Jun. 03, 2015 /
![House Committee Approves Jozwiak Baby-Trafficking Bill]()
HARRISBURG – The state House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday in Harrisburg approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-Berks) that would increase penalties on people convicted of trafficking infants in Pennsylvania.
Jun. 03, 2015 /
![Legislation Vital in Protecting Public Safety in Labor Disputes]()
No one, management or labor, should be able to lawfully use the tactics of harassment, stalking or threatening. What starts as harassment and threats can escalate to violence and destruction of property. But incredibly, people who are engaged in organized labor disputes – things like strikes or negotiations over work conditions – are exempt from these criminal laws that apply to the rest of us.
Jun. 03, 2015 /
![Barrar Pleased with Advancement of Three of His Bills]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) is pleased with the advancements of three of his bills this week. They are all bills that passed through the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, of which is he the majority chairman.
Jun. 03, 2015 /
![House Approves Measure to Clarify Clean and Green Law, Causer Says]()
HARRISBURG – The state House unanimously approved legislation this week to ensure the state’s Clean and Green program is working as it was intended, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), prime sponsor of the measure.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![House Joint DUI Task Force to Hold First Meeting, Discuss Greiner’s Ignition Interlock Bill]()
WHAT: The House Joint DUI Task Force, comprised of Republican and Democratic members of the House Judiciary and Transportation committees, will hold its first informational meeting to evaluate Pennsylvania’s DUI statute. Rep. Keith J. Greiner (R-Lancaster) will explain his legislation that would require all repeat and first-time DUI offenders with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.10 percent or greater to use an ignition interlock on their vehicle for at least six months.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![Rapp Bill to Ban E-Cigarette Sales to Minors Greenlighted for House Consideration]()
HARRISBURG — Legislation sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) to prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes and other related “vaping” products to minors was unanimously advanced by the House Judiciary Committee today for consideration on the House floor.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![Policy Committee to Hold Final Hearing on Jobs, Economy]()
WHAT: Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee, together with Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia), will host the last of nine hearings in the committee’s statewide business and jobs tour to discuss Pennsylvania’s economy and business climate with employers across Pennsylvania.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![Tallman Successfully Amends Budget Bill to Increase Library Funding]()
HARRISBURG – For colleagues of state Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland), opposing standardized testing is just as important as increasing funding for libraries.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![House Unanimously Rejects Governor’s Tax Hikes, Lawmakers Say]()
HARRISBURG - Reps. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) and Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset/Bedford) this week joined every member of the House in voting to reject a proposal mirroring the tax increases advanced by Gov. Tom Wolf for the 2015-16 fiscal year.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![House Children and Youth Committee to Hear from Human Services Acting Secretary]()
WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee, led by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), will hold an informational meeting with Acting Human Services Secretary Ted Dallas about his vision for the Department of Human Services. He will also take questions from committee members.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![PA House State Government Committee to Hold Second Public Hearing on Pension System Restructuring Legislation]()
WHAT: Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will convene the second of two public hearings focusing on legislation (Senate Bill 1), which would dramatically restructure Pennsylvania’s two public employee pension systems – the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![James: House Unanimously Rejects Governor’s Tax Increases]()
HARRISBURG – The governor in March proposed a variety of new taxes to pay for billions of dollars in new spending in his first state budget plan. State Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler) and his colleagues in the state House on Monday voted unanimously to reject those tax increases.
Jun. 02, 2015 /
![Benninghoff Issues Statement on Wolf Budget Vote]()
HARRISBURG – Chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) issued the following statement in response to the unanimous vote today rejecting Gov. Wolf’s tax plan:
Jun. 01, 2015 /
![Tri-County House Members Vote Down Largest Tax Increase Proposal in Pennsylvania History]()
HARRISBURG – Tri-County state House delegation members Reps. Matt Gabler
(R-Clearfield/Elk), Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) and Cris Dush (R-Jefferson/Indiana) today joined their colleagues in unanimously defeating the tax increase legislation proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf in his March 3 budget proposal by a vote of 193-0. The vote was taken on an amendment to House Bill 283 that would have raised taxes by nearly $5 billion. The amendment proposed to increase the state’s Personal Income Tax by 21 percent, the Sales and Use Tax rate by 10 percent and would have subjected items such as diapers, day care expenses, textbooks, professional services and nursing home care to sales tax for the first time in Pennsylvania history.
Jun. 01, 2015 /
![House Unanimously Defeats Tax Increases Proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf, Grove Says]()
HARRISBURG – The House voted unanimously today in favor an amendment which included the tax plans found the Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal, Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) said. Grove authored the amendment in order for the plans to receive fair and timely consideration on the floor of the House.
Jun. 01, 2015 /
![DiGirolamo Fights for Emergency Fund for Drug Addiction Treatment]()
HARRISBURG – To help fight back against the epidemic of opioid-based overdoses and deaths in Pennsylvania, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) has successfully inserted an amendment into the 2015-16 state budget for additional funding for an emergency treatment program.
Jun. 01, 2015 /
![House Committee Moves Sankey Bills to Honor Local Veteran, Legislator]()
HARRISBURG – The House Transportation Committee today unanimously approved a pair of bills authored by state Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) that would honor two notable Clearfield County citizens. Both pieces of legislation may now be considered by the full House.
Jun. 01, 2015 /
![White Backs Bills to Strengthen Penalties for Child Endangerment, Improve the 911 System]()
HARRISNBURG—Following up on her commitment to increase safety for our state’s most vulnerable citizens, Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) joined her colleagues in passing legislation to hold those accountable who place young children in danger and to enhance our state’s 911 systems.
Jun. 01, 2015 /
![Committee OKs Expansion of Vehicle Registration Discount for Retirees, Causer Says]()
HARRISBURG – The House Transportation Committee today approved Rep. Martin Causer’s (R-Turtlepoint) legislation to increase the income eligibility limit for the state’s reduced-fee vehicle registration program for retirees.
Jun. 01, 2015 /
![PA House State Government Committee to Examine State Pension System Restructuring Legislation]()
WHAT: Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will convene the first of two public hearings focusing on legislation (Senate Bill 1) which would dramatically restructure Pennsylvania’s two public employee pension systems – the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).