Metcalfe, House State Government Committee Advances Legislation Banning Sharia and Other Foreign Laws from PA Courts

Oct. 18, 2016 /

HARRISBURG — Legislation sponsored by House State Government Committee Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) to prohibit Pennsylvania courts and state judges from applying foreign legal code or legal systems, including sharia law, when doing so would conflict with the federal or state constitutions and/or infringe upon Constitutional rights, was advanced by the House State Government Committee on Tuesday.

Mackenzie, Health Care Officials to Advocate for Improved Stroke Care

Oct. 18, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – During a stroke, every second counts. The faster a patient receives proper treatment, the greater the prognosis for recovery. Legislation introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Berks/Lehigh) – House Bill 2350 – would bring Pennsylvania law into alignment with new federal emergency stroke care standards designed to tailor treatment for stroke victims based on the type and severity of stroke a patient is experiencing.

Rapp and Hutchinson Resolutions Declare Oct. 16-22 ‘National Forest Products Week’

Oct. 18, 2016 /

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate have adopted resolutions (House Resolution 1065 and Senate Resolution 454) sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest) and Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Warren/Butler/Clarion/Forest/Venango) declaring Oct. 16-22 as National Forest Products Week in Pennsylvania.

Senate Unanimously Approves Topper’s Telemedicine Bill

Oct. 18, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Jesse Topper (R- Bedford/Fulton/Franklin) announced that his legislation that will increase access to quality health care was approved by the Senate and is heading to the governor’s desk. This is Topper’s first bill to pass the House and Senate.

House Unanimously Passes Gabler’s Student Protection Act

Oct. 18, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – The state House today unanimously passed legislation authored by state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) that would protect students attending postsecondary schools accredited by an agency that loses its federal recognition. House Bill 2338 will be taken up by the state Senate Education Committee tomorrow.

Klunk Introduces Lethality Assessment Bill

Oct. 17, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Kate Klunk (R-York) introduced legislation that would require minimum standards of training for local and state police officers when responding to domestic violence calls, and would establish the Police Department Grant Program to offset the cost of training and equipment costs incurred by police departments.

Heffley, Tennis to Appear on PCN Call-In Program

Oct. 14, 2016 /

WHAT: Heffley, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Secretary Gary Tennis will discuss Pennsylvania’s opioid epidemic and will answer questions and comments from viewers periodically throughout the show. Viewers are invited to call 1-877-726-5001 with their comments or questions.

Report Highlights PA’s Mounting Pension Debt, Grove Says

Oct. 13, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania has one of the highest unfunded pension liabilities in the nation, Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) said Thursday, citing a report released today by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Speaker Turzai: Boost School Choice, Cut Wait Lists for Charter Schools in Philadelphia

Oct. 11, 2016 /

WHAT: House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) will announce new legislation to increase funding for Educational Improvement Tax Credits (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credits (OSTC) to record numbers. The two programs give tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to a Scholarship Organization, an Educational Improvement Organization and/or a Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization. Turzai will discuss how the proposal will help cut the charter school wait list in half, providing new educational opportunities for tens of thousands of Philadelphia students. Turzai will also highlight the success of the recent $25 million increase to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program for Fiscal Year 2016-17.

Protecting the Living and the Dead

Oct. 06, 2016 /

The gift of a donated organ is one of the greatest things one human being can do for another. Unfortunately, statistics related to organ donation are trending in the wrong direction. The national transplant waiting list grows by 144 people every day. Simultaneously, 22 people die daily in this country while waiting for the gift of life (that figure was 18 just three years ago).

Cox Introduces Property Tax Independence Act in House

Oct. 05, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Jim Cox (R-Berks/Lancaster) today introduced the Property Tax Independence Act (House Bill 76) in the Pennsylvania state House. The legislation would completely replace school district property taxes

Toohil’s No-Fault Divorce Bill Signed into Law

Oct. 05, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Legislation that reduces the waiting time to obtain a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania, sponsored by Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne), was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Tom Wolf as Act 102 of 2016. The new law takes effect in 60 days.

White Bill to Honor Battalion Chief Goodwin Signed Into Law

Oct. 04, 2016 /

HARRISBURG-- Legislation sponsored by Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) to honor the sacrifice of fallen firefighter Battalion Chief Michael R. Goodwin Sr. by renaming a local road in his honor has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.