Bill to Empower Working Pennsylvanians Headed to Governor’s Desk, Say Bloom, Murt

Dec. 15, 2015 /

HARRISBURG –The House of Representatives Monday sent legislation to the governor’s desk, which would encourage low-income families who rely on child care subsidies when they are working successfully to earn their way out of poverty, said state Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), the bill’s co-authors.

House Approves Saccone Measure to Bestow New Honors

Dec. 15, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation introduced by Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny/Washington) that would create two new decorations to the list of existing medals, badges and awards conferred by the Commonwealth for heroic civilian and military service passed the Pennsylvania House on Monday.

Legislation to Promote Pricing Transparency for Dairy Farmers Advances, Says Lawrence

Dec. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation which calls for milk pricing transparency and introduced by Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester/Lancaster) passed the House on Monday, Dec. 8. The bill requires any payment (typically a “milk check”) made to a farmer clearly to delineate the dollar amount collected from the state-mandated over-order premium.

Saccone to Introduce Compromise Budget Proposal

Dec. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Seeking to expand options for legislators to consider and demonstrating that a fiscally sound budget that doesn’t increase the burden on taxpayers can be crafted, Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny/Washington) has announced that he will introduce his own proposal to end the months-long budget impasse.

House Members Applaud Attorney General Lawsuit Regarding Illegal Post-Production Costs on Natural Gas Drilling

Dec. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Antitrust Section has filed suit in Bradford County Court of Common Pleas seeking restitution, civil penalties and legal costs from Chesapeake Energy Corporation, alleging underpayment of landowner royalties associated with natural gas drilling. This is being supported by Reps. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming/Union), Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne), Matt Baker (R-Bradford/Potter/Tioga), Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) and Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming).

Pickett’s Measure to Extend, Enhance Children’s Health Insurance Program Heads to Governor

Dec. 10, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation is on its way to the governor to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two more years while transferring the initiative to the Department of Human Services for better coordination of care and cost-savings, said Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna), author of the bill and chairman of the House Insurance Committee.

Reed and Sankey Join Auditor General in Calling for Massive Changes in Homeless Program Run by DCED

Dec. 09, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) today unveiled a 75-page audit which describes massive flaws and irresponsible management of funds performed by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for housing and homeless service providers in Pennsylvania. The audit, initiated at Sankey’s request in the spring of 2014, also seeks to correct major flaws in its operation of two federally funded programs to help address homelessness in the Commonwealth.

Saylor, Phillips-Hill Praise Measure to Help At-Risk Youth Graduate

Dec. 09, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The House Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee today approved legislation to create the Keystone State Challenge Academy, a dropout recovery program that helps at-risk young people earn a high school diploma or its equivalent and hopefully move on to higher education or employment.

Baker Bill Expands Use of Epi-Pens in Effort to Save Lives

Dec. 09, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – In order to ensure greater safety for those individuals who may have a severe allergic reaction, state Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) has authored legislation passed by the House to permit a variety of establishments to have non-patient specific epinephrine auto-injectors available for emergency use.