick Killian Director, Delaware County Commerce Center Meryl Levitz President and CEO, Visit Philadelphia Paul Levy Executive Director, Center City District Robert F. Powelson Chairman, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Sharmain W. Matlock-Turner President, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition Barry Seymour Executive Director, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Steven T. Wray Executive Director, The Economy League Business and Labor Emily L. Bittenbender Managing Partner, Bittenbender Construction, LP Ryan N. Boyer Business Manager, Laborer’s Council of Philadelphia and Vicinity Steven Scott Bradley Chair, African American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ, and DE *Nicholas DeBenedictis Chair and CEO, Aqua America, Inc. (Energy, Environment, and Land Use) Patrick J. Eiding President of Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Varsovia Fernandez President and CEO, Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Patrick B. Gillespie Business Manager, Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO *Daniel J. Hilferty President and CEO, Independence Blue Cross (Health and Human Services) Thomas G. Morr President and CEO, Select Greater Philadelphia RoseAnn B. Rosenthal President and CEO, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeast Pennsylvania Stephen S. Tang President and CEO, The Science Center Anthony Wigglesworth Associate Director, Philadelphia Area Labor-Management Committee *Rob Wonderling President & CEO, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (Economic Development) Academia Carolyn T. Adams Director, Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project, Temple University Richardson Dilworth Director, Center for Public Policy, Drexel University Jeffrey Featherstone Department of Community and Regional Planning, Temple University Kenneth E. Lawrence, Jr. Senior Vice President, Government, Community, and Public Affairs, Temple University J. Wesley Leckrone Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Widener University Joseph R. Marbach Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, LaSalle University Randall Miller Professor, Department of History, Saint Joseph’s University Megan Mullin Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Temple University William J. Stull Professor, Department of Economics, Temple University David B. Thornburgh Executive Director, Fels Institute, University of Pennsylvania F. Carl Walton Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Lincoln University Craig Wheeland Associate Vice President and Professor, Villanova University

Center on Regional Politics - Staff Joseph P. McLaughlin, Jr. - Director Kelly D. Colvin - Associate Director Michelle J. Atherton - Senior Policy Writer and Publications Editor Nathan R. Shrader - Graduate Assistant Charmaine Mcfarlane - Business Manager Langston Swygert-Huzzy - Senior Administrative Specialist

Temple University 7 Center on Regional Politics NONPROFIT ORG. Center on Regional Politics US POSTAGE PAID 1114 W. Polett Walk (022-02) PHILADELPHIA, PA 840 Anderson Hall PERMIT NO. 1044 Philadelphia, PA 19122-6090 215-204-1600

Center On Regional Politics

Bulletin Volume 2, Number 3 | Fall 2013

Visit the following websites for more information on CORP issues:

Center on Regional Politics | www.temple.edu/corp

Institute for Public Affairs | www.temple.edu/ipa

The Pennsylvania Policy Database | www.temple.edu/papolicy