Beruflich Dokumente
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25
The growing number of sexual assault Thomas Gross and municipal police In honor of Tax Day, The Caucus team
allegations in Pennsylvania prompted chiefs across Pennsylvania want to went through IRS tax returns to create
one female lobbyist to wonder if this use radar to crack down on speeders, a list of the wealthiest and poorest
state has become the epicenter of the just like the state police do. So what’s ZIP codes in Pennsylvania. PAGE 14
GROUP INC #MeToo movement. PAGE 4 the holdup? PAGE 10
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CONTENTS A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 8
10
Tom Gross, Executive Director of
Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Associa-
tion, speaks during an interview at The
Caucus office in Harrisburg.
4 PARADE OF MISCREANTS
Given the numerous allegations of 10 RADAR LOVE
Thomas Gross and municipal
sexual assault and misconduct here, police chiefs across Pennsylvania
has Pennsylvania become the epi- want the same tech state cops use SEND US A NEWS TIP
center of the #MeToo movement? to crack down on speeders. What’s If you know of a good story, are holding a political
the big deal? event or fundraiser, or want to share information about
9 CAPITOL DISPATCHES
Re-election campaign benefit re- 14 WHERE THE WEALTH IS
A look at the wealthiest and poor-
ceptions and committees roundup est ZIP codes in the state
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PARADE OF MISCREANTS
Given the numerous allegations of sexual assault and misconduct here, has
Pennsylvania become the epicenter of the #MeToo movement?
T
» » PAULA KNUDSEN + BRAD BUMSTED + SAM JANESCH
he #MeToo movement was still months away from ex- lawyer who worked for the Pennsylvania The data analysis by AP found a
Commission on Crime and Delinquency majority of legislative chambers have
ploding into national prominence when the sexual-as-
and served as special federal prosecutor. no publicly available records of formal
sault case against actor and comedian Bill Cosby ended He now works as a consultant in human harassment or misconduct complaints.
in a mistrial in June. trafficking. Some states said no tally was kept or
“There are sexual-assault fault lines that records were exempt from disclo-
Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, tele- convicted of raping children; a por- running throughout this nation,” said sure.
vision anchor Matt Lauer and U.S. Rep. nography scandal forced the departure Turner. “Earthquakes are not uniform. The analysis found 70 formal com-
Patrick Meehan, R-Delaware County, of two Supreme Court Justices and a Nor are they predictable. Fault lines are plaints across about two dozen states.
had not yet become watercooler fod- cabinet member and implicated several deep, often hidden and destructive to California, for instance, comprises
der, along with countless other men and top state prosecutors; and grand jury victims.” one-fifth of the 70 complaints but that
women caught up in a movement bring- reports from Philadelphia to Altoona al- “The volcanic dome of suppressed, doesn’t mean that state has a larger
ing down prominent men in politics, leged widespread sexual misconduct by systemic victimization is finally erupt- problem than other states. California
media and beyond with allegations of priests. An investigation by the Attorney ing and coming to the surface,” Turner provided documents that some other
sexual misconduct and harassment. General’s office is pending on dioceses in said. states did not. There were three Penn-
Cosby’s return to Montgomery other cities, including Allentown, Har- The volume of complaints made sylvania lawmakers named in the AP
County for a retrial last week coincided risburg and Pittsburgh. public in any given state depends on a analysis but at least two former lawmak-
with the return of state Rep. Nick Mic- The confluence of these events wide range of factors, including how ers have been publicized in state news
carelli, R-Delaware County, to the state prompted one female lobbyist to wonder states define and handle sexual harass- accounts.
Capitol. While Miccarelli has not been if Pennsylvania is the epicenter of sex- ment and assault; their open-records The Keystone State’s list of sex-
charged with any crimes, he is subject to ual assault and misconduct. The cases laws; and the political culture and media related scandals over the past decade
a three-year restraining order filed by a typically involve people in positions of coverage, he said. touched all three branches of govern-
female lawmaker and he is under inves- power allegedly abusing their authority. “It’s not apples to apples,” said ment.
tigation by the Dauphin County District Is Pennsylvania worse than other Turner. For instance:
Attorney’s office. states? There’s no question the #MeToo — Since 2001 the Pennsylvania State
Republican House leaders have It isn’t clear. movement, which surfaced in October, Police paid almost $8 million to settle
called on him to resign after a House Priest abuse, for instance, is not has helped to bring forward fresh allega- sexual harassment, misconduct and
report found credible two women who unique to Pennsylvania. Scandals have tions of what, in some cases, are years- discrimination cases to women, from in-
claimed the lawmaker sexually or physi- rocked cities from Phoenix to Boston. old violations. side the agency to civilians, The Caucus
cally assaulted them — allegations he But the Sandusky case, highlighted again A 50-state survey by The Associ- reported in December.
vigorously denies. recently in the much-hyped HBO movie ated Press released last week on sexual — A sexual harassment complaint
Just before the second Cosby trial “Paterno,” appeared to be one of a kind. harassment and misdeeds by state law- against Rep. Tom Caltagirone by a legis-
opened, Bedford County District Attor- The “Porngate” email scandal involv- makers over the past decade included lative aide in 2015 resulted in a $248,000
ney Bill Higgins was charged by the state ing computers used in the Attorney details about alleged forced kisses, secret state payment, The Philadelphia
Attorney General’s Office for various General’s Office coupled with the inter- sexual assaults, lewd behavior, frequent Inquirer reported. Caltagirone has de-
crimes, including trading sexual favors national media focus on the Cosby case embraces and inappropriate texts. nied the allegations.
with women defendants. He resigned clearly puts Pennsylvania in the running Almost all of those accused were — In January, it was revealed that
from office. for states with the largest number of men, but two female lawmakers were U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan authorized a
Over the last decade, Pennsylva- high-profile sex scandals. also on the list. Those who were alleged- secret settlement with taxpayers’ money
nians have watched in various stages of There are “wide disparities in report- ly harassed or subjected to misbehavior to a former young female employee who
horror as Jerry Sandusky, a legendary ing and disclosure” among states, said included legislative staffers, lobbyists, had filed a sexual harassment complaint
Penn State assistant football coach, was Steve Turner, a retired state government female legislators and interns. against him. Meehan later referred to
T
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WHERE THESE
THREE DIFFER
S
» » MIKE WERESCHAGIN + SAM JANESCH
ince President Donald Trump turned Pennsylvania red risburg does it in my businesses. I mean, tion or illicit opioids.
we look at what we spend. We look at Wolf has responded, in part,
for the first time in a generation, the question of where the
revenue coming in, and we manage ac- by launching a prescription-drug
party’s true base — or, if you’re feeling dramatic, soul — cordingly. I believe if we did zero-based monitoring program and funding
resides has roiled national politics. budgeting in Harrisburg that we will 45 “centers of excellence” that treat
find between $1.5 and $4 billion dollars substance abuse. In January, he declared
The president’s embrace of Roy Rather than raising state taxes, just the first year.” the issue a public health emergency to
Moore, an ultraconservative former Mango wants local governments to be During the January debate at Carn- increase the public response in force.
judge and accused sexual predator, cost able to raise other taxes to make up the egie Mellon, Wagner and Mango took Wagner, for one, said that declara-
the party a Senate seat in the Republi- multibillion-dollar shortfall that would the moderator’s pledge not to raise taxes tion was “long overdue leadership.” But
can bulwark of Alabama. House Speaker occur. during their prospective administra- in the same breath he was critical of the
Paul Ryan’s victory in securing a tax cut “We need to keep as much local con- tions, with Mango going a step further. declaration because, he said, it would
long sought by the party’s establishment trol as possible without evicting 10,000 “I’m not going to hold the line on limit the public from carrying firearms
wasn’t enough to keep him in Congress. people a year from their homes because taxes. My pledge to you is to ensure that in public.
Policy fights between the largely they can’t afford property taxes,” Mango we give you tax rebates,” Mango said. Thus, Wagner said, it was “the wrong
transactional, unpredictable president said. “That’s the needle we’re trying to “We’re the most overtaxed state in the approach.”
and the old conservative bloc are caus- thread.” country.” On the issue itself, Wagner, Mango
ing headaches for candidates up and How best to thread that needle ought The Tax Foundation, a nonprofit and Ellsworth have spoken with a
down the ballot. to be left to local governments — and tax policy research and advocacy group similar urgency, but slight differences in
The next major skirmish is a little they ought to be able to use property in Washington, D.C., was a bit kinder, their approach to the crisis.
less than a month away, when GOP vot- taxes to do it, Ellsworth said at a debate ranking Pennsylvania’s overall tax Ellsworth has said the first thing she
ers in one of the country’s largest swing at Carnegie Mellon University in March. burden 15th in the country in a report would do is talk to families, encouraging
states will choose their nominee for gov- “I do not support views that would it released in late March. It ranked the parents with active children not to take
ernor of Pennsylvania. State Sen. Scott remove property taxes completely,” Ells- state’s overall business tax climate 26th, opioids for routine sports injuries.
Wagner of York and Pittsburgh busi- worth said. “I think there’s an important almost exactly the middle of the pack. She’s also advocating for something
nessman Paul Mango have been slugging aspect of property tax that helps build Mango said the tax question is only of a two-strikes-and-you’re-out ap-
it out over who can best man the party’s neighborhoods and build good school part of the equation. proach to naloxone. If a person is re-
right flank, while Laura Ellsworth, a districts.” “No one else is talking about growth,” vived using naloxone for a second time,
Pittsburgh attorney, is banking on vot- “I do believe that we should expand he has said. “I’ve been involved with they must be committed to inpatient
ers’ desire for a civil brand of pragmatic the use of tax credits — EITC [Educa- multinational companies for 30 years. treatment, she said.
conservatism. tional Improvement Tax Credit], OSTC They could never save their way to pros- “While one near-death experience
Their differences aren’t mere mat- [Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit] perity. We need to bring our jobs and might cause a user to turn away from
ters of style. — we should expand those so we drive our children back home, and that’s the opiates on a voluntary basis, two near-
They’ll meet April 25 in a debate more dollars into education,” Ellsworth way to ensure that we don’t have to raise death experiences is enough to know
sponsored by The Caucus and LNP, said. anyone’s taxes.” that they need inpatient treatment to
both publications of Lancaster-based “We use the knowledge and experi- No-tax pledges were once a staple of tackle their addiction,” she states on her
LNP Media Group, and ABC 27, 20 days ence of the actual people of Pennsylva- Republican politics. During the 2012 Re- campaign website. “Currently, too many
before the May 15 primary. nia to know what schools educate their publican presidential primary, all eight communities have an endless cycle
In previous rounds, the candidates children best in their communities,” candidates onstage at a Fox News debate of overdose and revival, overdose and
showcased substantive policy differenc- Ellsworth said. “Expanding those pro- said they’d walk away from a deal that revival, with no way to get the patient or
es unusual for an intraparty squabble grams will put that power in the hands offered $10 in spending cuts for every $1 the first responders or the community
in an age marked by hardened partisan- of Pennsylvanians, not in the hands of in tax increases. off the cycle. We need to break that cycle
ship. people in Harrisburg.” That ignores the reality of governing, and get the user into treatment.”
Here’s a look at five major issues on Wagner, the Republicans’ endorsed Ellsworth said. Wagner focuses on education in
which there are clear — if not subtle in candidate whose populist leanings echo “I think tax pledges are political schools.
some cases — distinctions between the Trump’s, has said several times that gimmicks that aren’t worth the paper “We’re going to have to go deep into
three Republicans. popular will on this issue is a mandate they’re printed on,” Ellsworth said at the our schools and we’re going to have to
for politicians. Carnegie Mellon debate. “And I think educate,” Wagner said at the Carnegie
1.
PROPERTY TAXES “The mission is, people want their anyone who takes them is not being re- Mellon debate. “If a child’s a toddler and
& EDUCATION FUNDING property taxes eliminated,” Wagner told sponsible to the citizens. What I will say they go into a public setting, a daycare
The Caucus recently, adding that it’s is this: I will do everything in my power facility, they need to hear that drugs are
“one of my top three goals.” to bring efficiencies to government, just bad, needles are bad, drug dealers are
They part ways, for instance, on how “So I have to go back and I have to as I’ve brought them to the businesses bad. You know for 20 years, the theme
best to fund the state’s public school sys- figure out how to do that, and we have to that I’ve run and the civic projects that has just been ‘Just say no.’ That’s not
tem. In the 2015-16 school year, school run the numbers on potentially zero- I’ve run — and believe me, there are a lot working.”
districts, charter schools and career based budgeting,” which requires orga- of efficiencies that can be brought.” He and Ellsworth have also said 30-
technology centers spent $30.6 billion nizations to justify each program every Revenue, too, she said. Part of what’s day rehab programs are far from enough
dollars, most of which came from local time a budget is set, Wagner said. driving tax increases is a pension liabil- time.
taxes. ity that’s eating up an ever larger portion Mango, in the Carnegie Mellon
2.
The state Supreme Court in Sep- TAXING & SPENDING of state and local budgets, which local debate, said the opioid crisis is “funda-
tember reinstated a lawsuit brought and school district leaders cover by hik- mentally a social issue.” He tied it to the
by struggling school districts. They say ing property taxes. economy, saying it was connected to the
the current funding setup violates the “I will sell the state stores and pay slow economic growth of the state and
state constitution’s guarantees of equal Zero-based budgeting, Wagner said, down the pension and reduce your prop- jobs, and said communities are in a bet-
protection and a “thorough and efficient would restore the spending discipline erty taxes,” Ellsworth said. ter position to solve this problem than
system” of education. Harrisburg lacks. the state.
3.
Reforming that funding system “Pennsylvania is like a patient in the THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC “The folks out there are suffering
— particularly its reliance on local operating room, on the table, bleeding to from diseases of despair. Our jobs and
property taxes — has for years been an death. OK? I mean the blood is just drip- our children have left Pennsylvania.
elusive goal for lawmakers. ping off the gurney and it’s all over the They feel isolated and this guy is presid-
Mango and Wagner say they’ll elimi- floor. The current thinking is, ‘We need The opioid epidemic has dominated ing over a no-growth economy,” he said.
nate school property taxes altogether. more blood for the patient. We just need Gov. Tom Wolf’s entire first term. The “Furthermore this problem cannot be
“Our revenue base for property taxes is to keep extracting blood out of the tax- number of deaths have increased dra- solved from Harrisburg with mandates.
changing dramatically. The three fastest- payers and we just need to pump more matically, here and across the country, You know who can solve this problem?
growing real-estate investors in Pennsyl- blood into the patient,’ ” Wagner said. every year. Local communities can.”
vania are not-for-profit health systems, “Nobody wants to fix the patient. More than 4,600 Pennsylvanians
4.
not-for-profit universities, and not-for- You’ve got to put a couple of tourniquets died from drug overdoses in 2016, a 37 ENERGY
profit governments, OK? So what you have on. We have to let the patient heal. That percent increase from the year before.
is more and more of the tax burden from can be achieved through zero-based The death toll is expected to keep grow-
school property taxes being put on fewer budgeting. Eighty percent of Americans ing.
and fewer residents. Some businesses as and 80 percent of Pennsylvanians do A new report from the Centers for On Wolf’s signature, unrealized
well, but mainly residents. We have not zero-based budgeting in their homes at Disease Control and Prevention found policy issue — instituting a severance
adapted to that change,” Mango told The their kitchen table,” Wagner told The two-thirds of all overdose deaths nation- tax for natural gas — his Republican
Caucus in January. Caucus. “… I don’t do a budget like Har- wide in 2016 were the result of prescrip- Cont., page 8
Continued from page 7 his 2016 run, especially during stops in carelli dropped his bid for re-election
challengers are unwavering. Pennsylvania. after two women accused him of sexual
All three side with their conservative The president vowed to revive the in- assault and harassment.
colleagues, arguing that such a tax would dustry and put coal miners back to work House Republican leaders said Mic-
hurt Pennsylvania’s competitiveness in after decades of job losses. carelli should resign after the allegations
attracting gas drillers. Trump’s work to roll back some were published by The Caucus and The
And though they all emphatically regulations has indeed led to an uptick Philadelphia Inquirer. Ellsworth has
support constructing pipelines as quick- in coal jobs, if only slightly. Total coal declined to go that far.
ly as possible, Wagner and Ellsworth mining jobs increased by 771 to 54,819 in “I’m a due-process person,” said
often speak more about the national 2017, according to Reuters. There were Ellsworth. “I’m a woman. I want to be
and international implications of those 96 new coal jobs in Pennsylvania. listened to. I am also the mother of a THE CAUCUS, LANCASTER FARMING
pipelines while Mango focuses on jobs During the Republican debate at son, so I want men to be listened to.” and LNP + LancasterOnline, publica-
at home. Carnegie Mellon, Mango said he spent Mango said there should be tions of LNP Media Group in Lan-
“We came in this country, in the some time down in a coal mine during “absolutely zero tolerance” and no caster, are partnering with ABC 27 to
Northeast, within 24 hours of a com- his campaign and praised Trump for “taxpayer-funded settlements for sexual host a forum with all three Repub-
plete rolling blackout because we didn’t reducing Obama-era environmental harassment,” which have sunk several lican gubernatorial hopefuls — Sen.
have enough electricity in 2014,” Ells- regulations affecting the industry. congressional careers — including Pat Scott Wagner, Paul Mango and Laura
worth said in a WHYY debate. “This is “We will roll back regulations and we Meehan, another Delaware County Ellsworth — next week.
not a situation where energy is a luxury. will have a vibrant coal industry again in Republican — during the past year. The forum is being held on
It is also a geopolitical asset. We are Pennsylvania,” Mango said. Without delving into specifics, Man- Wednesday, April 25, at Willow Val-
fighting Russia.” Wagner, when asked the same ques- go said the four tasks for elected leaders ley Communities Cultural Center in
Pennsylvania should be courting tion about what to do about unemployed were to be “role models,” create “a risk- Lancaster County. The event begins
gas companies, giving them tax benefits former coal workers, said he supports free environment” in which victims feel at 7 p.m. The facility is located at 900
through the Keystone Opportunity the coal industry but angled his answer safe coming forward, investigate com- Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow
Zones and making sure they invest here, toward retraining workers for other plaints “aggressively and swiftly,” and, if Street.
Ellsworth said. jobs. someone’s guilty, “punish immediately. The event is free and open to the
Wagner, in the same debate, spoke “There are 200,000 skilled-labor Wagner noted his business has had public, but registration is required.
harshly of the U.S. importing Russian- positions open in Pennsylvania. You a sexual harassment policy for “over 25 To sign up, please go to this web-
produced liquid natural gas when Penn- could take coal miners that work on years.” site: bit.ly/gopgovdebate
sylvania could very well produce it. equipment. There are mechanics, there “We need professional people that The primary is May 15.
“The best and greatest opportunity are maintenance people. They could be respect each other, but we need a zero-
with the port of Philadelphia not far retrained to go into other industries,” he tolerance policy in Harrisburg and
by would be to have an LNG plant and said. throughout Pennsylvania,” Wagner said.
be able to ship gas to other parts of the Ellsworth hails the regulation roll- “It’s a problem in Harrisburg, and it’s
world. backs and said she believes coal “again been here for a long, long time.”
Mango agreed exporting natural gas can be a significant driver of jobs and The allegations that have roiled the
is important, but the priority should be economic development here in Pennsyl- capitol in recent months are “the tip of
on the “downstream industries” that vania.” the iceberg,” Ellsworth said.
result from natural gas production. He “What we need is top-down change.
5.
mentioned fertilizers and chemicals, SEXUAL VIOLENCE & We need a change of tone. When I start-
plastics and textiles. CAPITOL CULTURE ed practicing law 25 years ago, when I
Up to 150,000 manufacturing jobs walked into the courtroom, everybody
could be at the other end, according to thought I was the secretary,” Ellsworth
his analysis. When the next gubernatorial term said. “Every woman who is a profes-
The candidates also show hints of begins, it’ll be with a new representative sional woman has walked that walk. We
separation on coal. Trump made the from the Delaware County seat occupied understand what that is. Put a woman in
issue a primary talking point during by Republican Nick Miccarelli. Mic- the (governor’s) chair, case closed.”
1 2 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8 Capitol Rotunda
1 P. M . , A P R I L 2 0
‘CLEAN AIR FORCE’ The National Association of Social Workers Pennsylva-
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RALLY
Capitol Rotunda nia Chapter and students promote advocacy among the
Mothers and children from across Pennsylvania advo- Capitol Rotunda
cate for protection from methane air pollution caused by Students, teachers and community members rally to social work community during it annual Legislative Educa-
the oil and gas industries. bring attention to current events. tion and Advocacy Day.
HEARINGS FUNDRAISERS
A look at the schedule of A roundup of receptions and other events to
upcoming committee hearings benefit re-election campaigns
9 A.M., APRIL 17 9 A.M., APRIL 18 8 A.M., APRIL 17 8 A.M., APRIL 18 8 A.M., APRIL 30
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE RECEPTION FOR SENATE RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
Room 140, Main Capitol Room 205, Ryan Office Building DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN TOM QUIGLEY REP. FRANK RYAN
Public hearing on gun laws and Public hearing on gun laws and COMMITTEE Harrisburg Hilton House Republican Campaign
violence. violence. Harrisburg Hilton Committee Building
Harrisburg
Harrisburg Harrisburg
$300
9:30 A.M., APRIL 17 9 A.M., APRIL 18 $500 to $5,000 $250
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE HOUSE PROFESSIONAL 8 A.M., APRIL 18
Room 205, Ryan Office Building LICENSURE COMMITTEE 8 A.M., APRIL 17
RECEPTION FOR 11:30 A.M., APRIL 30
Voting meeting on H.B. 415 from Room B31, Main Capitol RECEPTION FOR
SEN. SCOTT HUTCHINSON LUNCHEON FOR
Rep. Thomas P. Murt, which would Public hearing on H.B. 789 from REP. DONNA BULLOCK
REP. DONNA OBERLANDER
amend the Tax Reform Code to add Rep. Jim Christiana, which would Little Amps Coffeehouse Harrisburg Hilton
Harrisburg House Republican Campaign
and define “child with a disability” codify the Department of Health Harrisburg
$250 to $1,000 Committee Building
and eliminate the inheritance tax regulation requiring physician $500
Harrisburg
that is applied when assets are supervision of the administration of
8 A.M., APRIL 17 $400 to $1,000
transferred from a deceased parent anesthesia into statute. 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8
RECEPTION FOR
to a disabled child; and H.B. 2040 RECEPTION FOR
REP. SID MICHAELS KAVULICH 11:30 A.M., APRIL 30
from Rep. Tim Hennessey, which 9:30 A.M., APRIL 18 PAUL MANGO FOR GOVERNOR
Old Town Deli LUNCHEON FOR
would authorize school districts to HOUSE AGING & OLDER ADULT The Country Club
Harrisburg REP. TARAH TOOHIL
allow senior citizens to volunteer SERVICES COMMITTEE of Harrisburg
$350 to $500 McGrath’s Pub
and in return receive a partial credit Room G50, Irvis Office Building Harrisburg Harrisburg
against their school property taxes. Budget overview for aging-related 8 A.M., APRIL 17 N/A $300 to $500
services and support. RECEPTION FOR
10 A.M., APRIL 17 REP. WARREN KAMPF 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8 8 A . M . , M AY 1
SENATE LABOR & INDUSTRY 10 A.M., APRIL 18 Harrisburg Hilton RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
COMMITTEE HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES Harrisburg
Hearing Room 1, North Office REP. KERRY BENNINGHOFF REP. BILL KORTZ
COMMITTEE $350 to $1,000
Building Rubicon Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
Room 60, East Wing
Public hearing to discuss S.B. Voting meeting on H.B. 1535 Harrisburg Harrisburg
11:30 A.M., APRIL 17
479 from Sen. Andrew E. Dinniman, from Rep. Judy Ward dealing with LUNCHEON FOR $1,000 to $5,000 $250 to $2,000
the Pennsylvania Family and Medi- intellectual disability and autism rate SEN. LISA BAKER
cal Leave Act, which would provide transparency; H.B. 2069 from Reps. Rubicon 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 9 8 A . M . , M AY 1
up to six weeks of protected, un- Dan L. Miller and Thomas P. Murt, Harrisburg RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
paid leave to an employee to care which would codify an expiring grant $500 REP. JOHN TAYLOR REP. JOE EMRICK
for a sibling, grandparent or grand- program that provides a lifeline for House of the Colonial Dames McGrath’s Pub
child with a serious health condi- many deaf and blind Pennsylvanians; 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 7 Harrisburg
Philadelphia
tion if such sibling, grandparent or H.B. 2126 from Rep. Jason Ortitay, RECEPTION FOR
$250 to $10,000 $300 to $500
grandchild has no living spouse, which would impose fines of $1,000 SEN. GENE YAW
child over 17 years of age or par- to $5,000 on professionals who fail Level 2
8 A.M., APRIL 24 7 : 3 0 A . M . , M AY 2
ent under 65 years of age. The six to abide by the provisions set forth Harrisburg
RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
weeks of unpaid leave would be in in the Allowing Minors to Consent to $500
SEN. JOHN YUDICHAK REP. R. LEE JAMES
contrast to the 12 weeks provided Medical Care Act (Act 147 of 2004);
under the federal law. Harrisburg Hilton House Republican Campaign
and H.R. 760 from Rep. Angel Cruz, 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 7
Committee Building
which would recognize the impor- RECEPTION FOR Harrisburg
REP. ROSITA YOUNGBLOOD Harrisburg
10 A.M., APRIL 17 tance of ensuring equal access to $500 to $1,000
McGrath’s Pub $400
HOUSE CHILDREN & YOUTH technology and information for indi-
COMMITTEE viduals with cognitive disabilities. Harrisburg 8 A.M., APRIL 24
Room 60, East Wing $500 to $2,500 8 A . M . , M AY 2
RECEPTION FOR
Voting meeting on H.B. 2213 10 A.M., APRIL 19 RECEPTION FOR
SEN. ANTHONY WILLIAMS
from Rep. Dan Moul, which would INDEPENDENT REGULATORY 7:30 A.M., APRIL 18 REP. SHERLY DELOZIER
Harrisburg Hilton
allow parents who adopt a child or REVIEW COMMISSION RECEPTION FOR The Locust Court Building
REP. BECKY CORBIN Harrisburg
children to appeal to the Penn- 333 Market St., Harrisburg Harrisburg
sylvania Department of Human Stock’s on Second $500 to $2,500
Meeting to consider Regulations $300 to $500
Services the amount of an adoption No. 3148 relating to the State Board Harrisburg
subsidy provided by local authori- $300 to $500 8 A.M., APRIL 25
of Physical Therapy and post-Act 8 A . M . , M AY 2
ties. 38 revisions; and No. 3138 related RECEPTION FOR BREAKFAST FOR
7:30 A.M., APRIL 18 SEN. DAN LAUGHLIN
to the Environmental Quality Board REP. KEITH GREINER
RECEPTION FOR Harrisburg Hilton
8:45 A.M., APRIL 18 and handling and use of explosives. Stock’s on 2nd
REP. BUD COOK
LOCAL GOVERNMENT Harrisburg Harrisburg
House Republican Campaign
COMMISSION 11 A.M., APRIL 19 $500 to $1,000 $250 to $500
Committee Building
Room 14, East Wing SENATE DEMOCRATIC POLICY Harrisburg
Monthly business meeting. COMMITTEE 6 P. M . , A P R I L 2 5
$250 8 A . M . , M AY 2
Penn State Worthington Scran- RECEPTION FOR BREAKFAST FOR
9 A.M., APRIL 18 ton Campus, Dunmore 8 A.M., APRIL 18 REP. ERIC ROE REP. ZACH MAKO
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE Public hearing on student and RECEPTION FOR Galer Estate Vineyard & Old Town Deli
Harrisburg University, Harrisburg workforce issues. REP. DARYL METCALFE Winery Harrisburg
Public hearing on S.B. 234 from Cafe Fresco Kennett Square $250 to $500
Sens. John P. Blake and Guy Re- 10 A.M., APRIL 20 Harrisburg $85 to $140
schenthaler, the Property Assessed HOUSE JUDICIARY AND $300 to $1,000
Clean Energy Program, which TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES 5 : 3 0 P. M . , M AY 3
would establish a financing mecha- 7 P. M . , A P R I L 2 8 RECEPTION FOR
Philadelphia City Hall 8 A.M., APRIL 18
nism to enable low-cost, long-term Philadelphia BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR REP. DAVE HICKERNELL
RECEPTION FOR
funding for energy efficiency, re- Joint public hearing to evaluate REP. TEDD NESBIT U.S. REP. DWIGHT EVANS Winters Heritage House
newable energy, and water conser- the effects of driving-under-the- Carley’s Hilton Hotel City Avenue Museum
vation upgrades to commercial or influence and drugged-driving laws Harrisburg Philadelphia Elizabethtown
industrial properties. and programs. $300 to $600 $250 to $2,500 $500 to $2,000
RADAR LOVE
Thomas Gross and municipal police chiefs across Pennsylvania want the same
tech state cops use to crack down on speeders. What’s the big deal?
T
» » BRAD BUMSTED
homas Gross is the executive director of the Harrisburg- parades and First Night York — I really police departments in Pennsylvania.
had a full range of experience.
based Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. Gross, THE CAUCUS: What does the associa-
66, has been policing since his days as a part-time secu- THE CAUCUS: What was your next law tion provide for its members?
rity officer at Penn State’s University Park campus enforcement post? GROSS: We are a membership service.
GROSS: I actually went to York Town- We provide education and training to
during periods of unrest in 1970 and for 22 years. I lived there the whole 22 ship. They had their own police depart- our members. One of the two biggest
1971. His first full-time position was as a years. My daughters went to York High. ment. I went there in 1996, and then in programs we provide is the Law En-
police officer in Wildwood, New Jersey, And then I became chief; actually, I was 2000 the York Township and Windsor forcement Accreditation Program for
which hired officers in the summertime. the acting chief. I was never officially the Township departments merged into the the state. We also oversee the online
His first murder arrest stemmed from chief. But I was acting chief before I left, York Area Regional Police Department. training resources, and both of those are
his time in the resort town. twice. through grants. We provide legislative
THE CAUCUS: When did you join the input to represent our members. We’re
THE CAUCUS: What kind of a murder THE CAUCUS: Working 22 years in the Chief of Police Association? not really a lobbying organization, but
case was it? city, what was it like overall? GROSS: I started here in February 2016, we do track bills; part of our mission is
GROSS: A guy who was the leader with GROSS: It was like most third-class so about three months after I retired. we consider ourselves to be a voice for
the Warlock Motorcycle Gang was cities. It was busy. Certain types of law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
murdered by his girlfriend, who was a violent crimes were a lot more preva- THE CAUCUS: You can’t retire can
stripper. I just happened to be the lucky lent in the ’70s and ’80s, so we saw a lot you? THE CAUCUS: Did you have to register
guy to get there first, I guess. more burglaries and robberies. Really GROSS: No, no. anyway as lobbyist?
the murder rate was pretty high then. GROSS: No, we are not registered as
THE CAUCUS: Was she convicted? I went through the crack phase. Of THE CAUCUS: How many police de- lobbyists. We do advocate somewhat,
GROSS: Got convicted, yeah. There was course heroin was even a problem early partments across the state belong to the but I would say that we see our role
a mistrial once and then I went back in the 70s, and there was still some Chief of Police Association? more as educating as to what the leads
once again for the second trial and she residual racial tension; it certainly GROSS: We don’t count it as depart- are in law enforcement and what ob-
was convicted. never went away, but it certainly died ments. We have about 1,000 members stacles might be from a law enforcement
down. … But overall I felt I had experi- that are chiefs, command staff and so point of view to legislation and what we
THE CAUCUS: Where did you go from ence where I just about got exposed to forth. If I had to put a number on it, see is good public safety policy.
Wildwood? everything you can do in law enforce- I would say about 600 or 700 police
GROSS: From there I went to York. I ment. From serious crime, to working departments are represented. It’s not THE CAUCUS: What are the priorities
was hired by York in 1973. I started as a with the community, to working with all police departments. There are about of law-enforcement right now that need
patrolman. I lived in the city. I was there special events for a while and planning 1,100 in Pennsylvania. There are a lot of to be met in the Legislature?
GROSS: While it seems like a small THE CAUCUS: Does the association THE CAUCUS: How is the sheriff’s in-
item, the one that we have continuously have any other priorities? teraction with the community different
provided input on is radar use for law GROSS: We have had input on some than perhaps an elected official?
enforcement. It has been well over 50 gun legislation. We normally hear from GROSS: The sheriffs interact a lot with
years since the state police were per- legislators. There is a series of bills that the community when they are serving
mitted to use radar, and the local police just passed the Senate regarding domes- warrants. They get involved in serving
were not. You probably saw that there tic violence, and we were supportive a lot of protection-from-abuse orders.
have been hearings again. We publish of those bills and we are supportive of They are traveling to and from different
a quarterly magazine, and I will look at those passing, especially removal of parts of the county where they might see
issues from the late ’60s and early ’70s firearms in protective orders. We believe a crime or observe even a traffic viola-
and it will say our top priorities are use that is something that would increase tion, but again, it is not their primary
of radar. It is something that we do ad- people’s safety. duty. I have seen some proposals that
vocate for and we do feel is good public would compromise and say that they
policy. We think that highway deaths are THE CAUCUS: The legislation that would have arrest authority and investi-
higher in Pennsylvania than most other would require turning guns over to law gative authority, say, on the courthouse
states. Speed-related deaths are higher enforcement, not to a third party? property or the properties that are
than most other states. I think we are in GROSS: Right, and it allows law en- directly under their service.
the top three or four in a couple of those forcement, and I think sheriffs, and I
categories and we are really, as far as we think it still allows an attorney to take THE CAUCUS: That seems to make
know, pretty certain that this is the only the firearms. I’m not sure how many sense as opposed to a wide range of
state that doesn’t allow local police to attorneys would want to do that, but … power, if you’re going to do it.
use radar. It has worked out pretty well those bills we support. We sat down at a GROSS: We have had a lot of discus-
in those other states. table with a couple of the senators. I re- sion on that. Another bill we have been
“
member Senators Killion and Vulakov- involved in some discussion on is a bill
THE CAUCUS: Is it the only state? ich, Senator Bartolotta. There are bills that passed the House that prohibited
GROSS: Yes, we have done some re- on sheriffs’ powers that we have dis- release of officers’ names in the use of
search on that and we are pretty sure cussed, constable powers. We are often FILE PHOTO
force. Representative Martina White
that Pennsylvania is the only state that asked for input on those and whether in Philadelphia sponsored that bill. I
doesn’t allow some form of radar use for they should be extended. Also pension think it is in the Senate right now and
local police. reform for police officers. We have had that bill has had a lot of discussion in
input on that. The issue of fees for state the last two sessions. It has some op-
THE CAUCUS: What do you believe the
political resistance to that is?
police coverage. We have put a lot of
input and that is a pretty important item
We think that position because of the desire to have
transparency and have officers’ names
GROSS: The original resistance that
you would hear, and you still hear from
for our members. highway deaths released immediately when there
is use of deadly force. Of course the
legislators, is that it would be used to
generate local revenue.
THE CAUCUS: That hasn’t been
around as long as the radar, but it has
are higher in police, especially the Fraternal Order
of Police, are very supportive of not
THE COMING
BLUE WAVE
Democrats could flip at least six congressional districts
this fall. Should Republicans heed advice to ‘get off
the beach’ or fight back?
» » G. TERRY MADONNA + MICHAEL L. YOUNG
I
f you like white-knuckle, top-of-the-tick- congressional map estab- President Donald Trump’s
lishes districts in which approval rating is only 30
et, competitive elections, Pennsylvania is Democrats may be able percent, suggesting that he
your kind of state. to flip six or more seats may be dragging down the
For decades Pennsylvania has been a bat- from Republican to Demo- ticket.
cratic in the next Congress. The new congressional
tleground in presidential PANIC MODE Already five incumbent map, a troubled presidency,
contests. A large state with Republicans are retiring the loss of safe seats and
a huge prize of winner-take- Understanding why so at the end of this session hemorrhaging voter sup-
all electoral votes, the state many believe so much hav- while additional GOP held port: these all seem to be
in modern times has bal- oc is about to be let loose on seats are vulnerable in creating the perfect storm
anced its party allegiances Republicans is important — central and western Penn- for a party that just 15
between Republican and not because it is certain to sylvania. months ago seemed to have
Democratic parties. Since happen, but because it cap- But the new maps are a virtual monopoly on na-
1948, the GOP has won eight tures the political zeitgeist not the sole challenge for tional power.
of these contests; the Demo- sweeping the nation early beleaguered Republicans. But will all or any of
crats have won 10. in a midterm election year. Democrat Conor Lamb’s these dire forebodings actu-
Gubernatorial elections First the obligatory unexpected special-election ally transpire? Some very
display the same competi- disclaimer: the party in victory in western Pennsyl- smart people think so.
tiveness. In fact, until the the White House (almost) vania is equally ominous. Some think it could get
last gubernatorial election always loses congressional Republican strategists ex- worse.
Republicans and Democrats seats in a midterm election pected midterm challenges But we are still some
had regularly traded the — 32 seats, on average, since from college-educated seven months from Election
governor’s office every eight the Civil War. voters in the Philadelphia Day — and that is an age in
years back to the ’50s. But normal midterm suburbs. But Lamb’s win modern politics.
However, this edge-of- anxieties don’t explain pointed to larger problems Republicans clearly
the-seat style of electoral the pervasive angst plagu- with Trump’s heretofore recognize the challenge
contest has not extended ing Republicans. Nor is it loyal base. confronting them while
to congressional elections. inspiring that a record 58 Lamb’s strategy to vic- Democrats have shown an
Since the 1950s, Republi- Democrats have filed for the tory provides a model and impressive gift for wrest-
cans have dominated U.S. May primaries. a path in deep-red Trump ing defeat from the jaws of
Senate races in the state, Instead, two main factors districts where Democratic victory.
winning 19 of 24. While that were almost completely candidates are already Meanwhile, the GOP
U.S. House races have been unanticipated two months adopting Lamb’s strategy. has some big problems,
somewhat more com- ago have converged to put Aggravating both the Democrats have some great
petitive, the GOP has also the GOP into panic mode. new maps and the Lamb opportunities and we have
overwhelmingly dominated The first of these was the shock are the polls showing some great races to watch.
them since 2010. imposition of a new con- both the Republican Party The 2018 midterms are
But Republican domina- gressional map by the Penn- and the president losing going through Pennsylva-
tion in congressional races sylvania Supreme Court. support among voters. nia, and Keystone Staters
may be about to change. In The second was the shock- have a ringside seat.
fact, virtually every inde- ing victory by a Democrat DRAG ON THE TICKET
pendent national political running in a special election G. Terry Madonna is a
analyst believes Pennsylva- in deep-red western Penn- The most recent Frank- professor of public affairs at
nia to now be the epicenter sylvania. lin & Marshal College Poll’s Franklin & Marshall Col-
of political forces about Either of these events “generic ballot” findings lege in Lancaster. Michael L.
to unleash a blue wave of would have unsettled show 53 percent of Pennsyl- Young is a former professor
Democratic victories across Republicans. They can lose vania voters who are “very of politics and public affairs
the nation. only 23 House seats and still interested” in the election at Penn State University and
This belief in a political maintain control of Con- plan to vote for a Demo- managing partner of Michael
tsunami is so widespread gress. crat while only 30 percent Young Strategic Research.
that one respected Penn- Both factors combined of those “very interested” Madonna and Young encour-
sylvania Republican in- have left the GOP stunned. in the election will vote age responses to the column
cumbent has been quoted Republican — a yawning and can be reached, respec-
recommending members of LAMB SHOCK gap of 23 points favoring tively, at terry.madonna@
his party on Congress “get Democrats. fandm.edu and drmikely-
off the beach.” The new Pennsylvania At the same time, oung@comcast.net.
THINKSTOCK | STOCKBYTE
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W H E R E T H E W E A LT H I S | These 5 ZIP codes had the largest average adjusted gross incomes and average salaries in 2015.
15142
19085
19035
19041 19066
M E D I A N I N P A | Two ZIP codes were precisely in the middle of the wealthiest and poorest in 2015.
16611
18643
ALEXANDRIA, PITTSTON,
HUNTINGDON COUNTY LUZERNE COUNTY
Average AGI: $50,888 Average AGI: $50,854
Average Income: $42,981 Average Income: $44,501
Tax Returns Filed: 1,130 Tax Returns Filed: 6,260
W H E R E T H E W E A LT H I S N ’ T | These 5 ZIP codes had the smallest average adjusted gross incomes and average salaries in 2015.
15901
19133 16503
16501 16802