Topper to Call for Prevailing Wage Reform for School Projects

Mar. 31, 2015 /

WHAT: Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton/Franklin) will lead members of the House at a press conference Wednesday, April 1, in a call for Prevailing Wage Act reform for school construction projects. House Bill 707, which Topper authored, would exempt school construction projects from the law, which requires that all public bodies pay the prevailing minimum wage, as determined by the secretary of Labor and Industry, when a project exceeds $25,000.

Toohil Appointed to Chair Two House Subcommittees

Mar. 30, 2015 /

HARRISSBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) today announced her recent appointment by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) to serve as the chairman of two House subcommittees during the 2015-16 legislative session.

Barrar’s Committee Learns about Next Year’s Veterans and Emergency Service Professionals Climate

Mar. 26, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, this week hosted an informational meeting to update the committee on issues impacting the veterans’ community and emergency preparedness and response activities. He also heard testimony during a House Appropriations Committee hearing regarding funding allocated for emergency services professionals in the governor’s budget proposal.

PA Game Commission Honors Moul for Body Camera Law

Mar. 25, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) honored Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) for his work in passage of a new law to help protect Wildlife Conservation Officers and Waterways Conservation Officers (WCOs) while on the job.

Dush Legislation Would Restore Subpoena Power to PA House Committees

Mar. 25, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson/Indiana) today announced the introduction of his first piece of legislation (House Resolution 191) that would restore subpoena power to all standing committees and subcommittees in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Evankovich Urges House Leaders to Reject Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan

Mar. 24, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland/Allegheny) today sent the following letter, calling for the rejection of the tax plan included in Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 budget proposal, to House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) and House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny).

Auditor General’s York City Pension Audit Highlights Need for Municipal Pension Reform, Lawmakers Say

Mar. 23, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – As Auditor General Eugene DePasquale returned to his home city and joined York City Mayor Kim Bracey to release the findings of his latest municipal pension audit, Reps. Keith J. Greiner (R-Lancaster) and Seth Grove (R-York) today highlighted the need for the General Assembly to act on municipal pension reform. Last week, Greiner and Grove introduced legislation that would put the state’s municipal pension systems on an affordable and sustainable path forward.

House Health and Judiciary Committees to Hold Hearing on Medical Cannabis

Mar. 23, 2015 /

WHAT: Reps. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter), chairman of the House Health Committee, and Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a combined hearing on the practical implications of legalizing medical cannabis in Pennsylvania and its impact on health care professionals.

Wolf’s Budget: Sure the Spending Sounds Good, But at What Cost?

Mar. 20, 2015 /

On March 3, Gov. Tom Wolf outlined his budget priorities for the coming fiscal year. The spending plan would increase spending from $29 billion to $33.8 billion, an increase of 16 percent or $4.7 billion in a single year and $12.7 billion over the next two years. It has become increasingly clear since his budget address the governor’s unprecedented spending increase is built on a foundation of higher taxes and is harmful to middle-class families and small business owners.