Legislative Audit Advisory Commission Accepts 2014 Audit

Feb. 23, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The bicameral, bipartisan Legislative Audit Advisory Commission (LAAC), chaired by Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland), today voted to accept the audit report of the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s finances for the 2013-14 fiscal year as conducted by an independent certified public accounting firm.

House Education Committee Takes Testimony on PA CORE Standards and Keystone Exams

Feb. 19, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The House Education Committee met this week to hold a public hearing and take testimony from witnesses on House Bill 177 and House Bill 168. Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York) and committee members heard from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, Pennsylvanians Restoring Education, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, the Pennsylvania School Board Association and the Pennsylvania Business Council.

House Policy Committee to Accept Testimony on PA’s Business Climate

Feb. 17, 2015 /

WHAT: In response to recent comments by Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who boastfully announced his intentions to poach Pennsylvania jobs, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), Chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee, will host a hearing tomorrow, Feb. 18, to discuss the general business climate facing Pennsylvania’s businesses. York County business owners and statewide business associations will provide testimony to the committee on state taxes and regulations, how to improve the state’s business climate and how to attract new business.

Barrar Holds Hearing on 911 Emergency Telephone Act

Feb. 13, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, this week held a public hearing on his plan to overhaul Pennsylvania’s 911 Emergency Telephone Act to adapt it to changing technology and adjust the surcharge fee to allow for maintenance of the emergency system.

Bloom Appointed to PSERS Board of Trustees

Feb. 12, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – This week, Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) was appointed by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai to serve as the House majority member of the Board of Trustees of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).

Oberlander Offers Thoughts on Severance Tax Plan

Feb. 12, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest), chairman of the House Gas and Oil Caucus, today offered her thoughts on the governor’s proposal to levy a severance tax on all natural gas drilling in the Commonwealth:

Lancaster County House Republican Delegation Issues Statement on Governor Wolf’s Proposed Natural Gas Severance Tax

Feb. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf today released his proposal to impose a severance tax on natural gas in Pennsylvania. The plan would impose a 5 percent across-the-board tax on the value of natural gas extracted in Pennsylvania, plus 4.7 cents per 1,000 cubic feet of gas sold. The delegation is open to revisiting how Pennsylvania taxes its natural gas industry, including a possible severance tax. But, this proposal is very similar to former Gov. Ed Rendell’s 2010 severance tax proposal, which was introduced as House Bill 1489 and never garnered approval of the General Assembly.