A bill to ban the investment of Pennsylvania public pension funds in foreign companies that have significant business ties to terrorist nations was unanimously passed by the House this month.
State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-153, who sponsored the bill, said Dec. 11 that Pennsylvania currently invests about $660 million in public pension funds into foreign companies actively doing business with Iran and Sudan.
Archive of posts for 2009:
2009
Dec
23
House passes Shapiro’s terror-free investing bill
2009
Dec
15
Editorial: Fat cats rule in Pa.
There is a renewed push in Harrisburg for campaign-finance limits. Rep. Josh Shapiro (D., Montgomery) plans to introduce a bill this week that would set individual limits at $2,400 per election, and PAC contributions at $5,000. Rep. David Levdansky (D., Allegheny) has a similar bill pending.
Shapiro’s legislation also would require more frequent reporting of contributions, ban no-bid government contracts for campaign contributors, and for the first time require disclosure of election activity by so-called 527 advocacy groups. It’s the kind of reform that Pennsylvania has lacked for too long.
2009
Dec
11
No vote on table games or college funding
HARRISBURG – House Democrats yesterday pulled the plug on the day’s planned debate over long-awaited legislation to authorize table games, ending a fractious week of backdoor wrangling and leaving empty-handed several universities still awaiting their annual state funding.
2009
Dec
08
House urged to end election of Pa. judges
HARRISBURG – The decades-old battle over the election of appellate judges took center stage at a state House hearing yesterday.
A month after a contentious and costly Supreme Court race and amid continuing controversy over the conduct of judges in Luzerne County, supporters of appointing – rather than electing – appellate court judges again made their case that a constitutional change is needed.
2009
Dec
02
Abington’s Sichel named Superintendent of the Year
Amy Sichel, Abington School District’s superintendent, received Tuesday what was called “the most prestigious honor a school system leader can achieve.”
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At the official presentation of the award Tuesday, Abington officials were on hand to celebrate the achievement. State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-153, spoke of how such an award affects the entire community, not just residents with school-aged children.
