The Bill That Started in the Kitchen

Jun. 22, 2016 /

Occasionally, I hear people say the only responsibility the General Assembly has is to get the state budget passed. Considering the many issues that are important to Pennsylvanians, I think that statement could not be further from the truth.

Grove, Wagner Praise Passage of Another Taxpayer Caucus Policy Proposal

Jun. 22, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) and Sen. Scott Wagner (R-York) today praise the passage of House Bill 1888 sponsored by state Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-Bucks) in the House of Representatives. The legislation would re-institute a tax amnesty plan, where taxpayers who owe back taxes would benefit from reduced penalties and interest payments—if they make payments on their owed taxes within a defined 60-day window. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support, 167 to 28.

Ward Supports Legislation to End Late-Term and Dismemberment Abortions

Jun. 21, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – In order to better protect both mothers and babies, Rep. Judy Ward (R-Blair) today supported House passage of legislation that would revise the state’s Abortion Control Act to limit elective abortions to within five months of gestation, instead of the current six months, and end the practice of dismemberment abortions.

Speaker Applauds House Vote to Protect Babies, Mothers

Jun. 21, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) issued the following statement today in response to the Pennsylvania House advancing House Bill 1948 to the Senate for consideration. The bill would lower the risk to mothers and babies by limiting abortions to cases of medical necessity after 20 weeks of pregnancy, instead of the current 24-week ceiling, and ending the practice of dismemberment abortions.

Grove Applauds Passage of Legislation Banning Grisly “Dismemberment Abortions”

Jun. 21, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation to ban horrific “dismemberment abortions” was approved with bipartisan support, by a 132-65 vote, today in the House of Representatives, reports state Rep. Seth Grove (R-York). The legislation, House Bill 1948, is sponsored by state Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/Crawford) and would ban the use of dismemberment abortions, which is defined as: the act of knowingly and purposefully causing death of an unborn child by means of dismembering the unborn child and extracting the unborn child one piece at a time from the uterus through the use of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors or similar instruments. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Watson Applauds House Approval of Adoption Reforms

Jun. 21, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation that seeks to make the process easier for would-be parents to adopt children in Pennsylvania passed the state House today, said Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), author of one of the measures and chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee.

Bill Ending Monopoly of UCC Inspection Process Advances, Says Heffley

Jun. 21, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – A measure introduced by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) to amend the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and ensure property owners have convenience and choice when working with Uniform Construction Code (UCC) inspectors passed out of the House Labor and Industry Committee by a bipartisan vote of 20-7 on Monday, June 13.

House Advances Moul Bill to Ease Burden on Charities

Jun. 21, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – By a unanimous vote, the House today advanced legislation sponsored by Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) that would ease the regulatory and financial burden on volunteer charitable organizations by expanding the exemption on charities required to register with the state.

Ortitay Online Education Bill Passes State House

Jun. 20, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Jason Ortitay’s (R-Washington/Allegheny) legislation to increase online learning opportunities in the Commonwealth gained bipartisan support today from the House of Representatives.

Parker Issues Statement on Equity First

Jun. 16, 2016 /

Recently, two statewide organizations with missions pledged to support the highest ideals of Pennsylvania K-12 education took an opportunity to widely misrepresent my proposed legislation, House Bill 2111, and Equity First, a noble effort to help 900,000 children get fair Basic Education funding faster than 25 years from now.

Stolen Valor Bill Advances, Says Saccone

Jun. 16, 2016 /

HARRISBURG — A bill introduced by Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny/Washington) which would protect the valor and integrity of America’s veterans this week advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Observed at Capitol, Says Hennessey

Jun. 16, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – At a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg Wednesday, Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-Chester/Montgomery), chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, was joined by Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Teresa Osborne and others to observe World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.