Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 30, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Dr. Laurel Harry, along with Christian Stephens, Deputy Secretary for Office or Field Services, Christopher Oppman, Deputy Secretary for Administration, Kelly Evans, Deputy Secretary for Office of Reentry, and Tammy Ferguson, Deputy Secretary Eastern Region from the Department of Corrections and PA Parole Board Chairman, Theodore Johnson, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on the expenses of state prisons, what can be done to reduce those costs, and the safety in our state prisons for corrections officers and inmates. Additionally, House Republicans asked what can be done by the department to help with the problems in the Delaware County prison.

Irvin to Host Senior Expo April 20 in Huntingdon

Mar. 30, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Franklin) is hosting a Senior Expo on Thursday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Smithfield Fire Hall, 10 Firehouse Lane in Huntingdon.

Local Legislators to Host Town Hall Meetings

Mar. 30, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – State Reps. Mike Armanini (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Dallas Kephart (R-Clearfield/Cambria) will each be hosting a telephone town hall meeting this Tuesday, April 4, for constituents in their separate districts.

Local Legislators to Host Town Hall Meetings

Mar. 30, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – State Reps. Mike Armanini (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Dallas Kephart (R-Clearfield/Cambria) will each be hosting a telephone town hall meeting this Tuesday, April 4, for constituents in their separate districts.

Delozier, Kutz and Rothman to Host Community-Wide Shred Day

Mar. 30, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – State Reps. Sheryl Delozier (R-Lower Allen) and Thomas Kutz (R-Mechanicsburg) and Sen. Greg Rothman (R-34) will host a community-wide document shredding event for residents of their House and Senate districts who reside in Hampden or Silver Spring townships. The event will be held on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the former Park Inn by Radisson, 5401 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg.

Delozier, Kutz and Rothman to Host Community-Wide Shred Day

Mar. 30, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – State Reps. Sheryl Delozier (R-Lower Allen) and Thomas Kutz (R-Mechanicsburg) and Sen. Greg Rothman (R-34) will host a community-wide document shredding event for residents of their House and Senate districts who reside in Hampden or Silver Spring townships. The event will be held on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the former Park Inn by Radisson, 5401 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg.

Causer to Hold Satellite Office Hours

Mar. 30, 2023 /

BRADFORD – State Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) will hold monthly satellite office hours on Thursday, April 6, from 9-10 a.m. at the Emporium Borough Office.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 30, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Mike Carroll, along with Kurt Meyers, Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services, Meredith Biggica, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal, Chuck Zimmerman, Financial Management Director, Larry Shifflet, Deputy Secretary for Planning, and Nicole Tyler, Director of Equitable Transportation testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on the state and federal funds PennDOT is spending to improve our roads and bridges. Republicans also asked about Mass Transit spending and ways we can modernize our approach to programs and funding. Additionally, Republicans asked what PennDOT is doing to improve the customer experience.

Pennsylvania Department of State Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 29, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Al Schmidt, along with Jonathan Marks, Deputy Secretary for Elections and Commissions, Kalonji Johnson, Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs, Arion Claggett, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, and Kim Mattis, Director, Bureau of Finance and Operations, of the Department of State testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on updates to the SURE system, the implementation of Act 88 of 2022, and delays in the Professional Licensure System. Additionally, Republicans asked what DOS can do to help with elections issues in Luzerne County.

Federal Funding Awarded to 7th District, Says Wentling

Mar. 29, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Parke Wentling (R-Mercer) announced that more than $700,000 in federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding was awarded to four long-term care facilities in the region. The goal is to help sustain quality care as the Commonwealth’s population ages and residents’ needs change.

Health Committee Reports Out Three Bills

Mar. 29, 2023 /

WARREN — Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), Republican chair of the House Health Committee, today announced the committee reported out its first three bills and sent them to the full House for consideration.

Fink to Host Election Integrity Roundtable

Mar. 29, 2023 /

RED LION — Rep. Wendy Fink (R-York) invites constituents from the 94th Legislative District to attend her upcoming Election Integrity Roundtable. During which, Fink will provide a legislative update, followed by a roundtable discussion.

Department of Health Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 28, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Dr. Debra L Bogen, Kristen Rodack, Executive Deputy Secretary, Danielle Pierre, Deputy Secretary of Administration, Andrea Race, Chief Financial Officer, of the Department of Health testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on regulatory reform, support for EMS responders, and support of efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Additionally, House Republicans questioned the rationale behind cutting support for individuals and families coping with ALS.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 28, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones, Ellen DiDomenico, Deputy Secretary, and Jenn Newell, Bureau Director for Quality Assurance and Administration of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on coordinating the care of people facing addiction issues equally statewide. Additionally, House Republicans asked what DDAP can to do to reduce regulatory barriers to care and recruit and retain staff in the recovery field.

Shapiro’s Budgeting Would Lead to Tax Hikes and No Reserve

Mar. 28, 2023 /

When Gov. Josh Shapiro presented his first state budget proposal in early March, he painted a rosier-than-reality picture of Pennsylvania’s financial future. The $45.8 spending plan for Fiscal Year 2023-24 is nearly 6% higher than the current year and he’s counting on using part of the budget surplus to balance it. Overburdened taxpayers should be worried, as it only gets worse from there.