Dec. 15, 2015 /
![House Approves Oberlander’s Bill to Enhance Competitiveness of Diverse Businesses]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation designed to allow diverse businesses to better compete globally has received unanimous approval in the state House this week, said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest).
Dec. 15, 2015 /
![House Approves Saccone Measure to Bestow New Honors]()
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.
Dec. 11, 2015 /
![Legislation to Promote Pricing Transparency for Dairy Farmers Advances, Says Lawrence]()
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.
Dec. 11, 2015 /
![Saccone to Introduce Compromise Budget Proposal]()
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.
Dec. 11, 2015 /
![Dush Signs on to Rescue Budget Legislation to Keep Education and Human Services Funding Flowing]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to keep education and human services funding flowing throughout the current and all future state budget negotiations, Rep. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson/Indiana) has joined with more than 40 of his House Republican colleagues in supporting legislation that would establish a 10-month Rescue budget.
Dec. 11, 2015 /
![House Members Applaud Attorney General Lawsuit Regarding Illegal Post-Production Costs on Natural Gas Drilling]()
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).
Dec. 11, 2015 /
![Barrar and Committee Explore the Possibility of Fire Companies Billing for Services to Remain Viable]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, hosted a public hearing on House Bill 1272, which would allow fire companies to bill for real and reasonable costs associated with their emergency responses.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Bill to Require Direct Pay to Ambulance Services Heads to Governor’s Desk, Causer Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) today announced the passage of legislation that will finally require insurance companies to directly pay ambulance companies, rather than patients, for transport services. The bill is awaiting the governor’s signature to become law.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Judiciary Committee Moves Legislation to Impose Minimum Sentence on Felons Illegally Possessing Firearms]()
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) moved legislation to impose a five-year mandatory minimum sentence on felons who illegally possess firearms today during the Judiciary Committee’s scheduled weekly voting meeting.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Pickett’s Measure to Extend, Enhance Children’s Health Insurance Program Heads to Governor]()
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.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Petri Bill to Re-Assign Duties of Jury Commissioners Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – By a unanimous vote, the House Judiciary Committee today advanced legislation by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) that would close a loophole in state law that could be exploited by criminal defendants as a means to escape prosecution.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Reed and Sankey Join Auditor General in Calling for Massive Changes in Homeless Program Run by DCED]()
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.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Saylor, Phillips-Hill Praise Measure to Help At-Risk Youth Graduate]()
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.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Quigley Votes to End Budget Impasse, Dedicate Record Funding to Education]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montgomery) today voted in favor of a fiscally responsible state budget that does not incorporate broad-based tax increases or an expansion of the sales tax. House Bill 1460 includes record education investments.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Baker Bill Expands Use of Epi-Pens in Effort to Save Lives]()
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.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Barrar’s Committee Votes to Provide Commonwealth Youth with an Opportunity to Succeed]()
HARRISBURG – The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, led by majority chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), today passed a bill to create a dropout recovery program for teens in the Commonwealth. The committee also supported two other bills.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Greiner Receives 2015 Leadership Award from Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility]()
HARRISBURG- Today, the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org), a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers that leads the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking, recognized state Rep. Keith J. Greiner (R-Lancaster) with its 2015 Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding commitment to fighting drunk driving.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Barrar and Others Recognize Veterans and Active Duty Military]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, today partnered with Wreaths Across America to host the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in honor of the men and women who have defended our country.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![David Reddecliff Sworn In as House Chief Clerk]()
HARRISBURG – David L. Reddecliff, Susquehanna Township, assumed the position of Chief Clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today when he was unanimously elected to the position by members of the House.
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Mackenzie: Budget Proposal Responsible, Funds Education, Pennsylvanians with Special Needs]()
HARRISBURG – Following today’s 115-86 passage of a $30.26 billion state budget for fiscal year 2015-16, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (Berks/Lehigh) issued the following statement: