Dec. 21, 2017 /
![James’ New Committee Assignment Gives Local Residents Stronger Say in State Budget]()
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler) recently was appointed to serve on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which plays a significant role in the annual process used to approve a state budget.
Dec. 21, 2017 /
![Internet Access For Every Pennsylvanian]()
Last December, my column “Closing Pennsylvania’s Digital Divide” reviewed promises made and promises broken by companies who years ago pledged to make high speed internet available to everyone in the Commonwealth. For some of you, it may have been a revelation that residents of Delta, Fawn Grove and Hopewell Townships must drive to the South Eastern School District parking lot so their children can access the district’s Wi-Fi in order to get their homework done (some residents of Springfield and York townships in the Dallastown Area School District are forced to do the same thing).
Dec. 20, 2017 /
![Kauffman’s UC Funding Bill Signed into Law]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) to ensure completion of long-awaited updates to the Unemployment Compensation (UC) program’s computer benefits system and set an end date of state supplemental funding for the program was signed into law today.
Dec. 20, 2017 /
![Rapp Calls Wolf’s Veto Message of Late-Term Abortion Ban Disingenuous, Untruthful]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), who serves as majority chair of the bipartisan House Pro-Life Caucus, issued the following statement today regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of legislation, she originally introduced, to update Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act to ban horrific late-term dismemberment abortions (Senate Bill 3):
Dec. 19, 2017 /
![Irvin Says Governor’s Veto of Abortion Bill a Huge Disappointment]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin) today expressed his deep disappointment in Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of legislation aimed at updating Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act. The legislation (Senate Bill 3) would have redefined the time in which a woman could get an abortion in Pennsylvania from 24 weeks and six days to 20 weeks and six days, and prohibited the practice of dismemberment abortions.
Dec. 19, 2017 /
![Irvin Bill to Continue Children’s Health Insurance Program Signed into Law]()
HARRISBURG – The governor last week signed legislation sponsored by Rep. Rich Irvin (R-Huntingdon/Centre/Mifflin) into law that will ensure the continuation of the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which was set to expire on Dec. 31 of this year.
Dec. 19, 2017 /
![Petri Leaving House to Take Reins at Philadelphia Parking Authority]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) announced today that he will step down as state representative of the 178th Legislative District at the end of this year to become the executive director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). Petri, now in his eighth term in the Pennsylvania House, was named to the post on Friday.
Dec. 14, 2017 /
![House Approves Brown’s Bill, Part of State Budget Reform and Controlled-Spending Package]()
HARRISBURG – The House this week approved a historic package of bills to improve the annual state budget-crafting process by bringing integrity, transparency and spending limits to the forefront. The package includes legislation sponsored by Rep. Rosemary M. Brown (R-Monroe/Pike).
Dec. 14, 2017 /
![Gabler, Sankey Support Protection for Unborn Children]()
HARRISBURG - The state House today passed Senate Bill 3, legislation that would make significant changes to Pennsylvania’s Abortion Control Act. The legislation, which passed by a vote of 121-70, now sits with Gov. Tom Wolf.
Dec. 14, 2017 /
![Senate Approves Klunk Bill to Improve Outdated Bingo Law]()
HARRISBURG – On Wednesday, the Senate passed Rep. Kate Klunk’s (R-York) legislation to bring much-needed updates to the state’s Bingo Law.
Dec. 14, 2017 /
![Farry Legislation Sets State Standards for Recovery Housing in PA - Measure headed to governor’s desk]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Frank Farry (R-Langhorne) announced legislation to establish a certification process for recovery housing in Pennsylvania, as well as statewide standards for their operation, is headed to the governor’s desk following approval by the state Senate Wednesday.
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![Greiner Bills to Revise Financial Reporting Requirements for Nonprofit Organizations Headed to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – By unanimous votes today, the Senate passed two bills, sponsored by Rep. Keith Greiner (R-Lancaster), which would provide nonprofit organizations with a clear financial reporting standard that is aligned with federal requirements.
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![Kauffman Calls on Wolf to Start Transparency at the Top, Help Improve Workplace Safety]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee, this week sent a letter to Gov. Tom Wolf requesting he release the report of the inspector general’s findings in the investigation into the treatment and safety of staff assigned to the lieutenant governor and his wife.
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![Causer Bill to Authorize Sale of Kane Armory Heads to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authorizing the sale of the Kane Armory building and property is now on its way to the governor’s desk, according to Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![Topper Bill to Save the Lives of Newborns Heads to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation by Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Franklin/Fulton) to allow parents who are in distress to relinquish newborns to emergency medical responders at fire and EMS stations is heading to the governor’s desk after it was unanimously approved in the House on Wednesday.
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![Marsico Legislation to Strengthen Megan’s Law Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) was pleased that legislation to ensure sexual offenders remain registered under Megan’s Law unanimously passed the House today.
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![Dowling Supports Bills to Fix Broken Budget Process]()
HARRISBURG – Working to bring much-needed changes to the state budget process, Rep. Matthew Dowling (R-Fayette/Somerset) this week supported a package of bills that aims to control state spending and improve transparency and accountability.
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![House-Passed Delozier Bill to Improve Flow of State Budget Information]()
HARRISBURG – The House on Tuesday approved legislation authored by Rep. Sheryl M. Delozier (R-Cumberland) to improve the budget process by requiring the governor to provide budgetary information in a timely fashion.
Dec. 13, 2017 /
![Saccone’s Bill to Better Protect Children and Communities from Sexual Predators Passes Senate]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to safeguard children and communities from online sexual predators, the Senate today passed legislation authored by Rep. Rick Saccone (R-Allegheny/Washington), which will give the state attorney general and district attorneys the authority to use administrative subpoenas to identify information pertaining to child sex predators transmitting child pornography.
Dec. 12, 2017 /
![House Approves Sweeping State Budget Reforms, Spending Control Measures Legislation to bring transparency to the budget process heads to Senate]()
HARRISBURG – Once again, standing up for taxpayers, the House this week approved historic legislation to change budget-making in Harrisburg by bringing integrity, transparency and spending limits to the state budget and budget process, according to the House Republican leadership team.