Christiana: Shale Tax Will Kill PA Jobs

Sep. 11, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Surrounded by organizations representing Pennsylvania’s private sector workforce, Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) today urged House and Senate leaders and Gov. Tom Wolf to take a job-killing shale tax off the table during final negotiations on the state budget revenue plan this week.

Christiana Urges General Assembly to Abandon Calls for Shale Tax

Sep. 11, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) and organizations representing Pennsylvania’s business owners, workers and manufacturing industry will hold a press conference to urge Gov. Tom Wolf and House and Senate lawmakers to abandon calls for a Shale tax during final discussions on the state budget. Christiana will explain how a severance tax could negatively impact the petrochemical industry and thousands of manufacturing jobs.

House Leaders Confirm Passing of Rep. Dan McNeill

Sep. 08, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) and Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) regret to confirm the passing of state Rep. Daniel McNeill (D-Lehigh), who died on Friday, Sept. 8. Turzai and Dermody issued this statement jointly:

DiGirolamo Unveils No-Borrowing State Budget Plan

Sep. 07, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Citing the need to fully fund this year’s budget, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) today unveiled his own budget proposal, which would provide recurring revenue to support the $32 billion budget plan passed in June without the need for borrowing.

DiGirolamo to Outline Budget Funding Alternative

Sep. 06, 2017 /

WHAT: Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) will discuss his proposal to fully fund the 2017-18 state budget. The current $32 billion spending plan requires approximately $2.2 billion in additional revenue to fill a shortfall from last year’s budget and fully fund the current fiscal year’s plan.

Republican Lawmakers Unveil Taxpayers’ Budget

Sep. 05, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – After seven weeks of diligent work to find an alternative to the Senate’s plan to raise taxes on every Pennsylvanian, a group of House Republicans released today the Taxpayers’ Budget to fund the 2017-18 budget without the need to borrow money or increase taxes.

Rothman Supports Taxpayers’ Budget

Sep. 05, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – Following a press conference today by a select group of Republican colleagues to unveil a plan to cover the approximately $2.2 billion funding gap in this year’s budget without the need to borrow money or raise taxes, Rep. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) issued the following statement:

Coalition of State House Members to Unveil Budget Alternative to Senate/Wolf Tax Increases

Sep. 04, 2017 /

WHAT: In light of the absence of a final revenue plan for the 2017-18 fiscal year, a 17-member group of state House legislators will present its plan to close out and fully fund the state budget without the need for raising taxes on hard-working Pennsylvanians. The proposal is an alternative to legislation passed by the Senate and endorsed by Gov. Tom Wolf that would increase taxes on consumers’ natural gas, electric and telephone bills; as well as borrow more than $1.3 billion.

Dowling to Host Taxpayers’ Caucus Meeting Sept. 7

Aug. 31, 2017 /

UNIONTOWN – In response to the Senate’s revenue plan, which includes new or increased taxes on Pennsylvanians’ utility bills and online purchases, the House Taxpayers’ Caucus will hold a hearing in Fayette County at Rep. Matthew Dowling’s request.

Diamond Introduces Anti-Welfare Fraud Legislation

Aug. 30, 2017 /

HARRISBURG – In an ongoing effort to combat waste, fraud and abuse in the Pennsylvania, Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) has introduced legislation that would, if enacted, require the Department of Aging to cross-reference its list of beneficiaries with death records maintained by the Department of Health on a monthly basis.

PA House State Government Committee to Investigate Cost of Stack’s Snacks

Aug. 22, 2017 /

WHAT: In light of the Commonwealth’s $1.5 billion-plus budget deficit, House State Government Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will convene an informational meeting to further scrutinize Lt. Gov. Mike Stack’s more than $30,000 grocery tab, of which at least $3,000 is unaccounted.

Ag Committees Hear Update on Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Efforts, Causer Says

Aug. 16, 2017 /

PENNSYLVANIA FURNACE – State leaders and stakeholders involved in efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay appeared before the House and Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs committees Wednesday at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days to discuss phase three of the bay watershed implementation plan.