CenturyLink Employee PAC of Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth Update

On Dec. 1 Gov-elect Tom Corbett announced the leaders of his transition team as he prepares to take over the governorship from current Gov. Ed Rendell. The transition team included over 400 members made up of 17 different committees, each examining a specific area of state government. The members of each of committee, who are volunteering their time, are tasked with reviewing the operations of the state government departments and agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction. These

committees will help formulate policy, choose key personnel and prepare a transition report for Gov.-elect Corbett. Of his transition team, Corbett said: "Their leadership will be a valuable asset to me . . . in making state government more efficient and better equipped."

PA State Senate Republican Majority: Senator Joe Scarnati—President Pro Tempore Senator Dominic Pileggi—Senate Majority Leader. Senator Jake Corman—Chairman Appropriations Committee Senator Pat Browne—Majority Whip Senator Mike Waugh—Majority Caucus Chairman Senator Bob Robbins—Majority Caucus Secretary

Democrat Minority: Senator Jay Costa—Minority Floor Leader Senator Michael O’Pake—Minority Whip Senator Vincent Hughes—Minority Chairman Appropriations Senator Anthony Williams—Minority Caucus Chairman Senator Christine Tartaglione—Minority Caucus Secretary Senator Richard Kasunic—Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Senator Lisa Boscola—Caucus Administrator

Democrat Minority: Representative Frank Dermody—Minority Leader Representative Mike Hanna—Minority Whip Representative Joe Markosek—Minority Appropriations Chair Representative Mike Sturla—Minority Policy Chair Representative Dan Frankel—Caucus Chairman Representative Jennifer Mann—Caucus Secretary Representative Ron Buxton—Caucus Administrator

NOVEMBER 2010

Monthly newsletter with political, legislative and telecom industry updates for Pennsylvania’s CenturyLink PAC Members.

GOVERNOR-ELECT TOM CORBETT ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TEAM

PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS 2011-12 CAUCUS LEADERSHIP

PA State House Republican Majority: Representative Sam Smith—Speaker of the House Representative Mike Turzai—Majority Leader Representative Stan Saylor—Majority Whip Representative Bill Adolph—Appropriations Chairman Representative Dick Stevenson—Caucus Administrator Representative Dave Reed—Policy Committee Chairman Representative Sandra Major—Caucus Chairman

Front row (from left) Caucus Chairman Sandra Major, Majority Leader Mike Turzai, Speaker-designee Sam Smith, Majority Whip Stan Saylor, Caucus Secretary Mike Vereb. Back row (from left) Policy Committee Chair Dave Reed, Appropriations Chairman Bill Adolph, Caucus Administrator Dick Stevenson.

Front Row: Rep. Frank Dermody, Leader (center, seated);(left to right) Rep. Mike Hanna, Whip; Rep. Joe Markosek, Appropriations Committee Chairman; Rep. Mike

Sturla, Policy Committee Chairman; Rep. Dan Frankel, Caucus Chairman; Rep. Jennifer Mann, Caucus Secretary; and Rep. Ron Buxton, Caucus Administra-

2011 SENATE SESSION SCHEDULE

January 4, 18 (Governor/Lt. Governor Swearing-in), 19, 24, 25, 26

February 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 28

March 1, 2

2011 HOUSE SESSION SCHEDULE

January 4, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26

February 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 28

March 1, 2

A proposed Session schedule for both Chambers beyond the first

week of March is pending notices of a date for the Governor’s

Budget Address. The House anticipates issuing a schedule through

June 2011 as soon as Budget Address plans are made available.

PA 2011-12 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PARTIAL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

NOVEMBER’S INTERESTING FACTS & NOTABLE COMMENTS

“There always has to be a subsidy for rural carriers. At least until the day

when we don’t have landline telephones anymore, we are going to have to

subsidize rural landline carriers.”

“We want long standing matters at the FCC solved and we prefer to not be distracted with larger issues about

redirected monies that are needed in the states to repurpose them elsewhere. Until we get that kind of prog-

gress you are going to get agitators like me bothering the FCC Commissioners and staff.”

Comments of PUC Chairman James Cawley during a panel discussion on the National Broadband Plan and Universal Service Reform at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners meeting in Atlanta.

While industry analysts begin debate on what a Republican-controlled House means to the pending issues of broadband reclassification, net neutrality, universal service reform, intercarrier compensation etc., a more micro-analysis of the election loss of veteran Virginia Democrat Representative Rick Boucher occupied many of his col-leagues following the November 2nd defeat. The veteran lawmaker, who chaired the House communications, technology, and the Internet subcommittee, was the widely recognized champion of universal service reform, having co-sponsored the USF re-form legislation in the past three sessions of Congress.

“He has been an extraordinary public servant and a great leader across the whole gamut of telecommunications issues. His dedication to broadband, his leadership to reform universal service to make sure the wonders of advanced telecommunications are available to all our citizens, and his uncommon ability to bring contesting parties to the table to forge workable compromises are the stuff of legend.” —FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on outgoing Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher.