Daily record.

Vol. III No. 76 (440)

Keeping You Posted With The Politics Of Philadelphia

April 26, 2012

Philadelphia Daily Record

Justice At What Cost?

ALTHOUGH Penna. Court System is a net money-maker for Commonwealth, General Assembly has underfunded it to the point its ability to deliver justice is imperiled, Chief Justice Ron Castille maintained in his annual report today.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

The Philadelphia Public Record

Calendar

Translation/Interpretation Arabic, Hebrew, English, French For more information, call William Hanna

Apr. 262012 Centennial Pk. Celebration honoring Joseph Manko, Ryan Howard and Vanguard at Phila. Horticultural Ctr., Montgomery Ave. & N. Horticultural Dr., 6 p.m. For tickets, etc. Arthur (215) 9889341.

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Apr. 26Black Tie Clover Club Dinner at Union League, 140 S. Broad St., starting 6:30 p.m. DA Seth Williams keynote speaker. Formal. Members seeking info call Clover Club Treasurer Mike Cibik (215) 735-1060 or sign on at www.cloverclub.org.

Apr. 26Phila. Greens’ Presidential Caucus at Buzz Café, 1800 N. Howard St., 7 p.m. Free and open to all, but only registered Green voters may vote. For info (215) 2437103 or gpop@gpop.org.

Apr. 26Committee to Re-Elect State Rep. John Taylor hosts Historical Site Cigar & Wine Tasting at Colonial Dames Of Phila., 1630 Latimer St. Tickets $250, $500, $1,000 and $2,500. For info (215) 5452244.

Apr. 27Republican Women’s Luncheon at the Vesper Club at noon. No cost other than your lunch choice. To share ideas, thoughts, events that en-

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courage a more active role for women in the party. Call for reservations at (267) 246-6347 or email karenbrownmayor@yahoo.com.

Apr. 28Rev. C.W. Gregory 1 Mile Walk & Mt. Zion 5K Walk/Run. Starting from Mt. Zion Baptist Ch., 50th & Woodland Ave., 8 a.m. For info Janice Bullock (215) 206-4627.

Apr. 28Ducky Birts Foundation Health Fair, 12 m.-2 p.m. and Gospelrama, 2-5 p.m. at Zion Baptist Ch., 3600 N. Broad St. Sponsored by Keystone Mercy Health Plan.

Apr. 28Bok Tech HS Reunion classes from 1970 to 1979 at Cannstatter Volksfest Verein, 9130 Academy Rd. Tickets $45.

No ticket sales at door. Celebrating retirement of Tom DeFelice after 43 years of teaching and coaching. Former student Jeff Chandler will also be honored.

For ticket info Eddie Everett (302) 561-1434.

May 4Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee hosts annual Contest & Open House at Training Facility, 10401 Decatur Rd., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For info Director Charles T. Brock (215) 824-2300.

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Castille: Cash-Starved, Justice Is At Risk Ensuring justice is the highest priority of Pennsylvania’s courts and it can only be accomplished if courts are open and adequately funded, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille said today. His remarks were part of the Supreme Court’s annual State of the Commonwealth's Courts report.

This year, court systems throughout the country have joined the American Bar Association, the National Center for States Courts and state bar associations to focus on the theme, “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom” as a way to bring national attention to an issue thought by many to be the most problematic to sustaining access to justice: underfunding of court systems throughout the country.

“Courts must be open to hear disputes involving families, to resolve commercial issues and to uphold justice and protect victims when crimes are involved,” said Chief Justice Castille. “Across the country, severe funding cuts are crippling the ability of courts to fulfill their critical role.

“This year, Pennsylvania’s courts benefited from strong collaboration between all three branches of state government in beginning to resolve the judiciary’s long-standing funding challenges. That collaboration has allowed us to tread water fiscally, even though our overall financial picture has continued to decline.”

Even as Pennsylvania courts have been able to manage short funding, other States have experienced civil case delays which can translate into growing backlogs for families, children, businesses and consumers. Criminal cases must be heard, though case delays can create ripple effects that are costly to other parts of the criminal justice system such as prisons and county jails.

Pennsylvania’s judiciary receives about one-half of one percent of the total state budget, about the same as the legislature.

Some 85% of the budget request for 2012-13 covers personnel costs; another 12% flows directly to the Counties for court-related costs and less than 3% goes to operating costs.

The judiciary is unique in that it collects far more than it receives each year in its budget.

Over the past five years, the court’s state appropriations have totaled less than $1.5 billion, and its collections from criminal courts alone have exceeded $2.3 billion. For the most part, the funds it collects do not flow back to the judiciary, instead going largely to state and local governments for general government uses.

Over the past seven years, budget shortfalls have been filled by “loans” from a mandated account that funds the judicial computer system, endangering Pennsylvania's courts’ ability to use technology for greater efficiency in the courts and related justice agencies and to help assess solutions to policy problems.

Traditionally, the Supreme Court has used the occasion of Law Day, which is commemorated annually on May 1 and throughout the month, to issue the State of the Commonwealth’s Courts to give citizens a better understanding of the judicial branch. The report typically • PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM | 3

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Daily Waffles From Joe Sbaraglia (The Waffleman) Yo! Here we go again with these thoughts on things that require valid ID: • • •

Driving Boarding an airplane Doctor’s office / hospital Applying for a job Pharmacy

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Bank transactions Applying to a school Applying for store credit Establish a utilities accounting water light phone

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Purchasing a car Car registration Medicare – Medicaid Opening a retirement account Donating blood Buying a firearm Social security services Pawn shops Writing a check Using a credit card Buying car insurance Buying train tickets Buying annual tickets to amusement parks Volunteer at non-profit organizations Applying for a professional license Buying a house Apartment rental application When stopped by the police

Asking for photo identification to vote is not racist, intrusive or political.

To buy a copy of this book E-Mail Dwaffleman@aol.com

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PHILADELPHIADAILYRECORD.COM •

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD highlights the judiciary’s challenges and successes, not the least of which this year remains adequate funding.

“We want all Pennsylvanians to know what we are doing, and we need you to know of the issues that confront us,” Chief Justice Castille said.

“Financial-resource issues have become a recurrent theme in this report in recent years, but only of necessity, for those issues remain critical.”

The 2012 report also highlights programs that serve justice, save money and make a difference in peoples’ lives. Among such pro-

grams: • Continued expansion of Pennsylvania's problem-solving courts-drug, mental illness, DUI and veterans courts, among others-saving an estimated $3.36 for every $1 spent and improving the chances that graduates become productive members of society.

• The Supreme Court’s Office of Children and Families in the Courts continued emphasis on helping at-risk children find safe and permanent homes, leading to 7,00 0fewer children in foster care homes – a 33% reduction of delinquent and dependent children in temporary foster care

homes – and an estimated savings of $117 million in Dept. of Public Welfare expenditures.

• Videoconferencing of preliminary arraignments and other court proceedings, saving counties an estimated $21 million a year in reduced transportation and security costs.

• Electronic filing of traffic citations, saving the Pennsylvania State Police an estimated 60,000 hours a year and also saving the court 77,000 hours a year. Overall, the savings are in the millions of dollars.

Casey Idea Could Help Small Biz Create Jobs US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Phila.) said yesterday small businesses in Pennsylvania could save through the Small Business Jobs & Tax Relief Act of 2012, legislation based on a bill Casey introduced in 2010 to help businesses create jobs.

“Small businesses are at the center of the economy and vital to our recovery,” said the Senator. “This bill, which includes a business-payroll tax incentive similar to legislation I introduced in 2010, will make it easier for

small businesses to grow and encourage economic growth throughout the state.”

uct when compared to other job creation policies currently under debate.

The legislation would give small businesses a 10% incometax credit on new payroll for hiring new workers or increasing employee wages.

The credit will be available for one year beginning with the first full quarter following enactment.

The legislation is set to be debated in the Senate soon.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, a tax credit based on increased payroll would create the most jobs and have the greatest positive impact on America's gross domestic prod-

Small businesses would see thousands of dollars in tax savings per worker under the legislation Casey is supporting.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

PA GOP: Primary Results Spell Trouble For Casey Republican Party of Pennsylvania Executive Director Mike Barley issued the following statement regarding Sen. Bob Casey’s performance in the 2012 primary election.

“Sen. Casey’s lackluster performance last night should concern his campaign team heading into his fall reelection. Democrat turnout was absolutely abysmal at 16%, which proves the very base of the Democrat Party isn’t excited about coming out to work for Bob Casey. What’s more telling, is that of the Democrats

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that showed up, about 133,000 voted against Sen. Casey, choosing a no-name challenger over their incumbent US Senator. If Sen. Casey can’t even get his own base to get excited about his reelection, there’s no way he can galvanize enough bipartisan support to win in November,” Barley said.

“If Sen. Casey and Democrats so confident about his reelection campaign, than I challenge him to start traveling around the state talking about his accomplishments while in D.C. I challenge

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him to embrace his support of President Obama 98% of the time or his votes for Obamacare or the stimulus. I challenge him to explain his out-of-touch record with the people of Pennsylvania.

That is not a record I would want to run on and I am confident he will find it is not a record the people of Pennsylvania are going to support!

“We look forward to working with our Republican nominee for US Senate, Tom Smith, to expose Casey.”

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Poverty Activists Try To Collar Cabinet Officers This morning, outside the Pennsylvania Constitution Center, Cheri Honkala, members of the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign, and a coalition of other groups attempted without success to meet with Pennsylvania’s Secretary of Welfare and Budget Director.

The Welfare Secretary and Budget Director are presenting the proposed budget to an invited-guest-only meeting inside the center. The groups are asking the Secretary and Budget Director to meet with the people who will be affected by the budget cuts so they can understand what

the proposed cuts will do to people’s lives.

“If the Governor can put together a task force to study how to tax natural-gas wells and to fund transportation, why can’t he take the time to study what the effects of eliminating general assistance and cutting social service programs will be?” Honkala asked.

“The proposal as it now stands would take money away from orphaned and abandoned children, abused women, those afflicted with catastrophic illnesses, and the disabled and give it in the

form of tax cuts to multinational corporations who are recording record profits. Who does that?

Who takes from abandoned children, abused women and the disabled so that the super wealthy can buy still another yacht?”

Honkala demanded to know.

The groups sent a delegation from the groups outside to deliver the letter to the Welfare Secretary and Budget Director to ask them to: “Talk to us before you take from us.” They received no immediate response.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Bills Would Bar Tax Hikes Till City Ups Collections

SPEAKING FROM a front porch of a Tacony householder, State Sen. Mike Stack and State Rep. Mike McGeehan announced they are launching a pair of measures that will, among other things, prevent Phila. from raising real-estate taxes until it achieves 95% tax-collection rate – typical for other Cities, but far higher than this City’s 81% rate, which Stack called “broken for a long time.” “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore,” McGeehan said.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Penn Wins Top Honors In Green Challenge The US Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the winners of the 2012 College University Green Power Challenge and the top winner in the Green Power Challenge is the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, more colleges and universities who are participating in the Challenge are located in Pennsylvania than any other state in the nation. Of the 73 universities participating, 17 are located in Pennsylvania and are buying green power – power from renewable resources.

The University of Pennsylvania beat out 72 other schools

across the country by purchasing more than 200 million kilowatt hours of green power or 48% of its total power purchases.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydropower. The University of Pennsylvania has taken firstplace honors in the challenge for the fifth consecutive year and its green-power use is equivalent to avoiding greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 27,000 passenger vehicles each year.

“By purchasing green power

from renewable sources, these 17 Pennsylvania institutions are spurring the development of the nation’s green power market and reducing harmful air pollution,” said EPA’s mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. “Their commitment to renewable energy, especially at the University of Pennsylvania, is contributing to the growth in green jobs and a green economy.”

One of the 16 other Green Power Partners in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia University in East Falls.

Murt Has Guide To Veterans’ Homes State Rep. Tom Murt (RNortheast) is distributing guides on the Pennsylvania State Veterans’ Homes. The brochures show veterans and their families where the state's facilities are located, who qualifies, and how to begin the application process.

“Our veterans have earned the right to the best care we can provide should the day come when they need it,” Murt said.

This new guide also outlines all the services available at the veterans’ homes, which are open to vets and their spouses.

To receive the new guide, please visit Murt’s office at 19 S. York Road in Hatboro, or call (215) 674-3755. You can also see a copy of the brochure on Murt’s website at www.RepMurt.com.

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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Blondell Likes SRC’s ‘Bottom Up’ Approach Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown released the following statement about the proposed radical restructuring of the School District as a response to a large budget shortfall: “It has become increasingly clear that the current structure at the School District of Philadelphia is not working and that radical change is required to improve the opportunities for our students to learn and achieve success in life. The School Reform Commission released a bold plan that would dramatically alter what education looks like and feels like to young people in our

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city. Whether this paradigm shift is the appropriate course of action remains to be seen, but as leaders, it deserves our full attention and respect — we cannot be dismissive about this new budget reality facing the School District of Philadelphia.

“The devil is always in the details. That notion will absolutely apply as we analyze the data and hear from School District officials as well as those who would be impacted. What does this do to class sizes? How do we make sure our students are not treated like numbers? Will the leadership of localized ‘Achievement Net-

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works’ look like Philadelphia when it comes to diversity?

These are the preliminary questions I will be asking.

“On the flip side, I am encouraged by the philosophy of a ‘bottom up’ versus ‘a one size fits all’ or ‘top down’ approach. Giving principals and parents in our neighborhoods the autonomy to choose what works best for them could be a game-changer. I am looking forward to having an open and serious dialogue with the SRC and the School District during their annual budget testimony for FY ’13 as well as the five-year plan.”

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD

Volunteer Week Honors Disaster Organizations The Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management recognized the efforts of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster during a ceremony for Volunteer Week 2012 in Philadelphia.

“Volunteer Week in Philadelphia,” said Samantha Phillips, Philadelphia’s acting deputy managing director for emergency management, “is an opportunity for us to celebrate the dedication of ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service.”

SEPA VOAD helps to prepare the region for disaster and coordinate recovery and response. It

is a part of a national collaboration of diverse organizations that strive to meet community needs in the wake of a large-scale disaster.

Last year following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, 24 volunteers from four SEPA VOAD agencies responded to Philadelphia’s call for assistance.

Those agencies included the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church, Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern Pennsylvania, a ministry of Lutheran Congregational Services, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief – Southeastern Pennsylvania, and United Church of Christ Disaster Ministry – Southeastern Pennsylvania Conference. They

helped residents clean out and recover from the damaging flood waters associated with those storms.

“All of the work from the SEPA VOAD agencies to support the volunteers and clean out damaged properties,” Phillips said, “was a tremendous service to the City of Philadelphia and those impacted by the storms.

Volunteer Week was established to honor those who dedicate themselves to taking action and improving their community.

It’s also about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their community.

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