Metcalfe, Lawmakers Respond to Obama’s Bathroom Decree

May. 18, 2016 /

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) and 96 other state lawmakers sent the following letter to President Barrack Obama in response to his administration’s recent letter threatening to pull federal funding and seek legal action against public schools that prohibit transgender students from using bathroom and locker room facilities based on gender identity.

Tobash’s Hybrid Pension Plan Passes House Committee

May. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – On Tuesday afternoon, the House State Government Committee voted in favor of Rep. Mike Tobash’s (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin) legislation to establish a reformed retirement benefit plan, containing both defined benefit and defined contribution components, for future state and public school employees. After the vote on House Bill 1499, Tobash made the following statement:

Marsico Legislation to Stop Hazing Heads to Governor’s Desk

May. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Ron Marsico’s (R-Lower Paxton) legislation to protect students from harmful hazing rituals by making it a crime for hazing to occur at Pennsylvania schools and to require schools to write and enforce policies to prevent hazing passed through the House of Representatives today and will now head to the governor’s desk for final approval.

Kaufer Leads First PA-HOPE Caucus Meeting to Address PA’s Growing Opioid and Heroin Epidemic

May. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) co-chaired the first meeting of the newly established PA Heroin, Opioid Prevention and Education (PA-HOPE) Caucus at the Capitol. This caucus, which Kaufer co-chairs with Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny), has gained the interest of numerous other House members, all of whom are interested in addressing the growing opioid and heroin epidemic in the Commonwealth.

State House Honors CB South’s Ice Hockey Victory, Watson Says

May. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – To celebrate the Central Bucks High School South’s second state ice hockey championship, Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th) today welcomed the athletes and coaches to the state Capitol for recognition by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Senate, House Leaders Call on Wolf to Protect Excellent Teachers

May. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-28), Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-62) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34), along with school board representatives and education advocates, today called on Gov. Tom Wolf to side with Pennsylvania schools and sign House Bill 805.

Vereb to Introduce Resolution Seeking School Consolidation Study

May. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG — State Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) today announced he plans to introduce a resolution in the state House calling on a bipartisan agency of the state Legislature to produce a study examining the feasibility of consolidating school districts in Pennsylvania.

Greiner Shepherds Historic Ignition Interlock Legislation to Overwhelming Passage in House

May. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Today, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved Senate Bill 290, which would make the ignition interlock program mandatory for certain first-time DUI offenders and, in those cases where the interlock program is applied, reduce driver’s license suspension requirements. State Rep. Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock) introduced companion legislation, House Bill 278, and has worked tirelessly alongside Sen. John Rafferty (Montgomery/Chester/Berks) toward the historic passage of this legislation. The bill was approved by a vote of 194-1.

Senate, House Leaders Call on Gov. Wolf to Sign Teacher Furlough Reform Bill

May. 17, 2016 /

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-28), Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) and House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-62) will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in the East Wing Rotunda, regarding House Bill 805 – the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act, which ends the practice of using seniority as the determining factor for layoffs in Pennsylvania and instead requires several factors including teacher performance and seniority to guide furlough and reinstatement decisions.

Harper Consumer Protection Bill Passes House

May. 16, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Taxpayers would have a say in the potential sale or lease of municipal-owned sewer or water systems under legislation passed by the House today, said Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery).

House, Senate Committees to Examine Impact of Casino Assessment Increase

May. 16, 2016 /

WHAT: The House Gaming Oversight Committee, led by Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin), together with the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, led by Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), will hold a public hearing on the increase of assessments to casinos. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue announced a significant assessment increase on 12 Pennsylvania casinos, effective July 1, 2016.

House Manufacturing Caucus to Hold Informational Meeting on State of Pennsylvania’s Steel Industry

May. 16, 2016 /

WHAT: Reps. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland/Allegheny) and Michael Schlossberg (D-Lehigh), co-chairs of the House Manufacturing Caucus, will lead an informational meeting examining the current state of Pennsylvania’s steel industry and related businesses. Caucus members will hear from panelists representing the steel and manufacturing industries who will discuss the impact of foreign imports and trade practices.