May. 04, 2015 /
![House Approves Barrar’s Bill Updating the State’s 911 Law]()
HARRISBURG – The House approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) to update and enhance the Commonwealth’s 911 emergency communications law. The bill passed with bipartisan support.
May. 04, 2015 /
![House Passes Bill to Modernize State’s 911 Law, Lawmakers Say]()
HARRISBURG – The state House today voted in favor of a bill to update and enhance the Commonwealth’s 911 emergency communications law, said members of the York County Republican House Delegation, including Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover), Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion), Mike Regan (R-Dillsburg), Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover) and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township). The members issued the following statement:
May. 04, 2015 /
![Christiana Educational Opportunities Bill Clears Committee Along Party Lines]()
HARRISBURG – A party line vote against a $100 million increase to education left Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) puzzled at a meeting of the House Education Committee today. Christiana, who proposed House Bill 752 to increase the amount of available tax credits for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs, offered the following statement:
May. 04, 2015 /
![Helm’s Bill Establishing ‘Juneteenth National Freedom Day’ in Pennsylvania Heads to Senate]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Sue Helm (R-Dauphin/Lebanon) establishing Juneteenth National Freedom Day as an annual observance in Pennsylvania today was unanimously approved by the House of Representatives. House Bill 664 will next be considered by the Senate.
May. 04, 2015 /
![House Approves Legislation to Privatize and Regulate Bail Bondsman Industry, Cutler Says]()
HARRISBURG –To address varying rules regarding the process of regulating the bail bonds industry, Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) drafted legislation that would provide a uniform collection of rules for the industry. The House passed the bill unanimously today.
May. 04, 2015 /
![Nesbit Votes to Regulate Bail Bondsmen in PA]()
HARRISBURG – In order to bring more uniformity to the way in which bail bondsmen operate in Pennsylvania, Rep. Tedd Nesbit (R-Mercer/Butler) today voted in favor of legislation that has passed the state House to privatize and regulate the profession.
May. 04, 2015 /
![O’Neill Offers Solution to Substitute Teacher Shortage]()
HARRISBURG – The House Education Committee today voted in favor of legislation, authored by Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks), which would offer a practical solution to Pennsylvania schools facing a substitute teacher shortage, while protecting the employment of certified teachers.
May. 04, 2015 /
![Bloom Bill to Protect Excellent Teachers Advances]()
HARRISBURG — The House Education Committee today took an important step toward keeping Pennsylvania’s best teachers in the classroom and boosting student achievement by voting to end the practice of seniority-based layoffs, said Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland), prime sponsor of the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act.
May. 04, 2015 /
![Diamond: Let the People Vote on Property Tax Elimination]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) today introduced legislation (House Bill 1115) that would allow voters to consider a constitutional amendment to eliminate all property taxes in Pennsylvania within seven years.
May. 04, 2015 /
![Taylor to Introduce Legislation to Create Scrap Metal Database]()
HARRISBURG — Responding to the ongoing problem of scrap metal theft, Rep. John Taylor (R-Philadelphia) will introduce legislation to create a statewide scrap metal transaction database.
Apr. 29, 2015 /
![Gabler Legislation to Level the Playing Field for Foresters]()
HARRISBURG – The House Finance Committee has advanced legislation sponsored by state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) that would update Pennsylvania tax law by enabling the timber industry to purchase equipment under a state tax exclusion that is already enjoyed by Pennsylvania’s agricultural operations. House Bill 504 may now be taken up by the full House.
Apr. 29, 2015 /
![Phillips-Hill Backs Bill to Promote Computer Skills in Schools]()
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township) recently joined House Education Committee colleagues in advancing House Bill 833, legislation that takes into consideration Pennsylvania’s employment picture and gives school districts and students another option to help address shortages in specific job areas. The bill may now be taken up by the full House.
Apr. 29, 2015 /
![Lawmakers Should Control Costs to Taxpayers, Not Increase Them]()
Despite Gov. Tom Wolf’s repeated claims that his $33.8 billion budget proposal would reduce taxes on the middle class, a recent report by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) found that all Pennsylvanians in every income bracket would pay more in taxes under the governor’s plan.
Apr. 29, 2015 /
![Pickett’s Measure to Allow Email Delivery of Insurance Policies, Annuities Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – In seeking to streamline Pennsylvania’s insurance laws, Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) has obtained committee approval of her legislation allowing insurance companies to deliver life insurance policies and annuities to be delivered electronically.
Apr. 29, 2015 /
![Saylor Appointed to Education Commission of the States]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) has been appointed to the Education Commission of the States for the 2015-16 legislative session.
Apr. 29, 2015 /
![Recognizing Loyalty Day in Pennsylvania]()
It was a great honor for me to serve in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Because of that experience, I understand the sacrifice and reward that comes with taking the ultimate risk to safeguard our communities and our country.
Apr. 28, 2015 /
![More Work Needed to Connect Students With In-Demand Technical Jobs, Grove Says]()
HARRISBURG – The House Select Subcommittee on Technical Education and Career Readiness, chaired by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), held its first hearing today in Harrisburg. The hearing focused on the ways students in kindergarten through 12th grade are being prepared for careers in technical fields.
Apr. 28, 2015 /
![House Health, Judiciary Committees to Hold Third Hearing on Medical Cannabis]()
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 what the impact has been on other states that have legalized the use of medical cannabis.
Apr. 27, 2015 /
![House Education Subcommittee to Hear Testimony on Secondary and Post-Secondary Technical Education]()
WHAT: Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on Technical Education and Career Readiness, will join his colleagues in hearing testimony on K-12 education aimed at preparing students for technical careers. The subcommittee, which was created as a result of House Resolution 102, will examine technical education across the Commonwealth, in order to better connect secondary and post-secondary students with jobs that are in demand.
Apr. 27, 2015 /
![Majority Policy Committee to Hold Hearing on PA’s Business Climate]()
WHAT: Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee, together with Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Berks/Lehigh), deputy chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee, will host a hearing to discuss challenges facing Pennsylvania’s economy and business climate, as part of a statewide jobs tour. Local business owners and statewide business associations will provide testimony to the committee on state taxes and regulations, how to improve the state’s business climate, the preparedness of Pennsylvania graduates to fill in-demand jobs and how to attract new business to the area.