Podcasts about auditor general eugene depasquale

Wisconsin Democrats look to boost local journalism | Missouri Republicans cobble stupid ideas together | School voucher boosters need some extra help with math | Key Attorney General races in the 2024 electionsWisconsin Dems Propose Legislation To Support Journalismhttps://wisconsinexaminer.com/brief/democrats-propose-ways-of-bolstering-local-news/Amid widespread layoffs in the journalism industry and ongoing concerns about newsroom closures and consolidations, Wisconsin Democrats are proposing some ways of boosting the local journalism industry. A package of bills — coauthored by Reps. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire) and Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) — would create a tax credit for people who subscribe to local newspapers, a fellowship program to get individuals into the field, and a Civic Information Consortium Board that would award grants to local news.Rep Anderson said “Local journalism is essential to our democracy. It keeps voters informed and engaged on the issues that matter most to their communities, and local reporters also play an important role in keeping officials accountable to their constituents. But local news is dying.” “News deserts are disproportionately located in rural areas, low-income areas, and communities of color. The three bills in this package are designed to ensure that all Wisconsinites can access high quality, reliable local journalism.”The journalism fellowship program would be administered by the University of Wisconsin System. Under the program, a panel of UW journalism professors and industry experts would choose 25 fellows to match with participating newsrooms for a one-year fellowship. Participants, who would be required to hold a two- or four-year degree in journalism, media, communications or a similar program, would receive a $40,000 salary.Another bill would create a nonrefundable tax credit as a way of encouraging people to subscribe to their local newspaper. When subscribing to a qualifying local newspaper, taxpayers could receive a tax credit equal to 50% of the amount paid to subscribe. The credit would be limited to a maximum of $250 in each taxable year.Missouri Proposed Change On Initiative Petitions Creates An Electoral College Outcomehttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/BY: RUDI KELLER - FEBRUARY 5, 2024 10:00 AMAs few as 1 in 5 voters could defeat initiative petitions under Missouri Senate proposalThe legislation set for debate in the Senate would require a majority vote in 82 state House districts and a statewide majority to approve constitutional amendments  Called a concurrent majority, an analysis of voting patterns by The Independent shows that the change would make it possible for as few as 20% of voters to determine the outcome of statewide ballot measures.Tim Jones, state director of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, pushing the change, said “This to me is a very similar concept to the electoral college.”The proposal is taking on new urgency for GOP leaders because a proposal to overturn Missouri's abortion ban could be on the ballot in November. Republicans see changing the rules as the only way to defeat it.Opponents claim the idea undermines majority rule, which has determined the outcome of constitutional questions in Missouri since 1846.Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing Protect Majority Rule, which is raising money for a possible campaign against the amendment said, “Their goal is to make sure that even when an overwhelming majority of Missourians overall support a measure, rural voters can still defeat it,”Democrats in the Senate, who have been content to let the GOP civil war play out without interfering, are “vehemently” opposed to any effort to change the current simple majority to pass ballot measuresRed State School Voucher Programs Need To Go Back To School For Basic Mathhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/school-vouchers-red-state-budgets/JENNIFER C. BERKSHIRE and JACK SCHNEIDERFor GOP lawmakers who view public education as a quasi-socialist project, the gaping hole in state budgets left by subsidizing private school tuition is a feature, not a bug.In Arizona, taxpayers are now staring down a $400 million shortfall, with an even bigger bill coming due next year. How did the Grand Canyon State go from sitting on a huge cash reserve to facing a rising tide of red ink? Simple. Voucher proponents suggested that paying for private school tuition would cost taxpayers $65 million a year; but as it stands, the program is on track to cost roughly 15 times that. All told, Arizona taxpayers are likely to spend close to a billion dollars reimbursing the cost of tuition and luxury expenses—including ski resort passes, pianos, and theme park tickets—for families whose children were never enrolled in the public schools.It isn't just Arizona's problem. Over the past two years, multiple states have enacted universal or near-universal voucher programs that far exceed initial cost projections. In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds pushed an expansive voucher program that gives $7,500 to any Iowa family for private school tuition. But demand for the program among parents who already send their kids to private schools, most of which are religious, has far exceeded expectations. Now Iowans are on the hook for the tuition of 17,000 private school students—a bill that will total $345 million a year next year. The same story has unfolded in Ohio, Arkansas, West Virginia, and elsewhere.It wasn't just the price tag that voucher proponents were deceptive about—it was also the projected beneficiaries of such programs. Advocates promoted vouchers as a benefit for poor students, students with disabilities, and students in struggling schools. Yet the reality has looked very different. As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, the vast majority of parents taking advantage of these tuition coupons are those who already send their kids to private schools. Key State Level Attorney General Elections for 2024https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/this-years-key-attorney-general-and-secretary-of-state-races/By Louis Jacobson 2024 State RacesThis year, there will be 17 elections for Secretary of State and Attorney General in states across the U.S., but only a few are on track to be competitive. Today we'll talk about the Attorney General races in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.North Carolina: Open seat (Josh Stein, D, is running for governor)In a hot election cycle in North Carolina with lots of competitive races and open seats, the AG contest could prove unusually compelling. It has been over a century since the state elected a Republican to this office, although this race could be exceedingly close—just as the last few contests have been.The two frontrunners for the open AG seat are both sitting members of Congress: Republican Dan Bishop and Democrat Jeff Jackson. Bishop is a favorite of the GOP's conservative wing, having been a member of the House Freedom Caucus and a thorn in the side of former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Jackson—who joined the AG race after effectively being drawn out of his seat in re-districting last year—has attracted a national following for his posts on TikTok. While Bishop appears to have a clear shot at the GOP nomination, Jackson must first win a March 5 primary against Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry, and attorney and veteran Tim Dunn. Louis Jacobson at Sabato's Crystal Ball says if Jackson and Bishop do meet in November, the race could go either way and is a true toss-up.In Pennsylvania's AG election this year, Both party primaries are on track to be competitive.The Democrats have five credible candidates: former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, former top Philadelphia public defender Keir Bradford-Grey, veteran and state Rep. Jared Solomon, and Jack Stollsteimer, the district attorney in populous Delaware County near Philadelphia.The Republicans have two: York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, who has been endorsed by the state party, and veteran and state Rep. Craig Williams.In the Democratic primary, DePasquale, as the only candidate from western Pennsylvania, and Bradford-Grey, as the only Black candidate, may have an edge in a contest where as little as 21% of the vote could be enough to win the nomination. On the GOP side, Sunday should have a modest edge.The general election should be highly competitive, and it could swing depending on the dynamics on the rest of the ballot, including how the competitive races for president and Senate play out. There has been some ticket-splitting in Pennsylvania in recent presidential cycles, though. In 2016, as Republicans won the presidential and Senate races, Democrats won the contests for Attorney General, Auditor, and Treasurer. In 2020, as Joe Biden flipped the state, Republicans took back the Auditor and Treasurer posts.If you're not registered to vote, get on it! To check your registration anywhere in the U.S., go to Vote.gov. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

Wisconsin Democrats look to boost local journalism | Missouri Republicans cobble stupid ideas together | School voucher boosters need some extra help with math | Key Attorney General races in the 2024 electionsWisconsin Dems Propose Legislation To Support Journalismhttps://wisconsinexaminer.com/brief/democrats-propose-ways-of-bolstering-local-news/Amid widespread layoffs in the journalism industry and ongoing concerns about newsroom closures and consolidations, Wisconsin Democrats are proposing some ways of boosting the local journalism industry. A package of bills — coauthored by Reps. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire) and Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) — would create a tax credit for people who subscribe to local newspapers, a fellowship program to get individuals into the field, and a Civic Information Consortium Board that would award grants to local news.Rep Anderson said “Local journalism is essential to our democracy. It keeps voters informed and engaged on the issues that matter most to their communities, and local reporters also play an important role in keeping officials accountable to their constituents. But local news is dying.” “News deserts are disproportionately located in rural areas, low-income areas, and communities of color. The three bills in this package are designed to ensure that all Wisconsinites can access high quality, reliable local journalism.”The journalism fellowship program would be administered by the University of Wisconsin System. Under the program, a panel of UW journalism professors and industry experts would choose 25 fellows to match with participating newsrooms for a one-year fellowship. Participants, who would be required to hold a two- or four-year degree in journalism, media, communications or a similar program, would receive a $40,000 salary.Another bill would create a nonrefundable tax credit as a way of encouraging people to subscribe to their local newspaper. When subscribing to a qualifying local newspaper, taxpayers could receive a tax credit equal to 50% of the amount paid to subscribe. The credit would be limited to a maximum of $250 in each taxable year.Missouri Proposed Change On Initiative Petitions Creates An Electoral College Outcomehttps://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/BY: RUDI KELLER - FEBRUARY 5, 2024 10:00 AMAs few as 1 in 5 voters could defeat initiative petitions under Missouri Senate proposalThe legislation set for debate in the Senate would require a majority vote in 82 state House districts and a statewide majority to approve constitutional amendments  Called a concurrent majority, an analysis of voting patterns by The Independent shows that the change would make it possible for as few as 20% of voters to determine the outcome of statewide ballot measures.Tim Jones, state director of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, pushing the change, said “This to me is a very similar concept to the electoral college.”The proposal is taking on new urgency for GOP leaders because a proposal to overturn Missouri's abortion ban could be on the ballot in November. Republicans see changing the rules as the only way to defeat it.Opponents claim the idea undermines majority rule, which has determined the outcome of constitutional questions in Missouri since 1846.Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing Protect Majority Rule, which is raising money for a possible campaign against the amendment said, “Their goal is to make sure that even when an overwhelming majority of Missourians overall support a measure, rural voters can still defeat it,”Democrats in the Senate, who have been content to let the GOP civil war play out without interfering, are “vehemently” opposed to any effort to change the current simple majority to pass ballot measuresRed State School Voucher Programs Need To Go Back To School For Basic Mathhttps://www.thenation.com/article/society/school-vouchers-red-state-budgets/JENNIFER C. BERKSHIRE and JACK SCHNEIDERFor GOP lawmakers who view public education as a quasi-socialist project, the gaping hole in state budgets left by subsidizing private school tuition is a feature, not a bug.In Arizona, taxpayers are now staring down a $400 million shortfall, with an even bigger bill coming due next year. How did the Grand Canyon State go from sitting on a huge cash reserve to facing a rising tide of red ink? Simple. Voucher proponents suggested that paying for private school tuition would cost taxpayers $65 million a year; but as it stands, the program is on track to cost roughly 15 times that. All told, Arizona taxpayers are likely to spend close to a billion dollars reimbursing the cost of tuition and luxury expenses—including ski resort passes, pianos, and theme park tickets—for families whose children were never enrolled in the public schools.It isn't just Arizona's problem. Over the past two years, multiple states have enacted universal or near-universal voucher programs that far exceed initial cost projections. In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds pushed an expansive voucher program that gives $7,500 to any Iowa family for private school tuition. But demand for the program among parents who already send their kids to private schools, most of which are religious, has far exceeded expectations. Now Iowans are on the hook for the tuition of 17,000 private school students—a bill that will total $345 million a year next year. The same story has unfolded in Ohio, Arkansas, West Virginia, and elsewhere.It wasn't just the price tag that voucher proponents were deceptive about—it was also the projected beneficiaries of such programs. Advocates promoted vouchers as a benefit for poor students, students with disabilities, and students in struggling schools. Yet the reality has looked very different. As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, the vast majority of parents taking advantage of these tuition coupons are those who already send their kids to private schools. Key State Level Attorney General Elections for 2024https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/this-years-key-attorney-general-and-secretary-of-state-races/By Louis Jacobson 2024 State RacesThis year, there will be 17 elections for Secretary of State and Attorney General in states across the U.S., but only a few are on track to be competitive. Today we'll talk about the Attorney General races in North Carolina and Pennsylvania.North Carolina: Open seat (Josh Stein, D, is running for governor)In a hot election cycle in North Carolina with lots of competitive races and open seats, the AG contest could prove unusually compelling. It has been over a century since the state elected a Republican to this office, although this race could be exceedingly close—just as the last few contests have been.The two frontrunners for the open AG seat are both sitting members of Congress: Republican Dan Bishop and Democrat Jeff Jackson. Bishop is a favorite of the GOP's conservative wing, having been a member of the House Freedom Caucus and a thorn in the side of former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Jackson—who joined the AG race after effectively being drawn out of his seat in re-districting last year—has attracted a national following for his posts on TikTok. While Bishop appears to have a clear shot at the GOP nomination, Jackson must first win a March 5 primary against Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry, and attorney and veteran Tim Dunn. Louis Jacobson at Sabato's Crystal Ball says if Jackson and Bishop do meet in November, the race could go either way and is a true toss-up.In Pennsylvania's AG election this year, Both party primaries are on track to be competitive.The Democrats have five credible candidates: former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, former top Philadelphia public defender Keir Bradford-Grey, veteran and state Rep. Jared Solomon, and Jack Stollsteimer, the district attorney in populous Delaware County near Philadelphia.The Republicans have two: York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, who has been endorsed by the state party, and veteran and state Rep. Craig Williams.In the Democratic primary, DePasquale, as the only candidate from western Pennsylvania, and Bradford-Grey, as the only Black candidate, may have an edge in a contest where as little as 21% of the vote could be enough to win the nomination. On the GOP side, Sunday should have a modest edge.The general election should be highly competitive, and it could swing depending on the dynamics on the rest of the ballot, including how the competitive races for president and Senate play out. There has been some ticket-splitting in Pennsylvania in recent presidential cycles, though. In 2016, as Republicans won the presidential and Senate races, Democrats won the contests for Attorney General, Auditor, and Treasurer. In 2020, as Joe Biden flipped the state, Republicans took back the Auditor and Treasurer posts.If you're not registered to vote, get on it! To check your registration anywhere in the U.S., go to Vote.gov. @TheHeartlandPOD on Twitter and ThreadsCo-HostsAdam Sommer @Adam_Sommer85 (Twitter) @adam_sommer85 (Post)Rachel Parker @msraitchetp (Post) Sean Diller (no social)The Heartland Collective - Sign Up Today!JOIN PATREON FOR MORE - AND JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK!“Change The Conversation”Outro Song: “The World Is On Fire” by American Aquarium http://www.americanaquarium.com/

In the never-ending evidence that elections have consequences, Wednesday evening the right-wing dominated Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Governor Tony Evers’s stay-at-home order unconstitutional. Following the ruling, the Tavern League of Wisconsin told all its members to open their pubs asap. Soon social media was filled with pictures of packed bars with zero social distancing. The grand experiment has begun. Governor Evers could only say, “We’re in the Wild West now.”   Dr. Anthony Fauci - one of the few trusted voices on the White House’s coronavirus task force, testified remotely before the Senate this week. Fauci told Senators that a spike in deaths should be expected if states begin to reopen without the proper protocols and protections in place.   Public higher education is on the chopping block across the U.S. as disaster capitalist politicians use the cover of the COVID-19 pandemic to institute mass layoffs and budget cuts. The deepest cuts so far may be those at Missouri Western State University, which may make it easier for other state university systems to do the same.  Shanna Danielson, who is running for State Senate in the 31st district, got a big endorsement this week from Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. In his endorsement, DePasquale “Shanna is smart, hard-working and brings the highest level of integrity. She will be a state senator we can depend on to lead, for our families and our community.” Danielson is taking on corporate shill, Mike Regan, and is running strong on her support for working families and a state government that focuses on people first.  Pennsylvania is not immune from the deep cuts in higher education. Local faculty union presidents at Kutztown University and Cheyney University were notified that their administrations are considering eliminating adjunct, tenure-track, and tenured faculty. Of course, Raging Chicken has been covering PASSHE’s deceptive budget and accounting practices for years. As the state budget battles prepare to heat up, it does not look so good for Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities.  Trump visited a medical equipment supplier in the Lehigh Valley on Thursday. His landing at the Lehigh Valley International Airport was greeted with a huge caravan of cars protesting Trump’s visit. The action was organized by Make the Road. One of the signs from the caravan summed up the message: “Trump Failed 3,943 Pennsylvanians dead from COVID.” Of course, there were also dozens of Trumpistas lining Industrial Boulevard in Upper Macungie Township. Most were not wearing masks.  And, of course, today is the big ReOpen PA rally in Harrisburg, underway as I record this. Early images look like every other Trump rally. My favorite sign so far is “Fear is a Liar.”  A 24-year-old man in Perkasie, PA - yes, my neck of the woods - punched a female store clerk in the face several times after she insisted he wears a mask in the store.  NASA researchers have identified a string of lava tubes in the Hellas Planitia area of Mars that may prove promising for a future Martian base. Lava tubes would help protect astronauts from the relentless solar radiation.  One of the largest pieces of space junk landed back on Earth on Monday. The 18-ton empty core stage from a Chinese rocket launched on May 5, passed directly over Los Angeles and Central Park in NYC before landing in the Atlantic Ocean.  Free Will Brewing rolled out its new online store and began to ship to all PA addresses. Sun Servants - that tasty Helles Lager - is back in stock and ready for shipping. I’ll have a report back on their Sweet Cherry Vanilla Mash. You can check out their story at FreeWillBrewing.store. You can order online and pick up at the main brewery in Perkasie, or have them ship it to you. Get together with some friends and order $125 or more and you’ll get free shipping too.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is investigating Governor Wolf’s COVID-19 waiver program, meanwhile the pandemic leads to the cancellation of the Little League World Series. UPMC will be testing all patients for COVID-19 antibodies. One Philly dad recreates the Phillies world series win at home to help his son have the best 10th birthday ever. Support the work we do by subscribing to PennLive.com: https://www.pennlive.com/digitalsubscription/inline/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

PA Auditor General Eugene DePasquale joins Marty to talk about the issue of unemployment during the coronavirus pandemic.

You Should Run Podcast kicks off 2020 with a big episode featuring Pennsylvania Auditor General and current candidate for Congress Eugene Depasquale! In this podcast, Eugene talks about the values that formed his beliefs, what issues helped push him to run and win an election to the PA state legislature, the value of the office of Auditor General and all he has been able to accomplish, and why he is now running for Congress in 2020. We also take a fun turn to talk about one of Eugene's favorite topics.... Star Wars! Listen and share as Eugene answers many questions and learn about why YOU should run for office too. 

We catch up with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale to hear about what goes into producing 5,000 audits a year, the future of the PA Turnpike and his love of endurance racing, Star Wars and sports. Like what you hear? Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play and Spotify.  

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale discusses the Scranton School District with Frank Andrews See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PolitiTalkRx Welcomes Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale to the Pharmacy Podcast Network discussing PBM Reform efforts in 2019.  A Pennsylvania report examining the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the state called for more transparency in how they do business managing Medicaid prescriptions. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said he wanted action to reduce Medicaid prescription costs and called for legislation to: Allow Pennsylvania to directly manage its prescription drug benefits instead of contracting with healthcare managers to do so Increase transparency into PBM pricing practices Allow state oversight of PBM contracts Require a flat-fee pricing model so that the state pays PBMs only for services rendered In 2017, Pennsylvania taxpayers paid $2.86 billion to PBMs for Medicaid enrollees, according to the state Department of Human Services, an increase of 100% in 4 years, up from $1.41 billion in 2013. Pennsylvania Auditor General Calls for Action on PBMs https://www.ajmc.com/newsroom/pennsylvania-auditor-general-calls-for-action-on-pbms  Auditor General DePasquale Demands Increased Oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers that Impact Drug Prices https://www.paauditor.gov/press-releases/auditor-general-depasquale-demands-increased-oversight-of-pharmacy-benefit-managers-that-impact-drug-prices  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PolitiTalkRx Welcomes Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale to the Pharmacy Podcast Network discussing PBM Reform efforts in 2019.  A Pennsylvania report examining the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the state called for more transparency in how they do business managing Medicaid prescriptions. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said he wanted action to reduce Medicaid prescription costs and called for legislation to: Allow Pennsylvania to directly manage its prescription drug benefits instead of contracting with healthcare managers to do so Increase transparency into PBM pricing practices Allow state oversight of PBM contracts Require a flat-fee pricing model so that the state pays PBMs only for services rendered In 2017, Pennsylvania taxpayers paid $2.86 billion to PBMs for Medicaid enrollees, according to the state Department of Human Services, an increase of 100% in 4 years, up from $1.41 billion in 2013. Pennsylvania Auditor General Calls for Action on PBMs https://www.ajmc.com/newsroom/pennsylvania-auditor-general-calls-for-action-on-pbms  Auditor General DePasquale Demands Increased Oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers that Impact Drug Prices https://www.paauditor.gov/press-releases/auditor-general-depasquale-demands-increased-oversight-of-pharmacy-benefit-managers-that-impact-drug-prices  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave gets serious about gun violence // Frank is unprepared for his Olympics update and lashes out at Dave // YouTube Movie Critic sensation Marc Jones tells you which Oscar-nominated movies NOT to watch // Against his better judgment, Dave weighs in on PA's boring redistricting crisis. // Dave doesn't think Auditor General Eugene DePasquale should run for Congress.

Dave gets serious about gun violence // Frank is unprepared for his Olympics update and lashes out at Dave // YouTube Movie Critic sensation Marc Jones tells you which Oscar-nominated movies NOT to watch // Against his better judgment, Dave weighs in on PA's boring redistricting crisis. // Dave doesn't think Auditor General Eugene DePasquale should run for Congress.

After months of training in state and county parks around central Pennsylvania, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is ready for the grueling Spartan World Championship obstacle race next month in Reykjavik, Iceland. We talk with Pennsylvania’s fiscal watchdog about the value of parks and trails, and how he uses the tools of oversight to fight for the environment.

He’s the only statewide elected official in the country to complete the Spartan race trifecta, and his watchdog work is no respecter of political parties. Pa. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale talks with Commonwealth Partners President & CEO Matt Brouillette about growing up in Pittsburgh, his political career, and why he’s heading to Iceland this December.