Mar. 09, 2016 /
LANSFORD – Local legislators from the House Republican Caucus are rejecting Gov. Tom Wolf’s demand for massive tax increases, including an increase to the Personal Income Tax as part of his annual budget proposal. That 11 percent tax increase (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2016), along with several others, would amount to an annual tax hike of $2.7 billion. The legislators included Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), Rep. David Parker (R-Monroe), Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) and Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Dauphin).
Mar. 09, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) announced today that he will introduce legislation to prohibit nonprofits and political organizations from calling residential phone numbers registered on Pennsylvania’s Do-Not-Call List.
Mar. 09, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) issued the following statement in regard to the recent report regarding the investigation of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and pending legislation dealing with Pennsylvania’s statutes of limitations:
Mar. 09, 2016 /
COOPERSBURG - State legislators from Lehigh and Schuylkill counties today said they will continue to oppose the retroactive, broad-based tax increase being pushed by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Mar. 08, 2016 /
HARRISBURG– In her role as chairman of the House Labor and Industry Committee, Rep. Mauree Gingrich (R-Lebanon) today issued the following statement:
Mar. 08, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Stephen E. Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), acting in his role as majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, today participated in the House Appropriations Committee budget hearing for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner.
Mar. 08, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – At a press conference held in Drexel Hill today, Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) and Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-26) voiced their support of House Bill 1821, which would restore the more than $3 billion in funding for Pennsylvania schools that Gov. Tom Wolf cut. The legislation was drafted by Santora.
Mar. 08, 2016 /
WHAT: A news conference to discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal, along with its expected impact on constituents and local small businesses. The lawmakers will speak in opposition to the governor’s neglect of school property tax reform, and his proposed $3.6 billion increase in new state taxes. Local business people will also speak.
Mar. 08, 2016 /
WHAT: A news conference where local lawmakers will discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal. Wolf is proposing a $3.6 billion increase in taxes. The lawmakers will voice their opposition to the governor’s plan to take money out of people’s pockets, and even their savings accounts.
Mar. 08, 2016 /
WHAT: The House Children and Youth Committee, led by Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th), will hold a public hearing on several bills to reform the adoption process in Pennsylvania. The legislation includes House Bill 1526, which would shorten the period in which a birth parent can revoke adoption consent from 30 days to five; House Bill 1524, which would provide access to adoption-related counseling services to birth parents who are considering adoption or relinquishing parental rights; and House Bill 1529, which would add reasonable expenses incurred by a birth mother to be reimbursed by the adoptive parents.
Mar. 07, 2016 /
WHAT: Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter), chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, will join members of the Penn State Ag Council to discuss the current funding crisis and possible elimination of the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research stations and statewide extension programs, as well as flagship programs such as 4-H and Master Gardener.
Mar. 07, 2016 /
HARRISBURG - State Reps. Dan Moul (R-Adams) and Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland) are warning of serious consequences coming to Pennsylvania’s agriculture community, and the state as a whole, as the result of a lack of funding for Pennsylvania’s major universities.
Mar. 07, 2016 /
WHAT: Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) is holding a press conference to call on Commonwealth schools to borrow money rather than closing their doors, while he works to restore Gov. Tom Wolf’s line item veto of $3 billion of state education funding. Joined by Sen. Tom McGarrigle (R-26), Santora urges the schools to disregard the school closing checklist that the governor sent and instead prioritize the education of the children.
Mar. 07, 2016 /
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will conduct an informational hearing to learn about programs and issues impacting both the military/veteran and emergency services communities.
Mar. 04, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Central Pennsylvania legislators of the House Republican Caucus are rejecting Gov. Tom Wolf’s demand for massive tax increases, including an increase to the Personal Income Tax as part of his annual budget proposal. That 11 percent tax increase (retroactive to Jan. 1, 2016), along with several others, would amount to an annual tax hike of $2.7 billion.
Mar. 04, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – As majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, State Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) reviewed the governor’s 2016-17 budget proposal, including requests by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Homeland Security and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. This week, the House Appropriations Committee continued its extensive look at the governor’s proposal.
Mar. 03, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Following legal action taken in Commonwealth Court to prevent Gov. Tom Wolf’s unilateral closure of the Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC), an agreement signed Tuesday temporarily restores the independence of the watchdog agency, said Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Seth Grove (R-York), who filed the suit on behalf of Pennsylvania taxpayers.
Mar. 03, 2016 /
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman, Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), has released a co-sponsor memorandum urging support for his soon-to-be introduced legislation that would prohibit any public employee from continuing to work as an employee of the Commonwealth if that individual fails to file his/her annual statement of financial interest.
Mar. 03, 2016 /
WHAT: A news conference to discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2016-17 budget proposal, along with its expected impact on constituents and local small businesses. The lawmakers will reiterate their opposition to the governor’s $3.6 billion increase in new taxes. This would be on top of a 5.8 percent tax increase for the current fiscal year. A local business leader will also speak.
Mar. 03, 2016 /
HARRISBURG – Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) issued the following statement after the governor’s administration recently developed and sent a school closing checklist to help schools shut their doors. Several schools across Pennsylvania are in danger of closing due to Gov. Tom Wolf’s $3 billion cut to state education funding.