Budget Impasse Ends; Critical Funding to be Released, Causer Says

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania will finally have a completed 2015-16 state budget after Gov. Tom Wolf announced today he will allow the supplemental budget bill passed by the General Assembly last week to become law without his signature, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).

Pickett Pleased with Governor’s Decision on State Budget

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) issued the following statement after the governor announced today that he will allow the 2015-16 supplemental budget to take effect on Monday, March 28, without his signature:

Jozwiak Pleased Current State Budget Finished

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-Berks) today issued the following statement after Gov. Tom Wolf announced he would allow the supplemental budget approved by the General Assembly to become law without his signature:

Topper Responds to Governor’s Budget Announcement

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that he would let House Bill 1801, which is the supplemental budget to close out Fiscal Year 2015-16, to become law without his signature. This bill restores the governor’s previous line-item vetoes to basic education, agriculture and corrections funding. According to Article IV, Section 15 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, any legislation that is neither signed or vetoed by the governor, automatically becomes law within 10 days without.

Kampf Thanks Gov. Wolf for Accepting Budget, Releasing Funds for Schools

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG—Rep. Warren Kampf (R-Montgomery/Chester) thanks Gov. Tom Wolf for his decision to allow the supplemental budget recently passed by the General Assembly, which would increase funds to schools without raising taxes, to become law without his signature. House Bill 1801 would fund state services through June 30, including portions of the budget vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf in December.

Bloom Relieved Wolf Finally Relents on Tax Hikes

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – In a press conference today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced he will allow the General Assembly’s latest 2015-16 budget plan to become law. The balanced $30 billion supplemental budget restores funding to schools and agriculture and increases basic education funding by $200 million without tax hikes. Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) issued the following statement in response to Wolf’s budget announcement:

Benninghoff Bill Would Update Truancy Laws, Combat School Dropouts

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) has introduced a bill to substantially amend the state’s truancy laws, which have not been fundamentally changed since the early 1990s. Benninghoff’s legislation, House Bill 1907, would update these laws and policies to more effectively combat truancy and school dropouts.

State Lawmakers Present Bipartisan Solutions to End Pennsylvania’s Illegal Alien Invasion

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), Representative Martina White (R-Philadelphia), Representative Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), and Representative Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) joined together to officially introduce three pieces of bipartisan legislation to curb illegal immigration throughout the Commonwealth.

Boback Encourages Colon Cancer Awareness

Mar. 23, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) was joined by Rep. Maria Donatucci (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) at a press conference today to emphasize the importance of colon cancer screening and awareness.

Murt Resolution on Women in the Military Passes Committee

Mar. 22, 2016 /

HARRISBURG—A resolution sponsored by Rep. Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia) asking the federal government to investigate the needs of women in the military has passed the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Harper to Participate in Judicial Retirement Forum

Mar. 22, 2016 /

WHAT: Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) will serve as a panelist in a discussion about Pennsylvania’s mandatory retirement age for judges. Harper is the prime sponsor of legislation seeking to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to increase the retirement age from 70 to 75. The proposed constitutional amendment is slated to appear as a referendum on the ballot later this year, the final step in the amendment process.

Barrar Introduces Legislation to Extend Fire/EMS Grant Program

Mar. 22, 2016 /

HARRISBURG – During today’s House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, a bill introduced by Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) received unanimous support. House Bill 1877 and its corresponding amendment together seek to reauthorize and extend the existing grant program for fire companies and emergency medical services companies in the Commonwealth.

State Lawmakers to Offer Solutions to Shutdown Pennsylvania’s Illegal Alien Invasion

Mar. 22, 2016 /

WHO: Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will join with Representatives Martina White (R-Philadelphia), Dom Costa (D-Allegheny), Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) and other legislative co-sponsors to officially introduce legislation to protect all Pennsylvania workers with E-Verify; establish legal and economic sanctions against any illegal alien “sanctuary” city; and require applicants for state or local public benefits to provide proof of identity and/or eligibility through the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement (SAVE) program.