Mar. 02, 2017 /
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) today introduced legislation to increase learning opportunities by establishing a central repository of online courses for secondary students.
Mar. 01, 2017 /
HARRISBURG – In order to assist individuals in need of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization or detoxification find treatment, Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) has proposed legislation that would create a statewide bed registry through the Department of Human Services.
Feb. 28, 2017 /
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) today introduced a resolution ordering a study of the growing local tax burden in the Commonwealth.
Feb. 28, 2017 /
WHAT: The House Labor and Industry Committee, chaired by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), will hold a public hearing to receive information from the Department of Labor and Industry on the furloughs and service delays in the Unemployment Compensation system.
Feb. 28, 2017 /
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) has introduced legislation to increase public safety by requiring courts to impose a mandatory three-year probation period to immediately follow the release of serious sex offenders from prison.
Feb. 27, 2017 /
HARRISBURG – House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) and House Appropriations Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York) issued the following statement in reaction to recent anti-Semitic crimes and threats in Pennsylvania:
Feb. 23, 2017 /
HARRISBURG – Led by chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee held a hearing this week about the possible consolidation of regional emergency medical services (EMS) councils. One proposal is to trim the current 14 councils down to six.
Feb. 23, 2017 /
WHAT: Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a hearing on legislation that would sanction the ivory and rhinoceros horn importation to Pennsylvania in addition to selling, purchasing, bartering and possession with the intent to sell.
Feb. 20, 2017 /
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will conduct an informational meeting to receive an update regarding the Pennsylvania Military Community Enhancement Commission and discuss the fire/emergency medical services training available through community colleges.
Feb. 17, 2017 /
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will conduct an informational meeting to discuss the consolidation plan for the Regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Council System, which is overseen by Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS.
Feb. 15, 2017 /
HARRISBURG – House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) today applauded Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) for the soon-to-be introduced House Bill 77, which lowers the risk to mothers and babies by limiting abortions to cases of medical necessity after 20 weeks of pregnancy and abolishing dismemberment abortions.
Feb. 14, 2017 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Alex Charlton (R-Springfield) today introduced legislation to provide a much-needed boost in funding for conservation, preservation and recreation projects across the Commonwealth.
Feb. 14, 2017 /
WHAT: The House Labor and Industry Committee, led by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), will hold a public hearing on House Bill 18, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh/Berks), which focuses on a drug formulary for the Worker’s Compensation Program to help reduce instances of opioid abuse.
Feb. 13, 2017 /
WHAT: The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will present its annual report to the House Game and Fisheries Committee, chaired by state Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York). Members of the committee will have the chance to ask questions of commission representatives, who are expected to advocate for legislation that would allow them to set their own license fees.
Feb. 13, 2017 /
WHAT: The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) will present its annual report to the House Game and Fisheries Committee, chaired by state Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York). Members of the committee will have the chance to ask questions of commission representatives, who are expected to advocate for legislation that would allow them to set their own license fees.
Feb. 13, 2017 /
HARRISBURG – Led by majority chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously approved legislation to create a new Department of Military and Veteran Affairs (DMVA) medal for veterans and private citizens who perform exceptional services for veterans.
Feb. 10, 2017 /
WHAT: Led by Chair of the House Majority Policy Committee Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and Rep. Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette), state legislators are traveling to Donora, Washington County, to gather testimony about the state’s drug epidemic and how it is impacting the local community. Testifiers will offer suggestions on legislative actions that could be taken to better tackle the epidemic. Several testifiers plan to discuss how data collection on drug use, blight and economic development could be used to address the growing crisis.
Feb. 10, 2017 /
WHAT: PlanCon Advisory Commission co-chairs Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), and Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), will hold a public meeting with charter school officials, engineering and construction experts and public school officials offering testimony.
Feb. 10, 2017 /
While our furry friend from Punxsutawney gave us a frigid reminder that spring is not yet upon us, there is no denying budget season has officially arrived in Pennsylvania. Gov. Tom Wolf delivered his 2017-18 budget address to a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 7, proposing a $32.3 billion spending plan, a 1.8 percent increase over last year. As legislators, we now have the opportunity to open a conversation with the people of Pennsylvania to determine the right path forward for our Commonwealth.
Feb. 09, 2017 /
Gov. Tom Wolf wrote the headline for his budget address a few weeks ago when he decided not to pursue broad-based tax increases. The hard-working taxpayers of Pennsylvania have themselves to thank for the choice he made.