Senate, House Leaders Call on Gov. Wolf to Sign Teacher Furlough Reform Bill

May. 17, 2016 /

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-28), Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-34) and House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-62) will hold a news conference at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in the East Wing Rotunda, regarding House Bill 805 – the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act, which ends the practice of using seniority as the determining factor for layoffs in Pennsylvania and instead requires several factors including teacher performance and seniority to guide furlough and reinstatement decisions.

Harper Consumer Protection Bill Passes House

May. 16, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Taxpayers would have a say in the potential sale or lease of municipal-owned sewer or water systems under legislation passed by the House today, said Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery).

House, Senate Committees to Examine Impact of Casino Assessment Increase

May. 16, 2016 /

WHAT: The House Gaming Oversight Committee, led by Rep. John Payne (R-Dauphin), together with the Senate Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, led by Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), will hold a public hearing on the increase of assessments to casinos. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue announced a significant assessment increase on 12 Pennsylvania casinos, effective July 1, 2016.

House Manufacturing Caucus to Hold Informational Meeting on State of Pennsylvania’s Steel Industry

May. 16, 2016 /

WHAT: Reps. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland/Allegheny) and Michael Schlossberg (D-Lehigh), co-chairs of the House Manufacturing Caucus, will lead an informational meeting examining the current state of Pennsylvania’s steel industry and related businesses. Caucus members will hear from panelists representing the steel and manufacturing industries who will discuss the impact of foreign imports and trade practices.

Barrar and House, Senate Committees to Receive Updates from Groups Working to Maintain Safety in the Commonwealth

May. 13, 2016 /

WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will conduct a joint informational hearing to hear a presentation by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs on the services they can provide to state agencies during emergencies and a presentation by the Civil Air Patrol on its three-fold mission (emergency services, cadet programs and aerospace education).

PA Schools, Lawmakers Call on Wolf to Stand with Students, Schools and Protect Excellent Teachers - Bloom, Aument ask governor to reconsider veto

May. 12, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania public school representatives, education reform advocates and lawmakers today called on Gov. Tom Wolf to sign House Bill 805, known as the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act. The bill would end the practice of seniority-based layoffs in Pennsylvania and instead require teacher performance to guide furlough and reinstatement decisions.

PA Schools Call on Wolf to Stand with Students, Schools and Keep Best Teachers in the Classroom

May. 11, 2016 /

WHAT: Protecting Excellent Teachers Act sponsors, Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Sen. Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster), will join with public school representatives and education reform advocates to urge Gov. Tom Wolf to sign House Bill 805 and end Pennsylvania’s outdated and detrimental seniority-based layoff practice, ensuring children have access to a high-quality learning experience.

House Committee to Examine Blight in Chester County, Say Petri, Lewis

May. 09, 2016 /

WHAT: Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks), chairman of the House Urban Affairs Committee, will hold a public hearing in Chester County that will focus on issues involving blight, including code enforcement and the redevelopment of blighted properties in the Commonwealth. Recent laws, enacted to address blight and its impact on public safety, property values and local tax revenue, have given municipalities additional tools to put blighted properties back into re-use and on the tax rolls. The committee is being hosted by Rep. Harry Lewis (R-Chester).

Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on Home Invasion Burglary

May. 09, 2016 /

WHAT: Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will hold a hearing on legislation that would amend the burglary statute to provide for the crime of home invasion burglary and a mandatory sentence of five years for anyone who burglarizes a place designed for overnight accommodation while someone is present and is armed with a deadly weapon or commits a crime such as assault, terroristic threat, rape or other form of violence. The bill would enhance the sentence to a 10-year mandatory minimum if the victim is 62 or older or for a second offense.