Page 2 The Public Record • October 23, 2014
Heard on the Hill / in City Hall Cruz Seeks Forensic School District Audit Calling for increased transparency and accountability, State Rep. Angel Cruz (DKensington), Democratic chairman of the House Human Services Committee, outlined his reasoning behind HR 1061, which would call for a forensic audit of the Philadelphia School District, and urged the House to adopt the measure. “With the recent enactment of a cigarette tax in Philadelphia, we’re putting more and more taxpayer money into the Philadelphia School District and we must ensure that money is properly spent,” Cruz said. HR 1061 would urge the Pennsylvania Auditor General, with the assistance of the Philadelphia City Controller, to conduct a forensic audit of the Philadelphia School District with the aim to provide a greater degree of transparency into the district’s finances, particularly its expenditures and use of federal, state and city funds.
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Brown Resolution Recognizes Judge Frazier-Lyde The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has unanimously adopted HR 860, introduced by State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (DW. Phila.), which recognizes the achievements of Hon. Judge Jacquelyn FrazierLyde. Frazier-Lyde, the daughter of Philadelphia boxing legend and former world heavyweight boxing champion “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier, was inducted earlier this year as the first woman in the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. During her boxing career, she earned a record of 13 wins, including nine by knockout, one loss and one draw. Her only defeat came at
the hands of the daughter of another boxing legend, Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali. She was elected to the position of judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court in 2007 and was retained following her reelection in 2013.
House OKs Bishop Child Abuse legislation State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop (D-W. Phila.) said the House passed legislation that would allow county child-welfare agencies and medical professionals to share detailed information regarding child abuse. “Legislators and stakeholders have worked hard to ensure that this piece of legislation will help medical professionals and county workers better protect Pennsylvania children,” Bishop said. SB 27 would require a licensed medical practitioner who reports child abuse or a child needing protective services to share relevant medication information on the child’s prior and current health, subsequent examination, treatment plan and medical information regarding any other child in the child’s household. County agencies would be required to share information regarding the condition and well-being of the child and the progress and outcome of the investigation. Medical practitioners would also have access to the child’s medical records and other medical practitioners providing care to the child.
Council Approves Goode Diversity Economic Bills Philadelphia City Council has unanimously approved two bills by City Councilman at Large W. Wilson Goode, Jr. that will create new economic opportunities within the city. The Equity Ownership Bill (#140640), co-sponsored by
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, amends Chapter 17-1600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Economic Opportunity Plans,” to require that each Economic Opportunity Plan include information concerning the Equity Ownership (as defined) of (1) the contractor, developer and/or recipient of financial assistance required to submit the Plan; (2) participants (as defined) engaged by the contractor, developer and/or recipient of financial assistance; and (3) the eventual owner or owners of the project or contract to which the Plan relates; and requiring periodic reports for the purpose of updating Equity Ownership information. The Living Wage Job Creation Tax Credit Bill
(#140641) applies the city’s new minimum-wage standard to the local job-creation taxcredit program. The new standard requires that the employer shall pay each employee an hourly wage equal to at least the higher of: (a) 150% of the federal minimum wage or (b) $12.00 multiplied by the Consumer Price Index Multiplier. Through 2013, 104 firms have participated in the Job Creation Tax Credit Program, promising the creation of 6,388 jobs. To date, 1,057 jobs have been certified as created, resulting in the issuance of $1,786,136 in tax certificates.
DeLissio Answers Where Unpassed Legislation Went State Rep. Pamela A. DeLissio (D-Northwest) is
With the UNIONS PFT Files Legal Rsponses To SRC’s Cancellation of Contract Attorneys for the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers have filed several actions to oppose the School Reform Commission’s unilateral action to “cancel” the PFT contract on Oct. 6. “We feel the SRC’s attack last week was not only cowardly and disrespectful, but lacking legal merit,” said PFT President Jerry Jordan. “We are challenging all of the legal arguments made by the SRC to support its actions. “A preliminary injunction granted by Common Pleas Court Judge Nina Wright Padilla reinforces our view that, the School Reform Commission cannot simply decide to stop negotiating, then unilaterally cancel the PFT contract and impose new terms. “The PFT as early as August
2013 had offered changes to members’ health-care benefits that would have saved the district millions of dollars but the SRC chose to walk away from negotiations. Today’s decision, for the moment, means PFT members can keep their current health-care coverage without having to participate in the district’s open-enrollment process. “We know the School District will likely appeal the ruling, and this is just the beginning of the litigious path chosen by the SRC. We, however, are confident in the legal merits of our claims and we are committed to seeing this matter to its conclusion in the courts. Our preference, however, remains to settle things via face-to-face negotiations. The PFT filed a separate motion to dismiss the Dept. of Education as a party to the dispute, and to transfer the matter to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
hosting town halls focusing on what does and does not happen as the state legislature approaches the mandated end of the two-year session on Nov. 30. “There is much to share and discuss,” DeLissio said. “For instance, currently there are 2,532 pieces of legislation introduced and 1,067 resolutions – and that is just on the House side. You might ask yourself, ‘What happens to all of these bills?’ I encourage you to attend a town hall to find out.” She held one last night and has scheduled the second for Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m. in Wolcoff Auditorium, Roxborough Memorial Hospital, 5800 Ridge Avenue, with free parking in the parking lot on Jamestown Avenue. 194th Legislative Dist. takes on a new shape effective Dec. 1, she welcomes current and soon-to-be district residents to attend her town halls. “The Pennsylvania Dept. of Education should not be a part of this dispute,” said Jordan, “Our position is that they were added as a plaintiff simply so the SRC could plead their case before the Commonwealth Court.”
Fattah Moves $4 Million Grant To Hospital Union Congressman Chaka Fattah announced the Philadelphia region will receive $3,998,181 to help support the long-term unemployed. The grant, from the Dept. of Labor, was awarded to the District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund. District 1199C was formed four decades ago as a partnership between the District 1199C of the National Union of Hospital & Healthcare Employees, AFLCIO, and nine Philadelphia hospitals with the goal of providing educational benefits to union members and the community.
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