Our guests include Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster County, who serves as the majority policy chairman, and Rep. Glen Grell, R-Cumberland County, who has spearheaded public-pension system reform. The House passed a bill this week that delays the jump in pension costs to taxpayers starting next year. It reduces benefits for new state workers, teachers and school employees. It increases the retirement age generally to 65 while making pensions about 20% smaller. Under the change, it would take workers 10 years, not five, to vest and there would be no provision for lump-sum withdrawals upon retirement. The one change that many had hoped to see and that Rep. Grell advocated, reverting from a defined-benefits to a defined-contribution plan, is not included in the bill. The legislation now moves to the state Senate.

House Democrats were in disarraythis week, unable to approve a tax-hike package worth about $320 million that Gov. Rendell insists is essential to preserve jobs and keep the state moving forward. The tax hikes affect cigarettes, cigars and natural gas extraction. The imposition of a new tax on gas drilling is the real sticking point as members can agree neither on the level of taxation nor on how the tax revenues should be distributed. And for the first time, House lawmakers, including York County Democrat Eugene DePasquale, set up a website www.yourpabudget.com to solicit Pennsylvanians’ ideas on how to balance the budget.

And don’t forget to watch our profiles of two Queen Bees – Joanna Ye of Carlisle and Kathryn Westerlund of Cornwall, Lebanon County. Joanna, 13, is a champion speller who participated in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and made it all the way to a tie for fifth place. And Kathryn, also 13, makes her debut on stage at The Majestic Theater Friday night to kick off The Gettysburg Festival, a 10-day celebration of history, food, arts, culture and music. You can hear all about their impressive talent and determination when we showcase these young ladies on Smart Talk. Join us Friday night at 8:30.

After the TV Broadcast, watch Smart Talk online!