PA has a Budget

101 days into the 09-10 fiscal year, Pennsylvania finally got a budget. The commonwealth was the last state in the country to pass their budget. On October 9, 2009 Governor Rendell signed legislation to enact a $27.799 billion state General Fund budget for 2009-10 that increases education funding while reducing overall spending. It contains no new broad-based taxes. We can finally close the books on the long, uphill battle that was the 2009 budget impasse.

Visit the following links for more information on the budget from the media:

Pennsylvania, we finally have a budget
100 reasons it has lasted 100 days
Let's make sure budget impasse never happens in Pennsylvania again
Layoffs, uncertainty are impacting state employee morale

Week 6 Seminar

Dr. Duane Milne State Representative of the 167th district spoke at our Week 6 seminar. He is in his second term of service and full of enthusiasm. Dr. Milne has always wanted to work in public service. He found his ideal job in being a Representative. He offered us an in-depth understanding on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. In addition, Dr. Milne explained the five areas that he draws from in making decisions. They include:
1. Personal Beliefs
2. Opinions of the citizens of his district
3. Party affiliation
4. Party leaders within the House
5. Interest groups.
He explained that for any given decision the weight of each of these areas changes. Dr. Milne also gave us advice on learning from internships and deciding on career paths.

Below Representative Milne can be seen while on the House floor in July 2009 expressing his concerns over House Bill 1416 and its effects on higher education.

Breast Cancer Awareness at Capitol

The fountain at the Harrisburg Capitol Complex has turned pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each day in October a gallon of red dye is added to the fountain's water. The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition hosts a Breast Cancer Awareness Month Kick-Off Ceremony and an annual conference in Harrisburg. For more information about the coalition, visit their site.