May. 12, 2015 /
![McGinnis Introduces Pension Reform Bill]()
HARRISBURG – Over concern that current proposals fail to adequately address Pennsylvania’s public pension crisis, Rep. John McGinnis (R-Blair) today introduced legislation for eliminating the state’s massive pension debt. The combined unfunded liability of the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) currently totals more than $55 billion.
May. 12, 2015 /
![State Employee Pension Reform Bill Passed by House State Government Committee, Says Wheeland]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation designed to reform the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) was approved by the House State Government Committee today, said committee member, Rep. Jeff C. Wheeland (R-Lycoming).
May. 12, 2015 /
![House Passes Grove’s School Construction Reform Bill]()
HARRISBURG – A vote today in the state House brings reform for Pennsylvania’s school construction process one step closer, Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) said. Grove authored House Bill 210 to address the loss of taxpayer and school district funds and to modernize the process.
May. 12, 2015 /
![Baker Bill Imposes More Stringent Penalties for Those Impersonating a Doctor]()
HARRISBURG – In order to protect Pennsylvania citizens from unscrupulous individuals posing as physicians, Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) has introduced legislation approved by the state House to increase penalties for those who impersonate a doctor and treat patients.
May. 12, 2015 /
![House Passes Toohil’s Bill to Strengthen Rights of Rape Victims]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne), that would strengthen the rights of rape victims who have conceived a child as a result of the crime, was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives. House Bill 410 will next be considered by the Senate.
May. 12, 2015 /
![Kampf Pension Reform Bill Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG—Legislation sponsored by Rep. Warren Kampf (R-Chester/Montgomery) to reform Pennsylvania’s two large and unsustainable public pension systems has passed the House State Government Committee and is headed to the whole House for a vote.
May. 12, 2015 /
![State Senate Again Holds Key to Direct Shipment of Wine, Says Sonney]()
HARRISBURG – For the second consecutive session, the fate of legislation that would allow direct shipment of wine to the homes of Pennsylvania consumers is in the hands of the state Senate, says Rep. Curt Sonney (R-Harborcreek).
May. 12, 2015 /
![House Passes Vereb Resolution Honoring National Fraternal Order of Police’s 100th Anniversary]()
HARRISBURG — The state House of Representatives today unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) honoring the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) on its 100th anniversary.
May. 12, 2015 /
![House, Senate Ag Committees to Hold Informational Meeting About Industrial Hemp]()
WHAT: The House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) and Sen. Elder Vogel (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), will hold an informational meeting to discuss legislation to allow the growth and cultivation, for research purposes, of industrial hemp in the Commonwealth.
May. 12, 2015 /
![Emrick Bill Would Correct Flaw in Teacher Certification Process]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would address the misuse of a teacher evaluation test in the process of measuring college students’ performance has been unanimously passed by the state House, according to the bill’s author, state Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Nazareth). House Bill 499 may now be considered by the state Senate.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Speaker Applauds EITC/OSTC Bill Passage]()
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) applauded passage of legislation that would significantly expand the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs to help Pennsylvania students.
May. 11, 2015 /
![House Approves Christiana Bill to Increase Funding to EITC/OSTC Programs]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today approved legislation, authored by Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver), which aims to provide more Pennsylvania students and parents with options in pre-K-12 education with the expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Simmons Bill to Allow Independent Universities to Conduct Wine Auctions Advances]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would allow independent colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to conduct wine auctions, sponsored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton), today was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives. House Bill 619 will next be considered by the Senate.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Oberlander Secures House Approval for Chief Nursing Officer]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to help strengthen the state’s role in health care across the state, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) has secured House approval of legislation she has sponsored to establish a chief nursing officer for the Commonwealth.
May. 11, 2015 /
![House Approves O’Neill Bill to Address PA Substitute Teacher Shortage]()
HARRISBURG — The House of Representatives today voted to approve legislation, authored by Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks), which would address the substitute teacher shortage currently facing many school districts across the Commonwealth.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Toohil’s Resolution Aims to Raise Awareness of Drug Treatment Courts]()
HARRISBURG – A resolution recognizing the month of May as “National Drug Court Month” in Pennsylvania today received unanimous support in the House of Representatives.
May. 11, 2015 /
![House Committee to Examine Change to Doe License Purchasing Process]()
WHAT: The House Game and Fisheries Committee, chaired by state Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York), will hold a public hearing on House 231, legislation authored by state Rep. Grant Mullery (D-Luzerne) which would allow purchase of antlerless deer hunting licenses through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s automated licensing system.
Doe licenses are currently purchased only through a county treasurer’s office.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Saylor Property Tax Plan Would Provide Much Needed Relief to Homeowners, Santora Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) today said that he supports a proposal, sponsored by Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), which would provide Pennsylvania residents with much needed property tax relief. The House is expected to vote on the proposal this week.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Speaker Announces Special Elections for 87th and 161st Legislative Districts in Cumberland and Delaware Counties]()
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) today ordered two special elections be held on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to fill the vacant seats in the 87th Legislative District in Cumberland County and the 161st Legislative District in Delaware County.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Legislation Would Move Low-Income Families Toward Self- Sustainability, Lawmakers Say]()
HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), along with Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), today released a statement following the introduction of House Bill 1164, which would reform the Commonwealth’s child care benefits structure in order to help families retain temporary assistance, while allowing them to earn their way out of poverty.