DiGirolamo to Discuss Federal Health Care Bill’s Impact on Pennsylvania

Sep. 26, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks), chairman of the House Human Services Committee, will lead a broad coalition of health-related organizations to discuss the potential negative impact of federal legislation on Pennsylvania. Currently, the U.S. Senate is considering legislation known as Graham-Cassidy that would replace the Affordable Care Act and shift billions of dollars in cost and care to the states.

House Judiciary Committee Approves Grove Bill

Sep. 26, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation by state Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) was approved in the House Judiciary Committee today, would improve Pennsylvania’s business climate by authorizing the creation of specialized commerce courts across the Commonwealth.

State Legislators to Participate in Hearing on Job Creation, Higher Education

Sep. 26, 2017 /

WHAT: State legislators will travel to Lehman to participate in a hearing on how to improve Pennsylvania’s economy by helping small businesses succeed, attracting new jobs, and educating a skilled workforce for the jobs for today and tomorrow. Led by House Majority Policy Committee chairman Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), the hearing will feature representatives from higher education and the local economic development community.

Kauffman to Hold Meeting on Legal Case Impacting Workers’ Compensation System

Sep. 26, 2017 /

WHAT: The House Labor and Industry Committee, led by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), will hold an informational meeting on the Supreme Court’s ruling in the case Protz v. WCAB, which is expected to have significant impacts on Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Compensation system. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the case and the expected outcomes of the decision.

Adoptee Rights Law to Take Effect in November, Says Toohil

Sep. 26, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) would like to remind her constituents that a new law will soon take effect that reinstates Pennsylvania-born adult adoptees’ rights to access their original birth certificates. Act 127 of 2016 becomes official on Nov.3, one year after it was signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.

Ward, Irvin Honor Fallen Trooper Landon Weaver

Sep. 26, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – The state House of Representatives this week unanimously passed legislation to honor the life of Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Landon Weaver, who was killed in the line of duty late last year, announced Reps. Judy Ward (R-Blair) and Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin), co-sponsors of the bill.

Mehaffie, Solomon Bill to Help Parents with Daycare Decisions

Sep. 25, 2017 /

WHAT: Reps. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) and Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia) will announce the introduction of legislation to bring greater clarity to the process of choosing a daycare facility using the existing Keystone STARS performance standards.

House Committee Approves James’ Unemployment Compensation Reform Bill

Sep. 25, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Today the House Labor and Industry Committee unanimously supported an unemployment compensation reform bill introduced by Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler). The bill would increase the amount of time to appeal an unemployment compensation decision from 15 to 21 days.

Ryan Comments on Standard & Poor’s Downgrade

Sep. 21, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon) today responded to this week’s announcement by Standard & Poor’s that the firm had downgraded Pennsylvania’s credit rating due to the state’s as yet unresolved 2017-18 budget.

Causer Bill to Allow Sale of Kane Armory

Sep. 20, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – At the request of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) has introduced legislation to authorize the sale of the Kane Armory property.

Revenues are Being Collected and Pennsylvania Has Never Defaulted on a Bond Payment, House Leaders Say in Response to Credit Downgrade

Sep. 20, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Responding to the credit downgrade from Standard & Poor’s today, House Republican leaders reminded investors and Pennsylvanians that the Commonwealth has never missed a payment and tax revenues are continuously being collected. The leaders also suggested the downgrade could help bring lawmakers together in the effort to address major cost-drivers in the state budget.

Chairmen Eichelberger and Hickernell Respond to PDE’s Proposed ESSA State Plan

Sep. 19, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Sen. John Eichelberger (R-30th) and Rep. Dave Hickernell (Lancaster/Dauphin), Majority Chairmen of the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s Senate and House Education Committees (respectively), are deeply disappointed that the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) largely ignored legislative comments and input on the promulgation of a Consolidated State Plan for the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).