GOV. TOM CORBETT SAYS HE'LL CONSIDER A RADIO-SHOW CALLER'S SUGGESTION THAT GUN SHOWS BE BANNED ON PUBLICLY OWNED PROPERTY. THE CALLER ON WITF'S "SMART TALK" RADIO SHOW FRIDAY ASKED THE GOVERNOR WHY GUN SHOWS ARE ALLOWED AT THE PENNSYLVANIA FARM SHOW COMPLEX IN HARRISBURG AND WHETHER HE'D SUPPORT A BAN. CORBETT SAID NO ONE HAS EVER SUGGESTED THE IDEA TO HIM BEFORE AND PROMISED TO GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT. BUT HE SAID THE FARM SHOW COMPLEX IS OPEN TO ALL BUSINESSES. HE NOTED THAT PROSPECTIVE GUN BUYERS AT GUN SHOWS MUST BE CLEARED THROUGH THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE INSTANT BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM, JUST AS THEY ARE WHEN BUYING WEAPONS FROM GUN SHOPS.
GOV. TOM CORBETT SAYS HE'LL UNVEIL HIS TRANSPORTATION FUNDING PLAN BEFORE HIS BUDGET ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE. CORBETT SAYS HE WOULD MAKE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS PUBLIC THIS MONTH, PRIOR TO HIS ANNUAL ADDRESS TO LAWMAKERS ON FEBRUARY 5. CORBETT DID NOT DISCLOSE DETAILS, BUT SAID HIS PROPOSALS WOULD EMBRACE THE CONCEPT OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ON TRANSPORTATION-RELATED PROJECTS. CORBETT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH LEGISLATORS IN BOTH HOUSES ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING ISSUES IN RECENT WEEKS. THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SAYS THE 2013-14 BUDGET WILL BE AS TIGHT AS EVER. HE SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION ANTICIPATES GROWING PUBLIC PENSION COSTS WILL CONSUME NEARLY TWO-THIRDS OF THE PROJECTED GROWTH IN REVENUES, LEAVING LESS MONEY FOR EDUCATION AND OTHER PROGRAMS.
TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY TO DRIVE THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE UNDER THE CURRENT TOLLS. "ON JANUARY 6, THE TURNPIKE COMMISSION IS GOING TO INCREASE TOLLS BY 2 PERCENT FOR THOSE WHO USE E-Z PASS. FOR PEOPLE WHO USE CASH, THEIR TOLL RATES ARE GOING TO INCREASE ON JANUARY 6 BY 10 PERCENT," SAYS THE TURNPIKE'S CARL DeFEBO. HE SAYS THAT WILL MEAN E-Z PASS USERS WILL PAY 25 PERCENT LESS THAN CASH CUSTOMERS BEGINNING AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
POLITICIANS IN NEW JERSEY ARE PRAISING THE PASSAGE OF PART OF A SUPERSTORM SANDY RELIEF PACKAGE. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED A $9.7 BILLION MEASURE FRIDAY TO FUND THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM. REPUBLICAN REP. CHRIS SMITH OF NEW JERSEY SAYS THE MEASURE IS "CRITICALLY IMPORTANT" TO HELP NEW JERSEY RECOVER AND REBUILD. FELLOW REPUBLICAN JOHN RUNYAN SAYS THE BILL IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TO HELP STORM VICTIMS. A VOTE TO PUT AN ADDITIONAL $51 BILLION TOWARD SANDY RELIEF WILL TAKE PLACE JANUARY 15. FRIDAY'S VOTE CAME DAYS AFTER NORTHEAST REPUBLICANS ERUPTED OVER HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER'S DECISION TO DELAY AN EARLIER VOTE.
PBS 39 IS PICKING UP WHERE IT LEFT OFF IN ITS FIRST DOCUMENTARY ON BETHLEHEM STEEL. "WE PRODUCED A BETHLEHEM STEEL DOCUMENTARY SHORTLY AFTER BETHLEHEM STEEL WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. THAT TOLD THE STORY OF THE STEEL ITSELF. THIS IS PART TWO AND WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE STEEL CLOSED," SAYS GROVER SILCOX, WHO PRODUCED 'BRINGING NEW LIFE TO OLD STEEL', WHICH DEBUTS TONIGHT AT 8:30 ON PBS 39. HE SAYS THE NEW DOCUMENTARY LOOKS AT THE REBIRTH OF THE BETHLEHEM STEEL PROPERTY AND THE TRANSFORMATION FROM RUSTED STEEL PLANTS TO WHAT IS THERE TODAY: A CASINO, HOTEL, ARTSQUEST AND PBS' STUDIO.
