The drama over Philadelphia Gas Works

Guests: Tom MacDonald, Michael Nutter, Marian Tasco

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s plan to privatize Philadelphia Gas Works came to a grinding halt late in October when City Council President Darrell Clarke blocked the vote to sell the municipally-owned utility to UIL Holdings for $1.86 billion. This, after the City Council commissioned a near-$500,000 report which found that energy rates are likely to rise should the city abstain from selling to UIL. Next week, City Council will be holding meetings about alternative ways in which the city can more appropriately handle the city’s gas infrastructure and shore up the $5 billion pension deficit. TOM MacDONALD of WHYY’s NewsWorks joins us at the top of the hour to help us get up to speed on the situation. Then, we’ll hear from Mayor MICHAEL NUTTER about his long battle to privatize the PGW, and how he plans to move forward now that the City Council has effectively killed his plans. Councilwoman MARIAN TASCO will then join us to articulate why the council did not hold a hearing to debate the issue, and what she thinks will be the best way to manage the pension deficit.