09/02/2010
Legislation that would provide stronger penalties for people who leave children alone in vehicles has been introduced by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-Bucks) and Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks).
08/30/2010
Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) is calling on legislative leaders to schedule a vote on a proposal to add text messaging to the scope of the “Telemarketer Registration Act,” making it illegal for companies to send unwanted texts to registrants on the state’s Do Not Call List.
08/26/2010
Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) today released information regarding legislation he has authored to prohibit telemarketers from contacting an individual’s cell phone via text message if they have signed up on the “Do Not Call List.”
08/26/2010
After three incidents at the Delaware County Prison in which violent criminals were improperly released due to clerical errors, Rep. Stephen E. Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) is introducing legislation to require public notification of prison escapes or accidental discharges.
08/24/2010
Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams/Franklin) attended Monday’s bipartisan House and Senate caucus on transportation. The Rendell administration is proposing to tax oil company profits and raise 64 different fees to raise the $1 billion necessary to fund improvements to Pennsylvania’s ailing transportation infrastructure.
08/24/2010
With the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Board of Commissioners scheduled to convene on Wednesday to follow up on issues not addressed in its meeting last week, New Jersey Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco (R-Gloucester and Camden) and Pennsylvania Representative Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) said a primary topic for discussion should be the proposed toll and fare increase which both legislators oppose.
08/23/2010
House Republican Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson County) expressed some concern at the transportation funding proposal put forth by the Rendell Administration today. They unveiled their plan to raise $1 billion in taxes and fees to address the revenue shortfall created by the federal tolling rejection. Smith released the following statement:
08/23/2010
Rep. Karen Boback (R-Columbia/Luzerne/Wyoming) announced today her intention to introduce legislation that would restore county conservation districts’ authority over erosion and sediment control in the Marcellus Shale region.
08/18/2010
State Rep. Matt Baker (R-Bradford/Tioga) this week was appointed by Republican Leader of the House of Representatives Sam Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana/Armstrong) to serve on the newly created Health Careers Leadership Council.
08/18/2010
New Jersey Assemblyman Domenick DiCicco (R-Gloucester and Camden) and Pennsylvania Representative Mike Vereb (R-Montgomery) have taken the first steps in reforming the Delaware River Port Authority’s (DRPA) by sponsoring bi-state legislation to change the agency’s federal charter.
08/17/2010
During a public hearing at Susquehanna Township High School, the House Republican Policy Committee obtained testimony that revealed additional details about the shortcomings of Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law Internet Registry, said Rep. Sue Helm (R-Susquehanna Township).
08/12/2010
Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) today said that he supports a House Republican effort to eliminate walking around money (WAMS) from the state budget, and make other cuts in order to balance the state spending plan.
08/12/2010
State Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/York) was among 26 House members to sign a letter addressed to Gov. Ed Rendell, asking him to spare further cuts in education funding by removing discretionary grant programs, often referred to as WAMs, from the state budget. The letter comes in reaction to Pennsylvania receiving less money in Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) than originally anticipated.
08/11/2010
As the governor and legislative leaders continue discussions about budget cuts necessitated by the reduction in expected federal Medicaid assistance (FMAP) funding, Rep. Curt Schroder (R-East Brandywine) and 26 fellow Republican lawmakers said that discretionary grant funding known as WAMs should be the first thing to go.
08/11/2010
Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton) recently joined a group of legislators in urging the governor to use his executive authority in order to eliminate all discretionary grant programs, sometimes referred to as Walking Around Money (WAMs), in order to address a $255 million hole in the state budget: