PhillyNow calendar: civic events, June 10-14
Summer’s off to a start—whether it’s going quick or slow, that all depends on your view of the world, and heat. Personally, I’m becoming more of a pessimist than ever. And for pessimists, things tend to move slowly. But that’s me. However, in several Philadelphia neighborhoods, Philly Rising and Epic Stakeholder meetings are taking place, both of...
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Pennsylvania liquor bill not a certainty
The liquor issue in Pennsylvania looked like a shoe-in for Republicans this year. Until it didn’t. After years of fights in the Capitol between governmental, union, nonprofit and private groups, many believed the House passage of a GOP-favored vote to privatize the liquor industry was finally ready to sail through the full Legislature. A confusing piece of...
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Building collapses in Center City; at least 6 dead
Update: See additional photos of the scene taken by Tara Murtha June 6 here. By late last night, the entire country had heard of a building collapse in Center City Philadelphia. Neither terrorism, nor the product of nefarious foul play, by the early afternoon, it had been reported that several people had been taken to three hospitals throughout the city, and...
Continue ReadingAbortion insurance ban passes PA senate
In another expected move at the end of the legislative session, the Pennsylvania Senate passed House Bill 818, which limits abortion coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania. Like it did in the House, the bill passed the Senate easily, 31-19. It now goes to Gov. Corbett’s desk for his signature, which is expected. House...
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ACLU marijuana report offers new insight into growing problem that has an obvious solution
The ACLU released a scathing report yesterday putting numbers on a growing, disturbing trend we were already keen on. In Philadelphia and nationwide, blacks people are much more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites, despite the fact that both races use marijuana at the same rate. According to an analysis of federal data, blacks are four...
Continue ReadingUpdate: Bill to kill traffic court passes House
As expected, the Pennsylvania state House today approved legislation to end Philadelphia traffic court, for good. The final vote was 117-81, with mostly the Philadelphia delegation objecting. The legislation, Senate Bill 333, now goes to the state Senate for concurrence, but the fight to hammer the final nail into the scandal-plagued entity’s coffin is...
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For Rosalind Applewhite, the fight for Medicaid is personal
Rosalind Applewhite of Strawberry Mansion says the Medicaid expansion portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, is personal to her. “People desperately need health care, and the president has made it possible,” she said, holding a sign reading “Health Care is a Right” in Center City. “The Supreme Court has...
Continue ReadingAnti-abortion coverage bill passes state Senate committee
Last we heard about House Bill 818—the Option Out of Abortion Coverage in State amendment—state Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) quickly became an Internet meme as he issued an impassioned speech on the House floor about Pennsylvania’s legislative priorities. “This legislation [HB 818] is about advancing an ideology of oppression and suppression,” Sims...
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Corbett offers signal on Obamacare Medicaid expansion
Last week, State Rep. Bill Adolph told Capitol reporters that Gov. Corbett “is in constant conversation with the federal government, asking tough questions to get the best possible deal for the taxpayers of Pennsylvania” with regard to the Medicaid expansion section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Now we know...
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PhillyNow Calendar: civic events, June 3-7
Just another week in Philadelphia, following the School Reform Commission voting to uphold the “Doomsday Budget” and send the school system into (more of) a tailspin. City Council is nearing the end of its current session and has a busy week hearing testimony regarding several resolutions and bills, some of which are in their final passage. DecarceratePA...
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