With the legislature out of session for (probably) the entire summer, it’s time to turn our attention to some other reporting projects outside the daily grind of Harrisburg. Paula Knudsen of The Caucus and Sam Janesch of L&amp;P and The Caucus have spent the last couple weeks reporting on a ubiquitous, little-discussed feature of Capitol life: food—tables and tables of it!—that routinely sits outside committee meetings and political events, and which is paid for with tax dollars. Paula and Sam explain how much money is in lawmakers’ budgets for all that food, why it doesn’t count in their state-supplied per diems, and more. Plus, PennLive’s Wallace McKelvey joins us to talk about water quality, a topic he’s been reporting on for many months. Specifically, he’ll explain why the DEP’s water inspectors have become so short-staffed over the last decade, how water systems across the state have been falling into disrepair, and what that could all mean for the average Pennsylvania water-drinker. Also: this is the final podcast of the summer before a short hiatus. We’ll be back and better than ever when the legislature returns to session in the fall!

With the legislature out of session for (probably) the entire summer, it’s time to turn our attention to some other reporting projects outside the daily grind of Harrisburg. Paula Knudsen of <a href="https://twitter.com/CaucusPA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Caucus</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/samjanLNP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sam Janesch</a> of L&amp;P and The Caucus have spent the last couple weeks reporting on a ubiquitous, little-discussed feature of Capitol life: food—tables and tables of it!—that routinely sits outside committee meetings and political events, and which is paid for with tax dollars. Paula and Sam explain how much money is in lawmakers’ budgets for all that food, why it doesn’t count in their state-supplied per diems, and more. Plus, PennLive’s <a href="https://twitter.com/wjmckelvey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wallace McKelvey</a> joins us to talk about water quality, a topic he’s been <a href="http://water.pennlive.com/2/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reporting on</a> for many months. Specifically, he’ll explain why the DEP’s water inspectors have become so short-staffed over the last decade, how water systems across the state have been falling into disrepair, and what that could all mean for the average Pennsylvania water-drinker. Also: this is the final podcast of the summer before a short hiatus. We’ll be back and better than ever when the legislature returns to session in the fall!

Episode 57: Food and water

It’s a brave new world for the commonwealth’s budget process—at least compared to the last decade or so. For the first time in many years, lawmakers are poised to pass a budget ahead of the June 30th deadline, and Wolf is likely to sign it after letting the previous three plans pass without a signature. Their proposal has made it through the House and, as of Friday morning, is awaiting final Senate consideration. It’s a mostly status-quo bill—spending $32.7 billion, or about 1.7 percent more than last year’s plan. That extra cash doesn’t come from any new revenue (there’s none in the plan) but instead, from strong returns in the 2017-18 fiscal year, healthy projections next year, and some internal transfers. Plus, election year pressures are giving lawmakers extra incentive to agree to a plan and get out of Harrisburg fast. WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief Katie Meyer leads a discussion on the ins and outs of the budget plan with Capitolwire Bureau Chief Chris Comisac and Marc Levy of the Associated Press—plus explains why all budget numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. We’ll also provide an update on lawmakers’ long-awaited congressional redistricting overhaul, which seems increasingly unlikely to pass the House in time to impact the 2021 redistricting process. And just a note: This episode of the podcast was recorded live as an episode of WITF’s morning show, Smart Talk. That means it’s a full hour long, and includes underwriting breaks. State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

It’s a brave new world for the commonwealth’s budget process—at least compared to the last decade or so. For the first time in many years, lawmakers are poised to pass a budget ahead of the June 30th deadline, and Wolf is likely to sign it after letting the previous three plans pass without a signature. Their proposal has made it through the House and, as of Friday morning, is awaiting final Senate consideration. It’s a mostly status-quo bill—spending $32.7 billion, or about 1.7 percent more than last year’s plan. That extra cash doesn’t come from any new revenue (there’s none in the plan) but instead, from strong returns in the 2017-18 fiscal year, healthy projections next year, and some internal transfers. Plus, election year pressures are giving lawmakers extra incentive to agree to a plan and get out of Harrisburg fast. WITF’s Capitol Bureau Chief Katie Meyer leads a discussion on the ins and outs of the budget plan with Capitolwire Bureau Chief Chris Comisac and Marc Levy of the Associated Press—plus explains why all budget numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. We’ll also provide an update on lawmakers’ long-awaited congressional redistricting overhaul, which seems increasingly unlikely to pass the House in time to impact the 2021 redistricting process. And just a note: This episode of the podcast was recorded live as an episode of WITF’s morning show, Smart Talk. That means it’s a full hour long, and includes underwriting breaks. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 56: The art of the “get out of town” budget

This week had everything: major bills moving, last-minute amendments, a little back-room plotting, and a lot of yelling on the Senate floor. A bill to create a citizen’s commission on redistricting has passed the Senate and is now awaiting House action—but it looks very different than it did just a few weeks ago. Now, a number of changes have given the legislature more power in the process, plus an entirely new clause has been added that seeks to elect appellate judges by region. Confused about how those things go together? Reporter Jan Murphy and columnist John Micek, both of PennLive, join us to hash out the details. Plus, we’ll discuss House Speaker Mike Turzai unexpectedly shoehorning his own abortion-restricting language into a human trafficking bill, an effort to keep judges safe from dogs, addressing sexual harassment in the legislature, and more.   State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

This week had everything: major bills moving, last-minute amendments, a little back-room plotting, and a lot of yelling on the Senate floor. A bill to create a citizen’s commission on redistricting has passed the Senate and is now awaiting House action—but it looks very different than it did just a few weeks ago. Now, a number of changes have given the legislature more power in the process, plus an entirely new clause has been added that seeks to elect appellate judges by region. Confused about how those things go together? Reporter Jan Murphy and columnist John Micek, both of PennLive, join us to hash out the details. Plus, we’ll discuss House Speaker Mike Turzai unexpectedly shoehorning his own abortion-restricting language into a human trafficking bill, an effort to keep judges safe from dogs, addressing sexual harassment in the legislature, and more. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 55: Amendments for all

It’s crunch time for the House and Senate to get a redistricting overhaul passed in time for congressional reapportionment in 2021. But you wouldn’t be able to tell there’s a month to the deadline by spending time in the Capitol. No less than seven (at least) bills on the subject are floating around both chambers. And though the Senate has made progress toward a compromise, the House is nowhere close. Stephen Caruso of the PLS Reporter and Liz Navratil of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette join us to talk about the fate of the map-drawing process. Plus, they give the latest updates on the gubernatorial race, and a recent executive order from Governor Tom Wolf.

It’s crunch time for the House and Senate to get a redistricting overhaul passed in time for congressional reapportionment in 2021. But you wouldn’t be able to tell there’s a month to the deadline by spending time in the Capitol. No less than seven (at least) bills on the subject are floating around both chambers. And though the Senate has made progress toward a compromise, the House is nowhere close. <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenJ_Caruso" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stephen Caruso</a> of the PLS Reporter and <a href="https://twitter.com/LizNavratil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liz Navratil</a> of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette join us to talk about the fate of the map-drawing process. Plus, they give the latest updates on the gubernatorial race, and a recent executive order from Governor Tom Wolf.

Episode 54: Too many redistricting bills, not enough time

This week, Pennsylvania had an election.If you’re a person who noticed this happened, you may have also noticed that some of the outcomes were expected, others were not, and various partisans and pundits still seem pretty divided about whether Democrats can expect a proverbial “blue wave” come November.Lots to take in! So, Steve Esack of the Morning Call and Wallace McKelvey of PennLive join us to talk through the various important threads still hanging loose post-primary, and preview what’s likely to come in a very (very!) important election year.Plus, some down-low changes took place in the commonwealth’s medical marijuana program this week, and we unpack what it might mean for open records laws/general transparency statewide.

This week, Pennsylvania had an election. If you’re a person who noticed this happened, you may have also noticed that some of the outcomes were expected, others were not, and various partisans and pundits still seem pretty divided about whether Democrats can expect a proverbial “blue wave” come November. Lots to take in! So, <a href="https://twitter.com/sesack" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Steve Esack</a> of the Morning Call and <a href="https://twitter.com/wjmckelvey" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Wallace McKelvey</a> of PennLive join us to talk through the various important threads still hanging loose post-primary, and preview what’s likely to come in a very (very!) important election year. Plus, some down-low <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/05/medical_marijuana_panel_health.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">changes</a> took place in the commonwealth’s medical marijuana program this week, and we unpack what it might mean for open records laws/general transparency statewide.

Episode 53: Election retrospective, medical marijuana transparency

Pennsylvania’s primary elections are this coming Tuesday, and there’s a lot to pay attention to. Three GOP candidates for governor are facing off to see who will take on Tom Wolf in November. York County Senator Scott Wagner, who also owns a trash-hauling company, is seen as an apparent frontrunner after clinching the important state Republican Party nomination. But, since there’s been little external polling, it’s difficult to say for sure whether fellow candidates Paul Mango and Laura Ellsworth have a shot at the nomination as well. There are also a number of very crowded congressional races to pay attention to—and they’re especially chaotic because this is the first election that’ll use the commonwealth’s brand new congressional map. The primary also features a weirdly-competitive democratic primary for lieutenant governor, with a truly colorful cast of characters involved. Philly Inquirer and Daily News columnist John Baer and AP reporter Marc Levy join us to break down the many moving parts.

Pennsylvania’s primary elections are this coming Tuesday, and there’s a lot to pay attention to. Three GOP candidates for governor are facing off to see who will take on Tom Wolf in November. York County Senator Scott Wagner, who also owns a trash-hauling company, is seen as an apparent frontrunner after clinching the important state Republican Party nomination. But, since there’s been little external polling, it’s difficult to say for sure whether fellow candidates Paul Mango and Laura Ellsworth have a shot at the nomination as well. There are also a number of very crowded congressional races to pay attention to—and they’re especially chaotic because this is the first election that’ll use the commonwealth’s brand new congressional map. The primary also features a weirdly-competitive democratic primary for lieutenant governor, with a truly colorful cast of characters involved. Philly Inquirer and Daily News columnist <a href="https://twitter.com/jbaernews" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Baer</a> and AP reporter <a href="https://twitter.com/timelywriter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marc Levy</a> join us to break down the many moving parts.

Episode 52: Primary primer

Marc Levy of the Associated Press and Liz Navratil of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette join us for a roundup of a whole bunch of initiatives kicking around the CapitolThat includes a move to expand background checks for gun purchases, and a hearing on creating an independent citizens’ commission for redistricting. Plus, we’ll recap a recent debate between the three GOP candidates for governor.And in related news, rapper Meek Mill was released from a Pennsylvania prison this week. His controversial sentence began in November, when he was arrested for violating a parole stemming from a more than decade-old weapon and drug possession conviction.The case called attention to what many say is a systemic problem with Pennsylvania’s judicial system. We’ll discuss a push in state government to change that, and whether it’ll get past a conservative legislature.

<a href="https://twitter.com/timelywriter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marc Levy</a> of the Associated Press and <a href="https://twitter.com/LizNavratil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liz Navratil</a> of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette join us for a roundup of a whole bunch of initiatives kicking around the CapitolThat includes a move to expand background checks for gun purchases, and a hearing on creating an independent citizens’ commission for redistricting. Plus, we’ll recap a recent debate between the three GOP candidates for governor.And in related news, rapper <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/20sxb77xiYeusSH8cVdatc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Meek Mill</a> was released from a Pennsylvania prison this week. His controversial sentence began in November, when he was arrested for violating a parole stemming from a more than decade-old weapon and drug possession conviction.The case called attention to what many say is a systemic problem with Pennsylvania’s judicial system. We’ll discuss a push in state government to change that, and whether it’ll get past a conservative legislature.

Episode 51: Meek Mill and more

When Philadelphia wanted to combat obesity and reduce its impact on health care early last year, it turned to a controversial measure: the soda tax. Since then, the 1.5 cent-per-ounce tax has inspired equally passionate support and opposition. Detractors of additional food, beverage and container taxes say they result in job loss, harm communities and adversely impact lower income families. Proponents, meanwhile, cite health benefits, and say the additional tax revenue is an investment in neighborhoods and public education. More than a year after its implementation, Philadelphia’s tax is now coming back to the fore in Harrisburg, as a number of lawmakers move to kill it, plus prevent any new levies on food, beverages and food containers. Allegheny County Republican Mark Mustio, the lead sponsor of that legislation, joins Smart Talk to explain why he thinks the tax is such a bad idea. And representing the other point of view is Donna Cooper, Executive Director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY), a Greater Philadelphia child advocacy organization. Cooper believes the tax is doing a world of good for the Philly community and the programs that serve it. In other news, this week was a busy one in the state Capitol. With WITF State Capitol Bureau Chief Katie Meyer hosting, Capitolwire Bureau Chief Chris Comisac stops by to discuss the major events: including the House passing contentious bills on abortion and Medicaid work requirements, new rules for medical marijuana, some inter-legislator tension, and much more.  Chris Comisac

When Philadelphia wanted to combat obesity and reduce its impact on health care early last year, it turned to a controversial measure: the soda tax. Since then, the 1.5 cent-per-ounce tax has inspired equally passionate support and opposition. Detractors of additional food, beverage and container taxes say they result in job loss, harm communities and adversely impact lower income families. Proponents, meanwhile, cite health benefits, and say the additional tax revenue is an investment in neighborhoods and public education. More than a year after its implementation, Philadelphia’s tax is now coming back to the fore in Harrisburg, as a number of lawmakers move to kill it, plus prevent any new levies on food, beverages and food containers. Allegheny County <a href="http://www.repmustio.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Republican Mark Mustio</a>, the lead sponsor of that legislation, joins Smart Talk to explain why he thinks the tax is such a bad idea. And representing the other point of view is <a href="http://www.pccy.org/about/staff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donna Cooper</a>, Executive Director of<a href="http://www.pccy.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY)</a>, a Greater Philadelphia child advocacy organization. Cooper believes the tax is doing a world of good for the Philly community and the programs that serve it. In other news, this week was a busy one in the state Capitol. With WITF State Capitol Bureau Chief <a href="http://www.witf.org/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&amp;blog_id=63&amp;id=5818" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katie Meyer</a> hosting, Capitolwire Bureau Chief Chris Comisac stops by to discuss the major events: including the House passing contentious bills on abortion and Medicaid work requirements, new rules for medical marijuana, some inter-legislator tension, and much more. Chris Comisac

Episode 50: Philly soda tax / Capitol roundup

On this week’s podcast, we catch up on a slew of nasty ads that have been circulating on TV—a sign the GOP gubernatorial primary is heating up. Paul Mango and Scott Wagner are taking turns calling each other liberal and (in Mango’s case) “violent,” a slumlord,” and a “deadbeat dad.” Paula Knudsen and Brad Bumsted of The Caucus and John Micek of PennLive join us to discuss why those unusually personal attacks are happening, and what they may do for the two candidates’ prospects. Plus, we recap the latest on sexual harassment in the legislature, as well as a potentially ill-fated push to overhaul Pennsylvania’s justice system. State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

On this week’s podcast, we catch up on a slew of nasty ads that have been circulating on TV—a sign the GOP gubernatorial primary is heating up. Paul Mango and Scott Wagner are taking turns calling each other liberal and (in Mango’s case) “violent,” a slumlord,” and a “deadbeat dad.” Paula Knudsen and <a href="https://twitter.com/BEBumsted" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Brad Bumsted</a> of The Caucus and <a href="https://twitter.com/ByJohnLMicek" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">John Micek</a> of PennLive join us to discuss why those unusually personal attacks are happening, and what they may do for the two candidates’ prospects. Plus, we recap the latest on sexual harassment in the legislature, as well as a potentially ill-fated push to overhaul Pennsylvania’s justice system. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 49: TV ad-pocalypse

Pennsylvania’s not a state that changes course easily. But over the past few months of redistricting chaos, not to mention wider, national unrest over guns and sexual assault, the commonwealth has seemed on the brink of some major shifts.  That’s what John Baer is hypothesizing, anyway.  The longtime columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer joins us to discuss why he thinks the battle over Pennsylvania’s congressional districts might be the catalyst needed to complete long-gestating initiatives to reform the judiciary and the redistricting process.  Plus, we’ll discuss how all these factors may be playing into the November election. 

Pennsylvania’s not a state that changes course easily. But over the past few months of redistricting chaos, not to mention wider, national unrest over guns and sexual assault, the commonwealth has seemed on the brink of some major shifts. That’s what <a href="https://twitter.com/jbaernews" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Baer</a> is hypothesizing, anyway. The longtime columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer joins us to discuss why he thinks the battle over Pennsylvania’s congressional districts might be the catalyst needed to complete long-gestating initiatives to reform the judiciary and the redistricting process. Plus, we’ll discuss how all these factors may be playing into the November election.

Episode 48: A perfect storm for change

Great look in PA Politics, great analysis and up to date info from Harrisburg. WITF makes great products, very slight lean to the left but fair programming.

Great look in PA Politics

The audio makes this podcast hard to listen to. Like the content and the reporting, but wish the production quality could be improved.

Interesting, but...

State House Sound Bites Podcast

Violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia dominated this week’s news cycle, and have inspired a wave of intense discussions over the way Americans think about hate. In the first half of this week’s podcast, we’ll discuss the partisan differences that have colored the conversation—both in Pennsylvania, and more broadly. And we’ll explain why Pennsylvania is the only state in the northeast without explicit protections from hate crimes committed on the basis of sexual and gender orientation, disability, or race. In the second half, we’ll turn to something completely different: the state Treasury’s reluctance to bail the general fund out of fiscal distress. Want to know what’ll happen if the fund runs dry? Trying to make sense of the budget standoff’s tangled politics? Listen on.

Violent clashes between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia dominated this week’s news cycle, and have inspired a wave of intense discussions over the way Americans think about hate. In the first half of this week’s podcast, we’ll discuss the partisan differences that have colored the conversation—both in Pennsylvania, and more broadly. And we’ll explain why Pennsylvania is the only state in the northeast without explicit protections from hate crimes committed on the basis of sexual and gender orientation, disability, or race. In the second half, we’ll turn to something completely different: the state Treasury’s reluctance to bail the general fund out of fiscal distress. Want to know what’ll happen if the fund runs dry? Trying to make sense of the budget standoff’s tangled politics? Listen on.

Episode 19: Social unrest; fiscal distress

The Morning Call’s Steve Esack recently co-authored a series investigating Pennsylvania’s little-discussed Clean and Green program, which essentially shifts property tax burdens off large landowners and onto regular homeowners—particularly in rural areas. (You should read it). We’ll discuss why the heck this policy exists, and how the billions and billions of dollars it functionally reroutes play into the commonwealth’s already-fraught property tax landscape. Plus, we’ll answer a bunch of questions WITF listeners and readers have submitted over the past few weeks. Steve and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Liz Navratil also recap a number of new developments in two of Pennsylvania’s highest-profile stories of the moment: the ongoing battle over the state’s redrawn congressional map, a lawmaker’s domestic violence allegations against a fellow caucus member.

The Morning Call’s Steve Esack recently co-authored a series investigating Pennsylvania’s little-discussed Clean and Green program, which essentially shifts property tax burdens off large landowners and onto regular homeowners—particularly in rural areas. (You should read it). We’ll discuss why the heck this policy exists, and how the billions and billions of dollars it functionally reroutes play into the commonwealth’s already-fraught property tax landscape. Plus, we’ll answer a bunch of questions WITF listeners and readers have submitted over the past few weeks. Steve and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Liz Navratil also recap a number of new developments in two of Pennsylvania’s highest-profile stories of the moment: the ongoing battle over the state’s redrawn congressional map, a lawmaker’s domestic violence allegations against a fellow caucus member.

Episode 47: Dang property taxes!

The state House returned to session this week and, after several days of intense budget negotiations, put their cards on the table: a plan—passed narrowly without Democratic support—that relies on monetization of the state’s Tobacco Settlement Fund, internal fund transfers, and very little new revenue. It’s not expected to become law. But it restarts inter-chamber talks and lets the Senate and Governor know where the House stands: they don’t want new taxes, and at least for now, they have the votes to avoid them. Meanwhile, the general fund has hit zero and—because the Treasury won’t authorize any loans until the budget is balanced—Governor Tom Wolf is planning to delay billions of dollars in required payments until there’s enough money in the fund to make them. The PLS Reporter’s Jason Gottesman and PennLive’s Jan Murphy join us to explain what this all means. House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (who really just wanted to buy some coffee) also makes a surprise guest appearance.

The state House returned to session this week and, after several days of intense budget negotiations, put their cards on the table: <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/09/house-narrowly-passes-a-tax-free-budget-funding-plan.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a plan</a>—passed narrowly without Democratic support—that relies on monetization of the state’s Tobacco Settlement Fund, internal fund transfers, and very little new revenue. It’s not expected to become law. But it restarts inter-chamber talks and lets the Senate and Governor know where the House stands: they don’t want new taxes, and at least for now, they have the votes to avoid them. Meanwhile, the general fund has hit zero and—because the Treasury won’t authorize any loans until the budget is balanced—Governor Tom Wolf is planning to delay billions of dollars in required payments until there’s enough money in the fund to make them. The PLS Reporter’s <a href="https://twitter.com/jggottesman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jason Gottesman</a> and PennLive’s <a href="https://twitter.com/JanMurphy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jan Murphy</a> join us to explain what this all means. House Minority Leader Frank Dermody (who really just wanted to buy some coffee) also makes a surprise guest appearance.

Episode 23: In which everyone blames everyone else

State Treasurer Joe Torsella stepped back into the political fray this week when he authorized a short-term loan to get the commonwealth’s general fund through a few lean days. That move comes after he spent about two months refusing to authorize a loan on the grounds that the budget wasn’t balanced. It technically still isn’t, and now the whole situation has many Republicans calling hypocrisy. Torsella’s reasoning for giving the loan is that Governor Tom Wolf has now pledged to take unilateral action (mainly borrowing) to keep the commonwealth’s books balanced. He has sketched out a rough picture of how he plans to do that, but there’s been no official proposal released, and many of the component parts of Wolf’s plan appear less than guaranteed. Meanwhile, Torsella still has to decide whether he’ll authorize another, much larger loan later in the month. If he doesn’t, the commonwealth could miss major payments to public schools. Plus, the legislature is scheduled to return to Harrisburg Monday following their cooling-off week. But no one seems to know what they’re going to do—including lawmakers themselves. The Philly Inquirer’s Angela Couloumbis and the AP’s Marc Levy explain.

State Treasurer Joe Torsella stepped back into the political fray this week when he authorized a short-term loan to get the commonwealth’s general fund through a few lean days. That move comes after he spent about two months refusing to authorize a loan on the grounds that the budget wasn’t balanced. It technically still isn’t, and now the whole situation has many Republicans calling hypocrisy. Torsella’s reasoning for giving the loan is that Governor Tom Wolf has now pledged to take unilateral action (mainly borrowing) to keep the commonwealth’s books balanced. He has sketched out a rough picture of how he plans to do that, but there’s been no official proposal released, and many of the component parts of Wolf’s plan appear less than guaranteed. Meanwhile, Torsella still has to decide whether he’ll authorize another, much larger loan later in the month. If he doesn’t, the commonwealth could miss major payments to public schools. Plus, the legislature is scheduled to return to Harrisburg Monday following their cooling-off week. But no one seems to know what they’re going to do—including lawmakers themselves. The Philly Inquirer’s <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelasInk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Angela Couloumbis</a> and the AP’s <a href="https://twitter.com/timelywriter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marc Levy</a> explain.

Episode 27: What happens next? It’s anyone’s guess.

Today’s podcast was recorded live as an episode of Smart Talk, WITF’s morning show. That means it’s twice as long, and features listener calls and emails.It features Keystone Crossroads’ Emily Previti and Marc Levy of the Associated Press, who help us break down the biggest issue in Pennsylvania (and one of the biggest issues in the country) this week: the PA Supreme Court’s decision to rule the commonwealth’s congressional maps unconstitutional.The ruling stunned many lawmakers, who now have just a few weeks to draw and pass totally new maps. A number of them have said they don’t think they’ll make the February 9th deadline, in which case the court says it will choose a new map.A group of republicans has already filed with the US Supreme Court for a stay on the decision. And meanwhile, the state court still hasn’t provided its full opinion, explaining why exactly the maps aren’t constitutional.State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

Today’s podcast was recorded live as an episode of Smart Talk, WITF’s morning show. That means it’s twice as long, and features listener calls and emails.It features Keystone Crossroads’ Emily Previti and Marc Levy of the Associated Press, who help us break down the biggest issue in Pennsylvania (and one of the biggest issues in the country) this week: the PA Supreme Court’s decision to rule the commonwealth’s congressional maps unconstitutional.The ruling stunned many lawmakers, who now have just a few weeks to draw and pass totally new maps. A number of them have said they don’t think they’ll make the February 9th deadline, in which case the court says it will choose a new map.A group of republicans has already filed with the US Supreme Court for a stay on the decision. And meanwhile, the state court still hasn’t provided its full opinion, explaining why exactly the maps aren’t constitutional.State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 40: Unconstitutional maps, uncertain future

It’s probably a little much to reference T.S. Eliot in a podcast title. But dealing as we are with a budget balanced on a borrowing-based plan that none of its makers even like, it does feel appropriate. This week, after four months of trying, the House and Senate successfully got an entire $2.2 billion revenue package onto Governor Tom Wolf’s desk. It includes $1.5 billion in borrowing, a bunch of internal fund transfers, and a massive expansion to the commonwealth’s gaming industry. Liz Navratil of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and Philly Inquirer and Steve Esack of the Morning Call help break down exactly what that expansion—by far the most complicated component of the budget—will mean for the PA Casino industry, and for the state’s bottom line. Plus, we try to predict whether this impasse will change the way the state does its budgets, and take a step back to identify the political—and moral—winners and losers.

It’s probably a little much to reference T.S. Eliot in a podcast title. But dealing as we are with a budget balanced on a borrowing-based plan that none of its makers even like, it does feel appropriate. This week, after four months of trying, the House and Senate successfully got an entire $2.2 billion revenue package onto Governor Tom Wolf’s desk. It includes $1.5 billion in borrowing, a bunch of internal fund transfers, and a massive expansion to the commonwealth’s gaming industry. Liz Navratil of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and Philly Inquirer and Steve Esack of the Morning Call help break down exactly what that expansion—by far the most complicated component of the budget—will mean for the PA Casino industry, and for the state’s bottom line. Plus, we try to predict whether this impasse will change the way the state does its budgets, and take a step back to identify the political—and moral—winners and losers.

Episode 29: Not with a bang, but a whimper

This week’s episode was recorded live for WITF’s morning show, Smart Talk. It’s about twice as long as usual, plus features calls from listeners. With the year winding down, lawmakers are still entrenched in talks on a few major bills. Marc Levy of the Associated Press and the Morning Call’s Steve Esack join us in the WITF studio to discuss one of the most controversial ones: a natural gas severance tax currently on the House floor, which may or may not be a purely political ploy with no chance of passing. We also discuss the contested race for Lieutenant Governor, the legislature’s aversion to cutting its own spending, some major redistricting lawsuits, and the congressional races to watch in 2018.

This week’s episode was recorded live for WITF’s morning show, Smart Talk. It’s about twice as long as usual, plus features calls from listeners. With the year winding down, lawmakers are still entrenched in talks on a few major bills. Marc Levy of the Associated Press and the Morning Call’s Steve Esack join us in the WITF studio to discuss one of the most controversial ones: a natural gas severance tax currently on the House floor, which may or may not be a purely political ploy with no chance of passing. We also discuss the contested race for Lieutenant Governor, the legislature’s aversion to cutting its own spending, some major redistricting lawsuits, and the congressional races to watch in 2018.

Episode 33: Political games

Over the last week, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have published two stories on sexual harassment that have caused some uproar. One reported complaints of chronic sexually-tinged misconduct by Montgomery County Democratic Senator Daylin Leach. And another uncovered a secret quarter-million-dollar settlement on a sexual harassment complaint against longtime Berks County Representative Thomas Caltagirone, also a Democrat. Governor Tom Wolf and a number of others have since called for both men to step down from their elected positions. Neither has, though Leach has said he’s taking a “step back” from his Congressional run. The Inquirer’s Angela Couloumbis and Liz Navratil of the Post-Gazette are two of the primary journalists behind the reports in question, and join us to talk through their meticulous fact-checking process, the fallout that’s happened since they published the stories, and why they believe it’s important to take harassment complaints seriously.

Over the last week, the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have published <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/ex-staffers-sen-daylin-leach-crossed-a-line-with-sex-talk-inappropriate-touching-20171217.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">two</a> <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2017/12/19/Pa-House-Democrats-sexual-harrassment-settlement-Thomas-Caltagirone/stories/201712190137" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">stories</a> on sexual harassment that have caused some uproar. One reported complaints of chronic sexually-tinged misconduct by Montgomery County Democratic Senator Daylin Leach. And another uncovered a secret quarter-million-dollar settlement on a sexual harassment complaint against longtime Berks County Representative Thomas Caltagirone, also a Democrat. Governor Tom Wolf and a number of others have since called for both men to step down from their elected positions. Neither has, though Leach has said he’s taking a “step back” from his Congressional run. The Inquirer’s <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelasInk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Angela Couloumbis</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LizNavratil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liz Navratil</a> of the Post-Gazette are two of the primary journalists behind the reports in question, and join us to talk through their meticulous fact-checking process, the fallout that’s happened since they published the stories, and why they believe it’s important to take harassment complaints seriously.

Episode 36: Happy holidays, time to talk about harassment

Yes, this is the third podcast in a row that has focused on the fallout from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declaring the state’s congressional maps unconstitutional. And yes, we still have a lot more to say about it. This week saw more volleys back and forth between legislative republicans and the court, and perhaps most importantly, resulted in the Senate GOP refusing to hand over documents the court ordered from them, arguing that the court is undermining the legislature’s authority. Perhaps it’s obvious, but when one branch of government stops respecting the authority of another, it’s possible there could be real harm done to that government’s ability to function. Capitolwire Bureau Chief and columnist Chris Comisac joins us to give a conservative perspective on what’s going on, and helps pick through the implications and potential outcomes of this thorny situation. Just a note, this podcast was recorded before we got word that the legislature is calling for Justice David Wecht to be disqualified (they’re arguing he has previously expressed strong opinions about gerrymandering, which should mean he can’t rule in this case). If you’re interested in learning more about that, check WITF’s news feed for more coverage.

Yes, this is the third podcast in a row that has focused on the fallout from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declaring the state’s congressional maps unconstitutional. And yes, we still have a lot more to say about it. This week saw more volleys back and forth between legislative republicans and the court, and perhaps most importantly, resulted in the Senate GOP refusing to hand over documents the court ordered from them, arguing that the court is undermining the legislature’s authority. Perhaps it’s obvious, but when one branch of government stops respecting the authority of another, it’s possible there could be real harm done to that government’s ability to function. Capitolwire Bureau Chief and columnist Chris Comisac joins us to give a conservative perspective on what’s going on, and helps pick through the implications and potential outcomes of this thorny situation. Just a note, this podcast was recorded before we got word that the legislature is calling for Justice David Wecht to be disqualified (they’re arguing he has previously expressed strong opinions about gerrymandering, which should mean he can’t rule in this case). If you’re interested in learning more about that, check WITF’s news feed for more coverage.

Episode 41: More fights about redistricting

By the time you listen to this podcast, there’s a good chance that things will look a bit different. All week, we’ve been waiting to see what the state legislature will do to respond to the state Supreme Court’s declaration that Pennsylvania’s congressional maps are unconstitutional, and justices’ subsequent order for lawmakers to redraw them by February 15. The deadline for the General Assembly was even tighter; they had to submit new maps to Governor Tom Wolf by February 9 (the day we recorded this podcast). As of the recording, we knew only that the legislature would not have time to vote on the new map, so its presiding officers—House Speaker Mike Turzai and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati—planned to collaborate on their own maps and submit those to the governor, without a vote. PennLive’s Wallace McKelvey and Liz Navratil of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Philly Inquirer join us to discuss all the potential outcomes, and the political, legal, and practical implications of this strange situation.

By the time you listen to this podcast, there’s a good chance that things will look a bit different. All week, we’ve been waiting to see what the state legislature will do to respond to the state Supreme Court’s declaration that Pennsylvania’s congressional maps are unconstitutional, and justices’ subsequent order for lawmakers to redraw them by February 15. The deadline for the General Assembly was even tighter; they had to submit new maps to Governor Tom Wolf by February 9 (the day we recorded this podcast). As of the recording, we knew only that the legislature would not have time to vote on the new map, so its presiding officers—House Speaker Mike Turzai and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati—planned to collaborate on their own maps and submit those to the governor, without a vote. PennLive’s <a href="https://twitter.com/wjmckelvey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wallace McKelvey</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/LizNavratil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liz Navratil</a> of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Philly Inquirer join us to discuss all the potential outcomes, and the political, legal, and practical implications of this strange situation.

Episode 42: Making it up as they go along

Calm

With two weeks until the budget due date, lawmakers are staying mostly mum about negotiations. So unlike last week—which saw a major pension bill pass to the governor, and an omnibus gaming bill get through the House—the last few days have primarily been full of legislative odds and ends. The Caucus’s Brad Bumsted and PennLive’s Wallace McKelvey join us to talk about a lawsuit recently filed against the commonwealth alleging that its congressional map is unconstitutionally gerrymandered. Plus, we discuss the state of Pennsylvania’s Right to Know law, and the difficulty journalists (and others) often have getting the information they need. All that, plus we’ll be including updates on budget negotiations every week until the new plan is passed and signed. State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

With two weeks until the budget due date, lawmakers are staying mostly mum about negotiations. So unlike last week—which saw a major pension bill pass to the governor, and an omnibus gaming bill get through the House—the last few days have primarily been full of legislative odds and ends. The Caucus’s <a href="https://twitter.com/BEBumsted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brad Bumsted</a> and PennLive’s <a href="https://twitter.com/wjmckelvey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wallace McKelvey</a> join us to talk about a lawsuit recently filed against the commonwealth alleging that its congressional map is unconstitutionally gerrymandered. Plus, we discuss the state of Pennsylvania’s Right to Know law, and the difficulty journalists (and others) often have getting the information they need. All that, plus we’ll be including updates on budget negotiations every week until the new plan is passed and signed. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 11: The calm before the storm

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is in full swing, and we had planned to do a very Farm Show-centric episode. But as someone probably once said, state politics operates on its own mystical schedule, so lots of other unexpected stuff happened this week as well. Therefore, Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer columnist John Baer and Paula Knudsen, a reporter for L&amp;P’s The Caucus, join us to discuss it all. We’ll recap the governor’s state of emergency declaration over the opioid epidemic, and break down a major federal court decision saying Pennsylvania’s congressional maps are legal, despite their partisan qualities. We’ll also discuss some prominent lawmakers who may be running for higher office, Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack’s contribution to the gerrymandering discussion, general palace intrigue, and yes, the Farm Show—including some of John Baer’s best anecdotes from his many years accompanying politicians to the event.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show is in full swing, and we had planned to do a very Farm Show-centric episode. But as someone probably once said, state politics operates on its own mystical schedule, so lots of other unexpected stuff happened this week as well. Therefore, Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer columnist <a href="https://twitter.com/jbaernews" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John Baer</a> and Paula Knudsen, a reporter for L&amp;P’s <a href="https://twitter.com/CaucusPA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Caucus</a>, join us to discuss it all. We’ll recap the governor’s state of emergency declaration over the opioid epidemic, and break down a major federal court decision saying Pennsylvania’s congressional maps are legal, despite their partisan qualities. We’ll also discuss some prominent lawmakers who may be running for higher office, Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack’s contribution to the gerrymandering discussion, general palace intrigue, and yes, the Farm Show—including some of John Baer’s best anecdotes from his many years accompanying politicians to the event.

Episode 38: Farm Show fever

Over the last month or so, WITF and other public media stations have been rolling out a series of stories in collaboration with PennLive about the weird ways Pennsylvania draws its electoral maps. Reporting these stories has taken us across the state, from coal mines to cornfields to cities to suburbs to random nursing homes. And the reason we’ve spent all that time and those tanks of gas is that we believe gerrymandering is one of the most important, far-reaching issues facing the commonwealth right now. PennLive’s Wallace McKelvey and WITF and Keystone Crossroads’ Emily Previti were both leaders on the project, and they join us this week to discuss their main takeaways, and the new directions their reporting will be taking as we continue to follow the issue.

Over the last month or so, WITF and other public media stations have been rolling out a <a href="https://overthelinepa.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">series of stories</a> in collaboration with PennLive about the weird ways Pennsylvania draws its electoral maps. Reporting these stories has taken us across the state, from coal mines to cornfields to cities to suburbs to random nursing homes. And the reason we’ve spent all that time and those tanks of gas is that we believe gerrymandering is one of the most important, far-reaching issues facing the commonwealth right now. PennLive’s <a href="https://twitter.com/wjmckelvey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wallace McKelvey</a> and WITF and Keystone Crossroads’ <a href="https://twitter.com/emily_previti" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emily Previti</a> were both leaders on the project, and they join us this week to discuss their main takeaways, and the new directions their reporting will be taking as we continue to follow the issue.

Episode 34: Why we need to talk more about gerrymandering

This was the legislature’s last session week of the year, and they made the most of it. Dozens of bills were passed between chambers and onto the governor, including a contentious abortion restriction measure, GOP-backed proposals to change the budgeting process, and funding reauthorization for the state’s CHIP and unemployment compensation programs. There were also notable failures and deadlocks, like a defeated bill to keep unions from deducting political contributions from state workers’ paychecks, or the seemingly-unending debates over a natural gas severance tax. Plus, there was plenty of non-legislative action, like a mid-year budget report that conflicts with the Independent Fiscal Office’s findings, some controversy over an investigation into the Lieutenant Governor, and a questionable committee change. Jason Gottesman of the PLS Reporter and City and State PA joins us to explain all this, and more.

This was the legislature’s last session week of the year, and they made the most of it. Dozens of bills were passed between chambers and onto the governor, including a contentious <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/12/abortion-restricting-bill-heads-for-governors-veto-pen.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">abortion restriction measure</a>, GOP-backed proposals to <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/12/how-six-house-bills-could-change-the-way-pa-budgets.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">change the budgeting process</a>, and funding reauthorization for the state’s CHIP and unemployment compensation programs. There were also notable failures and deadlocks, like a defeated bill to keep unions from deducting political contributions from state workers’ paychecks, or the seemingly-unending <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/12/late-night-bid-to-force-severance-tax-onto-house-floor-fails-narrowly.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">debates</a> over a natural gas severance tax. Plus, there was plenty of non-legislative action, like a mid-year <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/12/wolf-admin-reports-fiscal-turnaround-contradicts-ifo-projections.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">budget report</a> that conflicts with the Independent Fiscal Office’s findings, some controversy over an <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/12/wolf-wont-release-report-on-alleged-mistreatment-of-stacks-staff.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">investigation</a> into the Lieutenant Governor, and a questionable <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/12/senator-swap-in-education-committee-likely-to-impact-school-choice-vote.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">committee change</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/jggottesman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jason Gottesman</a> of the PLS Reporter and City and State PA joins us to explain all this, and more.

Episode 35: Holiday bedlam

As of this writing (around noon on Friday, 6/30), the legislature is on track to send a spending plan for the 2017/18 fiscal year to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk by the end of the day, which means they’ll successfully meet their budget deadline. Kind of. The spending plan is a bipartisan compromise—no easy thing for PA’s legislature and governor to achieve. But it doesn’t include a revenue plan, which means it’s not balanced—and in fact, lawmakers are still pretty far from agreeing on exactly how to fill a roughly $2.2 billion hole. PennLive’s Charlie Thompson and Angela Couloumbis of the Philly Inquirer join us to talk about the political, legal, and fiscal ramifications of handling a budget this way. Plus, we break down the relatively minimal changes in spending laid out by the legislature’s $32 billion plan. Things will probably have changed by the time you listen to this podcast, so keep an eye on WITF’s state politics feed for updated information. State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

As of this writing (around noon on Friday, 6/30), the legislature is on track to send a spending plan for the 2017/18 fiscal year to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk by the end of the day, which means they’ll successfully meet their budget deadline. Kind of. The spending plan is a bipartisan compromise—no easy thing for PA’s legislature and governor to achieve. But it doesn’t include a revenue plan, which means it’s not balanced—and in fact, lawmakers are still pretty far from agreeing on exactly how to fill a roughly $2.2 billion hole. PennLive’s Charlie Thompson and Angela Couloumbis of the Philly Inquirer join us to talk about the political, legal, and fiscal ramifications of handling a budget this way. Plus, we break down the relatively minimal changes in spending laid out by the legislature’s $32 billion plan. Things will probably have changed by the time you listen to this podcast, so keep an eye on WITF’s state politics feed for updated information. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 13: When is a budget not a real budget?

Pennsylvania’s legislature is kicking off the month of June with a bang. This week, all four caucuses (and governor Tom Wolf) were able agree on something that’s been evading them for years: a new structure for the state’s two biggest pension systems. Some lawmakers are calling the plan historic. Others are saying it’s an ineffective distraction from the real issues. What’s really going on? Capitolwire’s Chris Comisac and Steve Esack of the Morning Call sit down to walk us through the different arguments. We’ll also explain the massive, surprise gambling expansion that passed the House mid-week, as well as the foreboding letter lawmakers received from the state’s Treasurer and Auditor General. State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

Pennsylvania’s legislature is kicking off the month of June with a bang. This week, all four caucuses (and governor Tom Wolf) were able agree on something that’s been evading them for years: a new structure for the state’s two biggest pension systems. Some lawmakers are calling the plan historic. Others are saying it’s an ineffective distraction from the real issues. What’s really going on? Capitolwire’s Chris Comisac and <a href="https://twitter.com/sesack" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Steve Esack</a> of the Morning Call sit down to walk us through the different arguments. We’ll also explain the massive, surprise gambling expansion that passed the House mid-week, as well as the foreboding letter lawmakers received from the state’s Treasurer and Auditor General. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 10: Did we fix the pension system?

The Pennsylvania constitution is clear: residents of the commonwealth have a right to clean, safe drinking water. But that doesn’t mean the funding to make sure that happens is always available. Over the last decade, cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection have drastically reduced Pennsylvania’s complement of water quality inspectors. That means the onus of making sure drinking water meets health and safety standards is falling on fewer and fewer people. The situation is bad enough that the federal government has sent multiple notices warning that water inspections aren’t up to par. But with the state already having trouble paying for its daily expenses, there’s not much money left to improve DEP staffing and infrastructure. PennLive’s Wallace McKelvey walks us through the situation.   State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

The Pennsylvania constitution is clear: residents of the commonwealth have a right to clean, safe drinking water. But that doesn’t mean the funding to make sure that happens is always available. Over the last decade, cuts to the Department of Environmental Protection have drastically reduced Pennsylvania’s complement of water quality inspectors. That means the onus of making sure drinking water meets health and safety standards is falling on fewer and fewer people. The situation is bad enough that the federal government has sent multiple notices warning that water inspections aren’t up to par. But with the state already having trouble paying for its daily expenses, there’s not much money left to improve DEP staffing and infrastructure. PennLive’s <a href="https://twitter.com/wjmckelvey" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wallace McKelvey</a> walks us through the situation. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 18: We have a water problem

In the past week, Pennsylvania has delayed a major payment to Medicaid insurers, the commonwealth’s credit has been downgraded by a major rating agency, and the Senate has formally vetoed the House’s conservative budget proposal, effectively resetting negotiations once again. The funding plan that was due on June 30 still appears far from finished. PennLive’s Charlie Thompson and Angela Couloumbis of the Philly Inquirer discuss why the credit downgrade may be more symbolic than fiscally important, whether the state’s going to miss major school payments, what it would take for House Republicans to stop holding out for a tax-free plan, and why this standoff is the weirdest budget fight they’ve ever seen.

In the past week, Pennsylvania has <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/09/pa-delays-payments-as-general-fund-balance-nears-zero.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">delayed</a> a major payment to Medicaid insurers, the commonwealth’s <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/09/pennsylvania-receives-long-awaited-credit-downgrade.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">credit</a> has been downgraded by a major rating agency, and the Senate has formally <a href="http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2017/09/senate-wont-concur-on-conservative-house-plan.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">vetoed</a> the House’s conservative budget proposal, effectively resetting negotiations once again. The funding plan that was due on June 30 still appears far from finished. PennLive’s <a href="https://twitter.com/ChasThompson1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charlie Thompson</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AngelasInk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Angela Couloumbis</a> of the Philly Inquirer discuss why the credit downgrade may be more symbolic than fiscally important, whether the state’s going to miss major school payments, what it would take for House Republicans to stop holding out for a tax-free plan, and why this standoff is the weirdest budget fight they’ve ever seen.

Episode 24: Whoever Blinks First

It has now been several days since an unbalanced budget became law in Pennsylvania, and state government still hasn’t been able to agree on a way to balance it. After a flurry of unsuccessful negotiations that went on night and day and through the weekend, lawmakers have now taken a break from Harrisburg for an indefinite period.   Jason Gottesman, who covers the Capitol for the PLS Reporter and City and State PA, joins us to break down the political and interpersonal dynamics at play in these budget discussions. State House Sound Bites Podcast: NPR | iTunes | Google Play

It has now been several days since an unbalanced budget became law in Pennsylvania, and state government still hasn’t been able to agree on a way to balance it. After a flurry of unsuccessful negotiations that went on night and day and through the weekend, lawmakers have now taken a break from Harrisburg for an indefinite period. <a href="https://twitter.com/jggottesman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jason Gottesman</a>, who covers the Capitol for the PLS Reporter and City and State PA, joins us to break down the political and interpersonal dynamics at play in these budget discussions. State House Sound Bites Podcast: <a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/527462073/state-house-sound-bites-podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/state-house-sound-bites-podcast/id1234331699" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Ijhit2afapp65hut73xhfrnsl5u" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Google Play</a>

Episode 15: Greetings from an empty Capitol

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The best podcasts on investing. For anyone interested in the stories in the investing industry, whether it's an interview with Ray Dalio or Ed Thorp to the writer of The Big Short. This topic includes the most fascinating stories from all the best investors. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!