Capitol Recap THE PLS REPORTER Volume 5 Number 377 Special bonus coverage from the PLS Reporter, included each Monday in the Capitol Recap July 30, 2018 Outside Pittsburgh and in Philadelphia, two staffers jump onto ticket CONTENTS THE PLS REPORTER 1 AROUND THE ROTUNDA 2 At a nominating convention Saturday, Allegheny County Republicans named Lori Mizgorski, COMMITTEE NEWS 3 a Shaler Township Commissioner, their new candidate for the 30th Legislative District. NEW LEGISLATION 11 UPCOMING MEETINGS 12 The seat is currently held by Rep. Hal English (R-Allegheny), who announced July 3 that he was not running for reelection. Mizgorski also works in English’s district office. At 12:17 p.m. on In a release, Republican Committee of Allegheny County Chair D. Raja called Mizgorski “a Wednesday, June 27, 2018 superbly qualified candidate who will do an incredible job as the next Representative for the the Senate met briefly in people of 30th Legislative District.” non-voting session and now stands in recess until Mizgorski bested three other candidates for the nomination and won on the first ballot of the the call of the President Pro 49 assembled GOP committee people. Tempore. The Senate is not expected to reconvene In response, Democratic opponent Betsy Monroe’s campaign released a statement criticizing until September 24. the lack of transparency in the meeting. At 3:37 p.m. on Monday, “Every cycle the nomination goes either to the incumbent or someone handpicked by party June 25, 2018 the House leaders behind closed doors,” Monroe said in a statement. “Why doesn’t the Republican stands in recess until Committee appreciate competition and trust the democratic process?” the call of the Chair. The House is not expected to Republican primary voters, rather than local committee members, last selected their candidate reconvene until September for the 30th District in 2006. At that time, voters went with then-local police sergeant Randy 12. Vulakovich. Vulakovich won that November, and served as a member of the House until 2012, when he UPCOMING SESSION DAYS then ran in and won a special election to replace disgraced former Sen. Jane Orie. House September 12, 13, 24, 25, With Vulakovich’s departure after the primary, committee members picked English, an 26 attorney and Marine veteran, to carry the GOP’s banner on the ballot. October 1 (NV), 2 (NV), 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 Local Republican officials had to make a similar decision this year after English, whom some November 13 said was shaken by the primary loss of Vulakovich, retired post-primary this year. Senate Monroe, a Fox Chapel resident and first time candidate drawn to politics by the Women’s September 24, 25, 26 March, held that given the dearth of information on who was even interested in the position, October 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17 one of the candidates should have publicized more of what happens. November 14 The RCAC did not reply to a request for comment by press time. The selection process, however, is laid out in state party bylaws that elected committee members from the district chose candidates post-primary. Provided by Pennsylvania Concerns over insider shenanigans haven’t just raised political hay for Republicans. With Legislative Services the retirement of Rep. Michael O’Brien (D-Philadelphia), City and State PA reported that 240 N. 3rd St. 6th Floor local Democratic Party committee members felt that their selection meeting — held less than Harrisburg, PA 17101 717.236.6984 phone a week after O’Brien’s announcement — happened too quickly. 717.236.5097 fax www.mypls.com The concerns about alienating voters were escalated by the selection of O’Brien’s chief of staff, Mary Isaacson, to carry the party’s banner. How the selection impacts November is still too early to tell, but suburban seats like the 30th — representing Pittsburgh’s northern, affluent suburbs — are high value targets for both state and national Democrats come the general. The 30th alone overlaps with the 38th Senatorial District, where Vulakovich’s bester, Ross Township Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer, is facing off against former teacher’s union staffer Lindsey Williams. The district voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, but by only half a percentage point. The seat also overlaps with the newly redrawn 17th Congressional District, pitting two incumbent congressman — Democrat Conor Lamb and Republican Keith Rothfus — against each other. As for the 30th proper, Trump took the district 51.6 to 44.8 percent. However, Democrats hold a slim advantage in registered voters. Stephen Caruso is the Harrisburg bureau chief at The PLS Reporter. Have a question, comment or tip? Email him at [email protected]. The PLS Reporter provides original news, insight and in-depth analysis on current topics and proposals moving through the state legislature. For more information about adding the PLS Reporter to your subscription, please email us at [email protected]. AROUND THE ROTUNDA PLS coverage of Capitol events including press conferences, bill signings, & media availabilities ADMINISTRATION DEMONSTRATES “PA BUSINESS ONE-STOP SHOP” WEBSITE By Jeff Cox, Pennsylvania Legislative Services | July 30, 2018 Representatives from the Wolf Administration along with a Harrisburg-area entrepreneur held a news conference today to demonstrate the new PA Business One-Stop Shop, a website designed to help entrepreneurs with starting and running a business in the Commonwealth. Carol Kelko, deputy secretary for business finance at the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), explained that in 2016 Gov. Tom Wolf announced in his budget address that he would be “initiating a new program for those people who want to start a business, for those who are in business, and small businesses to help them get through all the various resources the commonwealth has available for them.” She further explained that to start or run a business an individual has to know who at the Department of State, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Labor and Industry and others to contact to help find the resources. According to Kelko, the website “provides all the information and access to those three agencies and DCED.” She commented, “This is an excellent, excellent opportunity and a collaborative effort by all of the four agencies to be able to pull all of this content together and put it on one website and allow our clients, our customers and our citizens of Pennsylvania to be able to access the information.” Kelko added, “This is truly government that works.” Amma Johnson, founder and designer at the Harrisburg-based AMMA JO brand designer handbags, clothing and fashion accessories, commented, “It’s great to have a resource like the PA Business One-Stop Shop available to entrepreneurs.” She continued, “By far the most difficult thing is you have so much to do and you have only a little bit of time and you need to be able to find and access exactly what you need without wasting your time.” Johnson said she would encourage everyone to tell their friends about this resource. 2 Michael McManus, director of the PA Business One-Stop Shop, demonstrated the website and provided an overview of what resource are available through the website. He explained the website provides information on such topics as turning an idea into a business; writing a business plan; naming a business; choosing a business structure; getting business advice; registering a business; registering with the Commonwealth; local registrations, permits, and zoning; special registrations; hiring workers; and state taxes and state permits. Kelko pointed out that in addition to the website, aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners can also call a toll- free telephone number at 1-833-722-6778 to connect with business consultants and subject matter experts who can answer questions. She explained, “Together, the website and the team of experts will help guide and support businesses through all stages of development from planning and startup to operation and expansion.” The PA Business One-Stop Shop can be found at business.pa.gov. COMMITTEE NEWS Comprehensive coverage of House & Senate public hearings & voting meetings Joint State Government Commission 7/30/18, 9:00 a.m., G-50 Irvis Office Building By Andre Dienner, Jessica Richardson, and Robert Cochran, Pennsylvania Legislative Services The committee held a public meeting of the Public Pension Management and Asset Investment Review Commission (PPMAIRC) to hear testimony examining improvements in transparency around investment expenses and returns of Pennsylvania’s two statewide pension systems, the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS). Testimony at the meeting specifically focused on transparency and stress testing. Commissioners present included: • Chairman Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill) • State Treasurer Joe Torsella • Michael Torbert, retired BB&T Wealth Advisor • James Bloom, executive assistant, Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) • Steven Nickol, director of retirement programs, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), as a substitute on behalf of Bernard Gallagher, senior budget analyst, office of Representative Joseph Markosek (D-Allegheny) Chairman Tobash explained this is the first hearing of three as required in Act 5 of 2017. First the commission discussed future meetings and business of the commission. Chairman Tobash discussed what the commission has been tasked with under the act, indicating major discussion sections include performance of current investment strategies which will be discussed in hearing two, the cost of active and passive investment strategies in relation to future investment activities which will be discussed in hearings two and three, and improving investment fee transparency in alternative investments and implementing recommendations on stress testing which will be discussed today. He commented testifiers will be very important in understanding how to fulfill those responsibilities and outlined testifiers in the first meeting have “tremendous expertise” in transparency and stress testing.