Sep. 27, 2016 /
![Speaker Turzai to Highlight the Success of Recent Increase to EITC; Calls for Additional Increases to EITC and OSTC Moving Forward]()
WHAT: House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) will highlight the success of the recent $25 million increase to the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program for Fiscal Year 2016-17. The Speaker will also announce new legislation to increase the amount of 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.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
![Barrar and Committees Consider Civics Education Graduation Requirement]()
HARRISBURG – Led by majority chairmen Reps. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) and Stan Saylor (R-York), the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness and Education committees held a hearing to hear testimony on House Bill 1858, which would require students to take the naturalization test as a condition of graduation.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
![Heffley, Waksmunski Family to Recognize Down Syndrome Awareness Month]()
WHAT: Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) is holding a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 27, recognizing September as Down Syndrome Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. Eric Waksmunski, a Down Syndrome advocate from Carbon County, will speak about his experience as a father of twins with Down Syndrome. Eric’s son, Jesse, will also speak, along with Josh Stranix from the Arc of Pennsylvania.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
![House Children and Youth Committee to Examine Impact of Opioid Crisis on Children]()
WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee, led by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), will hold a public hearing to examine the impact of the devastating opioid and heroin epidemic on infants and children.
Sep. 26, 2016 /
![Farry Receives Two Awards in Recognition of Legislative Efforts]()
LANGHORNE – State Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) recently received two awards from advocacy groups in recognition of his legislative efforts in the House of Representatives.
Sep. 23, 2016 /
![Labor Committee Chair Gingrich: The Court Agrees, Gov. Wolf Can’t Create Law]()
HARRISBURG – A Lebanon County lawmaker and chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee said Thursday’s ruling by Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court proves Gov. Tom Wolf has again surpassed his authority in issuing certain executive orders.
Sep. 22, 2016 /
![White Issues Statement on Council Resolution Supporting Sanctuary City]()
HARRISBURG: Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) issued the following statement in response to Philadelphia City Council’s resolution opposing House Bill 1885:
Sep. 22, 2016 /
![Barrar and House Committees to Consider Adding Civics Education Requirement for High School Graduation]()
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will hold a joint public hearing with the House Education Committee to consider the effects of amending the Public School Code by added a civics test graduation requirement based on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test.
Sep. 22, 2016 /
![Saylor and House Committees to Consider Adding Civics Education Requirement for High School Graduation]()
WHAT: Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), chairman of the House Education Committee, will hold a joint public hearing with the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee to consider the effects of amending the Public School Code by added a civics test graduation requirement based on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test.
Sep. 21, 2016 /
![Simmons Seeking Legislative Fix to Phone Snafu]()
HARRISBURG – A problem during a recent telephone town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton) that affected a number of customers has led him to seek a legislative solution.
Sep. 21, 2016 /
![House Approves Delozier Bill to Encourage On-The-Job Training for Building Code Officials]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives Tuesday voted to approve legislation, authored by Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland), which would encourage more individuals to pursue a career as a certified inspector or plans examiner in Pennsylvania.
Sep. 21, 2016 /
![Bucks House Delegation Requests Christie Reconsider Decision on Reciprocity]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Scott Petri (R-178) and several other members of the Bucks County delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives sent a letter to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, imploring him to reconsider his plan to revoke a 38-year-long reciprocity agreement that allows Pennsylvania residents who work in New Jersey, and New Jersey residents who work in Pennsylvania, to pay income taxes where they live.
Sep. 21, 2016 /
![Barrar and Committee Vote to Make More Veterans Eligible for State Benefit Programs]()
HARRISBURG – Led by majority chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously approved legislation to reduce the portion of veterans’ VA benefits and compensation that can be counted as income to 50 percent for state benefit programs with income thresholds.
Sep. 21, 2016 /
![Update on Hunting, Fishing License Legislation]()
In May, we devoted a column to legislation that would affect the price of hunting and fishing licenses. I want to take time to let you know where these bills stand.
Sep. 21, 2016 /
![Reese: Allow Liquor Sales in Hotels, Restaurants and Grocery Stores]()
HARRISBURG -- Legislation to allow hotel and restaurant licensees to begin selling distilled liquor was introduced Wednesday as a means to further improve Pennsylvania’s liquor laws. The bill’s author, Rep. Mike Reese (R-Westmoreland/Somerset), called his proposal another step to make purchasing spirits more consumer friendly and withdraw Pennsylvania from the business of selling alcohol.
Sep. 20, 2016 /
![Committee Advances Bill to Reauthorize Law to Guard Against Underground Utility Mishaps, Protect Public Safety, Godshall Says]()
HARRISBURG – The House Consumer Affairs Committee today unanimously approved legislation, sponsored by committee chairman Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), to reauthorize a law that protects underground utility infrastructure and citizens from line hits during excavation projects by requiring sites to be properly marked before work begins.
Sep. 20, 2016 /
![Kaufer: Hundreds Packed PA’s Day of Hope Rally at Capitol]()
HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, Rep. Aaron Kaufer (R-Luzerne) joined hundreds of Pennsylvanians, several House and Senate colleagues, as well as Gov. Tom Wolf and members of his administration and others, at the PA HOPE (Heroin, Opioid, Prevention and Education) Caucus’s “Day of Hope” rally held at the state Capitol.
Sep. 20, 2016 /
![House Recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Month]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) announced today that his House resolution designating September 2016 as Suicide Prevention Month in Pennsylvania passed the House with unanimous support.
Sep. 20, 2016 /
![Keller Resolution Designates Sept. 22 as ‘Teach Ag Day’]()
HARRISBURG – A resolution sponsored by Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland) that designates Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, as National Teach Ag Day in Pennsylvania was unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives.
Sep. 20, 2016 /
![Keller’s Bill Allowing Legal Challenges of Local Gun Laws Advances to House Floor]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry/Cumberland) that would allow a person or member organization to legally challenge a municipal firearms ordinance today was approved by the House Judiciary Committee in a bipartisan vote of 21-6. House Bill 2258 would also allow reimbursement for the cost of the civil action.