David Spett

HARRISBURG (Nov. 13) – A top Department of Education official faced a barrage of criticism Thursday over the state’s plan to overhaul elementary and middle school teacher training.

The plan will step up requirements for students seeking teaching certifications and for the teachers who train them. Instead of the current system of one certification for all teachers of kindergarten through sixth grade, the new guidelines offer separate certifications for teachers of pre-kindergarten through fourth grade and fifth through eighth grade. The guidelines also require that all teachers receive special education training.

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HARRISBURG (Nov. 12) – Health care providers and insurers sparred at a roundtable discussion with the House Insurance Committee Wednesday about the potential effects of a “Blues merger” between Highmark, Inc. and Independence Blue Cross.

Kenneth Melani and Joseph Frick, president and CEO of Highmark and Independence, respectively, said a merger would allow their companies to eliminate inefficiencies and generate cost savings for consumers in turn.

But numerous critics said the merger would result in less competition among insurers and higher premiums for Pennsylvanians.

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HARRISBURG (Nov. 7) – The Independent Regulatory Review Commission disapproved a proposed set of regulations Thursday that would have shaped the statute defining the state’s new lobbyist disclosure requirements.

A 2006 bill set the regulatory process in motion when it became law. The proposed regulations would have required individuals to register with the state as soon as they received at least $2,500 for lobbying services, even if they had not lobbied.

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HARRISBURG (Nov. 4) – Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, has fought off a strong challenge from Democrat Judy Hirsh and will retain his seat in the 15th senatorial district.

Piccola beat Hirsh in Dauphin County by 2,576 votes, with all 135 precincts reporting. He earned 57,875 votes in total compared to Hirsh’s 55,299.

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HARRISBURG & SUSQUEHANNA TWP. (Nov. 2) – State Senate candidate Judy Hirsh canvassed well past sundown Sunday, telling anyone who would answer the door that she wants “to bring new energy and new ideas to the Legislature.”

Responses varied from expressions of disinterest to pledges to vote for her opponent to jubilation over seeing a face that has blanketed television ads in the past month and a half.

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