1. CenturyLink Employee PAC of Pennsylvania
NOVEMBER 2010
The Commonwealth Update
Monthly newsletter with political, legislative and telecom
industry updates for Pennsylvania’s CenturyLink PAC Members.
GOVERNOR-ELECT TOM CORBETT ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TEAM
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."
PENNSYLVANIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTS 2011-12 CAUCUS LEADERSHIP
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
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.
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
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-
PA 2011-12 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PARTIAL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
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.
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.
