Dec. 11, 2015 /
![Barrar and Committee Explore the Possibility of Fire Companies Billing for Services to Remain Viable]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, hosted a public hearing on House Bill 1272, which would allow fire companies to bill for real and reasonable costs associated with their emergency responses.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Bill to Require Direct Pay to Ambulance Services Heads to Governor’s Desk, Causer Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) today announced the passage of legislation that will finally require insurance companies to directly pay ambulance companies, rather than patients, for transport services. The bill is awaiting the governor’s signature to become law.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Judiciary Committee Moves Legislation to Impose Minimum Sentence on Felons Illegally Possessing Firearms]()
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) moved legislation to impose a five-year mandatory minimum sentence on felons who illegally possess firearms today during the Judiciary Committee’s scheduled weekly voting meeting.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Pickett’s Measure to Extend, Enhance Children’s Health Insurance Program Heads to Governor]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation is on its way to the governor to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two more years while transferring the initiative to the Department of Human Services for better coordination of care and cost-savings, said Rep. Tina Pickett (R-Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna), author of the bill and chairman of the House Insurance Committee.
Dec. 10, 2015 /
![Petri Bill to Re-Assign Duties of Jury Commissioners Passes Committee]()
HARRISBURG – By a unanimous vote, the House Judiciary Committee today advanced legislation by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) that would close a loophole in state law that could be exploited by criminal defendants as a means to escape prosecution.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Reed and Sankey Join Auditor General in Calling for Massive Changes in Homeless Program Run by DCED]()
HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) today unveiled a 75-page audit which describes massive flaws and irresponsible management of funds performed by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for housing and homeless service providers in Pennsylvania. The audit, initiated at Sankey’s request in the spring of 2014, also seeks to correct major flaws in its operation of two federally funded programs to help address homelessness in the Commonwealth.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Saylor, Phillips-Hill Praise Measure to Help At-Risk Youth Graduate]()
HARRISBURG – The House Veterans and Emergency Preparedness Committee today approved legislation to create the Keystone State Challenge Academy, a dropout recovery program that helps at-risk young people earn a high school diploma or its equivalent and hopefully move on to higher education or employment.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Quigley Votes to End Budget Impasse, Dedicate Record Funding to Education]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Tom Quigley (R-Montgomery) today voted in favor of a fiscally responsible state budget that does not incorporate broad-based tax increases or an expansion of the sales tax. House Bill 1460 includes record education investments.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Baker Bill Expands Use of Epi-Pens in Effort to Save Lives]()
HARRISBURG – In order to ensure greater safety for those individuals who may have a severe allergic reaction, state Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter) has authored legislation passed by the House to permit a variety of establishments to have non-patient specific epinephrine auto-injectors available for emergency use.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Barrar’s Committee Votes to Provide Commonwealth Youth with an Opportunity to Succeed]()
HARRISBURG – The Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, led by majority chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), today passed a bill to create a dropout recovery program for teens in the Commonwealth. The committee also supported two other bills.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Greiner Receives 2015 Leadership Award from Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility]()
HARRISBURG- Today, the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org), a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers that leads the fight to eliminate drunk driving and underage drinking, recognized state Rep. Keith J. Greiner (R-Lancaster) with its 2015 Leadership Award in recognition of his outstanding commitment to fighting drunk driving.
Dec. 09, 2015 /
![Barrar and Others Recognize Veterans and Active Duty Military]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, today partnered with Wreaths Across America to host the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in honor of the men and women who have defended our country.
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Mackenzie: Budget Proposal Responsible, Funds Education, Pennsylvanians with Special Needs]()
HARRISBURG – Following today’s 115-86 passage of a $30.26 billion state budget for fiscal year 2015-16, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (Berks/Lehigh) issued the following statement:
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Saccone: Budget Vote a Victory for Taxpayers]()
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania House today passed a responsible and prudent budget proposal, turning away large-scale tax increases endorsed by the governor and state Senate.
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Rader’s Leaf Collection Bill Passes House]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Jack Rader’s (R-Monroe) House Bill 1533, which would amend the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act to add a population density requirement for large rural municipalities and their leaf collection programs, was passed by the House this week. The bill is intended to help local governments save money by allowing them to opt out of leaf collection programs.
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Gabler Supports Immediate, Responsible End to Budget Impasse]()
HARRISBURG - State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) today voted with a majority of his colleagues to support House Bill 1460, a $30.2 billion spending proposal that would provide an immediate end to the state budget impasse. House Bill 1460 includes a $150 million increase for public schools while providing relief to taxpayers by avoiding the massive tax increases proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Santora Votes to Move Forward on Path to Final State Budget]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware), joined by a majority of his colleagues in the House, today voted in favor of a fiscally responsible state spending plan that would end the state’s budget impasse. The prudent $30.2 billion budget funds the core functions of government.
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Bloom Stands Up for PA Taxpayers, Supports House Budget Plan]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representative today voted 115-86 on a prudent, balanced state budget which funds core government responsibilities without the need for any broad-based tax increase. Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland), who supported the plan, released the following statement in response:
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Ward Votes in Favor of House Budget Plan]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Judy Ward (R-Blair) today voted in favor of a state budget that would reduce government spending proposed by the governor and avoid unnecessary broad-based taxes on Pennsylvania families. After the vote she issued the following statement:
Dec. 08, 2015 /
![Kauffman Votes in Favor of Pro-Taxpayer Budget Plan]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) today joined the majority of his colleagues in the House to vote in favor of House Bill 1460, a pro-taxpayer plan that reflects the desire of the public to limit the growth of government spending and avoid massive, broad-based tax increases on working men and women.