Area State Representatives Stand Up For Taxpayers

Mar. 08, 2016 /

WHAT: A news conference to discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal, along with its expected impact on constituents and local small businesses. The lawmakers will speak in opposition to the governor’s neglect of school property tax reform, and his proposed $3.6 billion increase in new state taxes. Local business people will also speak.

Local State Representatives Set the Record Straight

Mar. 08, 2016 /

WHAT: A news conference where local lawmakers will discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal. Wolf is proposing a $3.6 billion increase in taxes. The lawmakers will voice their opposition to the governor’s plan to take money out of people’s pockets, and even their savings accounts.

House Children and Youth Committee to Examine Bills to Reform Adoption Process

Mar. 08, 2016 /

WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee, led by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), will hold a public hearing on several bills to reform the adoption process in Pennsylvania. The legislation includes House Bill 1526, which would shorten the period in which a birth parent can revoke adoption consent from 30 days to five; House Bill 1524, which would provide access to adoption-related counseling services to birth parents who are considering adoption or relinquishing parental rights; and House Bill 1529, which would add reasonable expenses incurred by a birth mother to be reimbursed by the adoptive parents.

Penn State Ag Council Spotlights Agricultural Extension and Research Funding Crisis

Mar. 07, 2016 /

WHAT: Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, will join members of the Penn State Ag Council to discuss the current funding crisis and possible elimination of the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research stations and statewide extension programs, as well as flagship programs such as 4-H and Master Gardener.

Santora and McGarrigle Hold Press Conference Urging Schools Not to Close

Mar. 07, 2016 /

WHAT: Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) is holding a press conference to call on Commonwealth schools to borrow money rather than closing their doors, while he works to restore Gov. Tom Wolf’s line item veto of $3 billion of state education funding. Joined by Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-26), Santora urges the schools to disregard the school closing checklist that the governor sent and instead prioritize the education of the children.

Barrar Considers 2016-17 State Budget Proposal’s Effect on Military, Emergency Services

Mar. 04, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – As majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) reviewed the governor’s 2016-17 budget proposal, including requests by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Homeland Security and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. This week, the House Appropriations Committee continued its extensive look at the governor’s proposal.

Agreement Restores PERC Independence, Say Bloom, Grove

Mar. 03, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Following legal action taken in Commonwealth Court to prevent Gov. Tom Wolf’s unilateral closure of the Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC), an agreement signed Tuesday temporarily restores the independence of the watchdog agency, said Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Seth Grove (R-York), who filed the suit on behalf of Pennsylvania taxpayers.

Metcalfe to Introduce Legislation to Terminate State Employees for Failure to File Financial Interest Statements

Mar. 03, 2016 /

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman, Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), has released a co-sponsor memorandum urging support for his soon-to-be introduced legislation that would prohibit any public employee from continuing to work as an employee of the Commonwealth if that individual fails to file his/her annual statement of financial interest.

Central Pennsylvania Lawmakers Stand Up For Taxpayers. Gov. Wolf seeks new taxes – including an income tax, attacking back pay

Mar. 03, 2016 /

WHAT: A news conference to discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal, along with its expected impact on constituents and local small businesses. The lawmakers will reiterate their opposition to the governor’s $3.6 billion increase in new taxes. This would be on top of a 5.8 percent tax increase for the current fiscal year. A local business leader will also speak.

Heffley Expresses Outrage Over Governor’s ‘School Closing Checklist’

Mar. 03, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) issued the following statement after the governor’s administration recently developed and sent a school closing checklist to help schools shut their doors. Several schools across Pennsylvania are in danger of closing due to Gov. Tom Wolf’s $3 billion cut to state education funding.

Murt Calls on Judiciary Committee to Expand Statute of Limitations

Mar. 02, 2016 /

HARRISBURG-- In response to a grand jury finding that hundreds of children were abused by at least 50 priests and other church associates in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown for nearly a half century, Rep. Thomas Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia) is asking the House Judiciary Committee to vote on legislation he introduced to change the statute of limitations for victims of child sexual abuse.

Speaker Supports Appellate Court Merit Selection

Feb. 29, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) today announced his support of a constitutional amendment to change the way statewide appellate court judges are chosen by replacing partisan judicial elections with a merit-based selection system.

Gabler: Wolf Cuts Jeopardizing Schools - Legislator questions administration’s creation of ‘school closing checklist’

Feb. 26, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) is expressing outrage upon learning that Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has sent administrators of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts a checklist detailing the process by which a district should close due to insufficient funding. The checklist was disseminated by the Department of Education, and follows the governor’s Dec. 29 line-item vetoes, which included over $3 billion in cuts to public schools.

Ag, Environmental Resources Committees to Discuss Clean Up of Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Feb. 26, 2016 /

WHAT: The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), and the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny), will hold a joint informational meeting to discuss the Wolf Administration’s strategy to reduce pollutants entering the Chesapeake Bay, as required by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The administration recently announced its strategy in anticipation of the state missing its 2017 reduction targets for nitrogen and sediment.