Evankovich Would Like to Accept Invitation from Gov. Wolf

Oct. 01, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland/Allegheny), a third-term member of the House of Representatives, would like to accept Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent invitation to have a conversation on the budget in order to make progress and come to a real solution to end the budget crisis.

Some Simple Budget Math

Oct. 01, 2015 /

When discussing the state budget, numbers can be overwhelming. At the heart of the current impasse, however, is a very basic equation that comes into play for everything from a simple bridge re-naming to a complex fiscal note – 102 plus 26 plus 1. Every bill that becomes law must receive a majority of votes in the House (a minimum of 102), a majority of votes in the Senate (a minimum of 26) and one governor’s signature.

Gov. Wolf’s Full Tax Proposal to be Voted in House and Senate

Sep. 30, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – In an effort to move the state budget talks past the current stalemate, House and Senate Republican leaders today announced a vote on Gov. Tom Wolf’s full and latest tax package proposal will take place in the House on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Knowles to Co-Chair Government Reform Caucus

Sep. 30, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) was selected by his colleagues to serve as the House chairman of the Government Reform Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators working to develop and promote legislation to reform state government.

House Approves Baker Bill to Stem the Tide of Dangerous New Substances Used to Manufacture Illegal Drugs

Sep. 30, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – As part of continuing action to combat the nation’s growing drug epidemic, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today approved legislation authored by Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter), chairman of the House Health Committee, to empower the secretary of the Department of Health to add new substances to the list of controlled substances used to manufacture illegal drugs.

Barrar to Explain How Wolf’s Tax Plan Would Affect Seniors

Sep. 30, 2015 /

WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) will be visiting the Maris Grove Community to share details of Gov. Tom Wolf’s tax hike plan. Barrar will explain how Wolf’s proposed sales tax expansion and increase will affect senior citizens in Pennsylvania. He will also share information regarding the impact fee (or tax) currently imposed on the natural gas industry.

Committees to Discuss Municipal Pension Funding Challenges

Sep. 30, 2015 /

WHAT: The House Local Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery), and the House Urban Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks), will conduct a public hearing to discuss the growing challenges of municipal pension funding. According to the Pennsylvania Municipal League, underfunded municipal pensions are a statewide problem. The total unfunded liability carried by taxpayers for municipal pensions is nearly $8 billion, and 66 of the state’s 67 counties are home to at least one community with a pension plan under a high level of financial stress. The hearing will seek to better evaluate the challenges facing specific municipalities and to explore legislative options to address these challenges.

House Judiciary Committee Approves Grove Legislation

Sep. 30, 2015 /

YORK – Legislation sponsored 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 in the Superior Court and Court of Common Pleas.

Benninghoff Legislation Gains Unanimous Support

Sep. 30, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Today, in a unanimous vote, the House Judiciary Committee supported House Bill 623. The bill, introduced by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), would prohibit prosecutors from recommending, and the court from ordering, accelerated rehabilitative disposition, or ARD as it is more commonly known, for a person charged with certain child sex offenses. These include rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse or aggravated indecent assault.

Heffley Disappointed with Gov. Wolf’s Veto of Emergency Funding

Sep. 30, 2015 /

HARRISBURG- Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) released the following statement after Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the Legislature’s emergency funding bill. The bill would have provided critical funding for school districts and human service agencies retroactively to July 1 through Oct. 31.

Mackenzie ‘CareerBound’ Legislation Unanimously Passes House

Sep. 29, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – In an ongoing effort to make Pennsylvania more competitive in its efforts to attract job creators to the Commonwealth, the Pennsylvania House today approved legislation introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Berks/Lehigh) that would establish a public-private educational initiative known as “CareerBound.” The legislation, House Bill 725, passed unanimously.

Quigley Concerned for Commonwealth Following Wolf’s Veto

Sep. 29, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montgomery) expressed dismay upon Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of the emergency state funding bill, which would have released state appropriations to social service providers and school districts amounting to $11 billion, retroactively to July 1 and carrying through to Oct. 31.