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.

Barrar and Committee Busy Serving Veterans and Emergency Service Professionals

Mar. 20, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, this week held two hearings. The first was an informational hearing that explored how organizations in the Commonwealth serve veterans. The second was a public hearing on his plan to consider the best way to overhaul Pennsylvania’s 911 Emergency Telephone Act.

Lawmakers Announce Grant Funding for York County Heritage Trust

Mar. 19, 2015 /

YORK – The members of the York County House Delegation - Reps. Seth Grove (R-York), Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam), Mike Regan (R-Dillsburg), Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion), Kevin Schreiber (D-York), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover), and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township), today announced funding through the Pennsylvania Cultural and Historical Support Grant Program for the York County Heritage Trust, in the amount of $21,451.90.

Greiner and Grove Introduce Municipal Pension Reform Bill

Mar. 19, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – As local elected officials across the Commonwealth continue to join with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale in calling on Harrisburg to enact reforms that would put Pennsylvania’s distressed municipal pension systems on a sustainable path forward, Reps. Keith J. Greiner (R-Lancaster) and Seth Grove (R-York) today introduced a bill that would do just that.

Turzai, Reed Question Governor’s Authority on School District Demands

Mar. 18, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) and House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana County) today questioned Gov. Tom Wolf’s authority to mandate the state’s 500 school districts expend time and resources on a plan to spend what is, thus far, an unfunded budget proposal.

Taylor to Join Toomey in Calling for New Drug Reporting Legislation

Mar. 18, 2015 /

WHAT: Rep. John Taylor (R-Philadelphia) will joined U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey to call on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation called the National All-Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) Reauthorization Act, which would help states develop more robust prescription drug monitoring programs.

Aument, Bloom Introduce Bills to Protect Excellent Teachers

Mar. 17, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – State Sen. Ryan P. Aument (R-Lancaster) and Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) today introduced legislation in the House and Senate to keep Pennsylvania’s best teachers in the classroom and boost student achievement by ending the practice of seniority-based layoffs.

Day Questions State Education Secretary on Budget Plan

Mar. 16, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – During today’s House Appropriations Committee hearing with the state Department of Education, Rep. Gary Day (R-Lehigh/Berks), a member of the committee, spoke with Acting Secretary Pedro Rivera about what the governor refers to as his “School Property Tax Reduction Plan.”

Greiner Announces New House Appropriations Committee Website Detailing Effect of Governor’s Property Tax Shift Plan

Mar. 16, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Keith J. Greiner (R-Upper Leacock), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today announced the launch of a new website, TaxpayersThatPay.com, which details the net impact of Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increases on Pennsylvania’s taxpayers. TaxpayersthatPay.com shows how much more in new personal income and sales taxes that taxpayers in each school district would pay and compares that amount to the funds proposed to go back to taxpayers under Wolf’s property tax shift plan.

Payne Bill Establishes Penalties for Viewing Porn on State Computers

Mar. 16, 2015 /

HARRISBURG — In response to revelations announced by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General last session, Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin) today introduced legislation that would establish penalties for state employees who use Commonwealth-owned computers, networks or cellular phones to view and/or exchange pornography.

TaxPayersThatPay.com Unveiled

Mar. 16, 2015 /

New House Appropriations Committee website provides taxpayers with a comprehensive assessment of how they fare under Gov. Wolf’s property tax shift plan

Toepel Works to Keep Casino Money in Montgomery County

Mar. 13, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery) testified on behalf of her legislation to use Montgomery County casino money to benefit county initiatives at a public hearing of the House Gaming Oversight Committee meeting on Thursday.

Municipal Pension Crisis to Top House Committee Meeting in Pittsburgh

Mar. 12, 2015 /

WHAT: Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks), majority chairman of the House Urban Affairs Committee, will hold a public meeting in Pittsburgh to hear concerns regarding the state of municipal pensions. Many municipal pension plans, including Pittsburgh’s, are severely underfunded and threaten the financial health of these communities. The committee will take testimony from Pittsburgh officials that will help lawmakers develop legislation to restore struggling municipal pension systems.