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.

Cutler, Greiner Respond to Governor’s Budget Presentation

Mar. 12, 2015 /

LANCASTER – In response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s presentation of his 2015-16 Commonwealth budget proposal at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster today, Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom), House Majority whip, and Rep. Keith Greiner (R-Upper Leacock), House Appropriations Committee member, released the following statement:

Bloom Welcomes Policy Committee to Dickinson Law for Hearing on Job Readiness

Mar. 12, 2015 /

CARLISLE – As deputy chair of the House Majority Policy Committee, Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) today hosted a committee hearing at Dickinson School of Law to listen to testimony from local entrepreneurs, educators and business representatives on the readiness of Pennsylvania’s graduates to fill in-demand and available job openings.

Stephens’ Application for Assistance to Bring ‘Pay for Success’ to PA Approved by Harvard

Mar. 12, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Following months of input from pre-K providers, private sector investors, education advocates and Harvard University, Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) is proud to announce Harvard University has selected Pennsylvania as a site to develop a “Pay for Success” (PFS) initiative. Specifically, the Harvard Kennedy School will now dispatch a Government Innovation Fellow to Pennsylvania to work full time to develop this program.

Parker Continues Efforts on Fair Funding Formula

Mar. 11, 2015 /

HARRISURG – The state’s Basic Education Funding Commission, a 15-member panel tasked with developing and recommending a new formula for distributing state funding for basic education to Pennsylvania school districts, is meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday to hear a presentation on Gov. Tom Wolf's proposal for fair funding, said Rep. David Parker (R-Monroe).

Toohil Appointed to House Rules Committee

Mar. 11, 2015 /

HARRISSBURG – Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) today announced her recent appointment by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) to serve on the House Rules Committee.

Pickett Lends Support to Charter Reform Bill

Mar. 11, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation that seeks to strike a fair balance between different types of educational opportunities in Pennsylvania passed the state House last week, said Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna).

House Policy Committee to Accept Testimony on Job Readiness, Job Creation

Mar. 10, 2015 /

WHAT: In an effort to ensure Pennsylvania students are equipped with the skills they need to succeed after graduation, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee, together with Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland), will host a public hearing tomorrow, March 11, on career preparedness and job creation.