Quinn Bill Revamping Private Driver Ed Gets Hearing

Aug. 10, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) that would revamp driver education conducted outside of public schools was the subject of a House Transportation Committee hearing today. House Bill 1244 would repeal the 69-year-old Private Driver Education or Training School Act from 1952 and task PennDOT with developing a new curriculum and to license private driver educational schools under the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code.

Bonner to Host Redistricting Hearing in Northwest Pennsylvania

Aug. 10, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Tim Bonner (R-Mercer/Butler) will host the first regional hearing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on Congressional Redistricting on Tuesday, Aug. 24, at 9 a.m., at Ketler Auditorium in the Pew Fine Arts Center at Grove City College, and encourages the public to take part in the public process or observe the proceedings.

Hearing to Examine Higher Education Funding, Subcommittee Chairs Announce

Aug. 05, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington) and Rep. Jesse Topper (R- Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) today announced the scheduling of a joint hearing by the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Education, chaired by Mihalek, and the House Education Committee Subcommittee on Higher Education, chaired by Topper, to review higher education funding in Pennsylvania.

Safeguarding Election Integrity

Aug. 05, 2021 /

Through 10 hearings and countless hours of work, the House State Government Committee conducted a thorough, comprehensive and nonpartisan review of our state’s election law and concerns raised by those involved in the voting process. As a result, House Bill 1300, The Pennsylvania Voting Rights Protection Act was introduced by Chairman Seth Grove. Over the next several weeks I will take an in-depth look at House Bill 1300 and why I support it.

Safeguarding Election Integrity – Part 2

Aug. 05, 2021 /

This week, in my second of three articles, I will explain expanded voter rights, protections and access as part of House Bill 1300. The Pennsylvania Election Code will provide electors more opportunity to vote, as well as enhanced rights and protections when casting your ballot.

Heffley Rejects Wolf Transportation Infrastructure Funding Plan

Aug. 04, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – Calling it an “intrusive government overreach,” Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) today said he does not support the recommendations of Gov. Tom Wolf’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC), which submitted its final report last week.

Gas Tax Shift Will Harm Rural Drivers

Aug. 03, 2021 /

The Governor’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission (TROC) recently recommended an 8.1 cents per mile driven “fee” as a way to address the state’s $9.35 billion (and growing) annual shortfall in highway, bridge, and mass transit funding.

Owlett to Recognize Community Leaders Shaw, Baker at Senior Expo

Aug. 03, 2021 /

WHAT: Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) will recognize two outstanding community leaders for their contributions to the region. Owlett will present a citation to Dr. Donald Shaw, a longtime emergency medicine physician at UPMC Wellsboro who came out of retirement last year to work at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will also present a signed copy of legislation, now law, that his predecessor, the former Rep. Matt Baker, had worked to develop during his time in the state House. That legislation, now Act 117 of 2020, aids in the fight against the opioid epidemic by placing the drug carfentanil on the list of Schedule II controlled substances.

Grove Announces Public Input Tools Now Available at PARedistricting.com

Aug. 03, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – As a part of the most open and transparent congressional redistricting process in Pennsylvania history, Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), chair of the House State Government Committee, announced today that Pennsylvania residents can now submit the boundaries of their communities of interest and comment on the current congressional district map using online mapping tools now available at www.PARedistricting.com.

Governor’s Transportation Plan is Highway Robbery

Aug. 02, 2021 /

BRIDGEVILLE – Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) today expressed bewilderment at a final report issued by Gov. Tom Wolf’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission that would cost residents billions of dollars.

House Republicans Urge Wolf to Prioritize Small Business, Restaurant Recovery, Vaccine Deployment with Pandemic Funds

Aug. 02, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – As Pennsylvania’s restaurants and small businesses continue to struggle from the effects of COVID-19 economic shutdowns initiated by the Wolf administration, Pennsylvania Republicans Monday urged Gov. Tom Wolf to prioritize their recovery with the $372 million pandemic response discretionary account his office received as part of the FY 2021-22 state budget.

Speaker Announces Special Election for the 164th District

Aug. 02, 2021 /

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) today ordered a special election to coincide with Pennsylvania’s municipal general election on Nov. 2, to fill the vacant seat in the 164th Legislative District in Delaware County.

Sonney to Co-Host Hearing with Appropriations Committee on PASSHE Report

Aug. 02, 2021 /

WHAT: Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Erie), chairman of the House Education Committee, will hold a joint public hearing with the House Appropriations Committee on the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) report pursuant to Act 50 of 2020 and the system’s implementation plan for improvement of operations.

Owlett Fighting for I-99 Designation in Tioga County

Aug. 02, 2021 /

WELLSBORO – Recognizing the value it could bring to Tioga County and the surrounding areas, Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) is pushing PennDOT to take the steps necessary to have Route 15 through the county officially designated as Interstate 99.