Jun. 30, 2015 /
![York County House Republicans Issue Statement on Passage of Historic Pension Legislation - Senate Bill 1 awaits governor’s signature]()
HARRISBURG – Senate Bill 1, a historic piece of pension reform legislation endorsed by both chambers of the General Assembly, is a step closer to becoming law in Pennsylvania. The bill, which would shift state and public school employees hired after Jan. 1 2016, from a defined benefit plan to a hybrid 401(k)-style and cash balance plan, was passed today by the House on a predominantly party-line vote. It now goes to the state Senate for concurrence on amendments made in the House State Government Committee and is expected to be voted tonight.
Jun. 30, 2015 /
![Reed Votes to Reform Commonwealth’s Pension System]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana) today voted to reform Pennsylvania’s public pension systems, as Senate Bill 1 passed the House today by a 106-89 vote.
Jun. 30, 2015 /
![Beaver County Republicans Vote to Approve Vital Education Services for Western PA Students]()
HARRISBURG – The Beaver County Republican Delegation, including Reps. Jim Christiana (R-15) and Jim Marshall (R-14), along with Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. (R-47), voted to send to the governor’s desk a provision granting approved private school status to a western Pennsylvania school, which provides specialized education services to students with multiple and/or profound disabilities.
Jun. 30, 2015 /
![Farry Bill to Alert Communities of Sexually Violent Predators Heads to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks), author of legislation to close a loophole in the reporting requirements surrounding individuals who have been deemed sexually violent predators, said today that the measure is headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
Jun. 30, 2015 /
![Barrar’s Bill Providing In-State Tuition Rates for Veterans and Their Families Signed into Law]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) commends the governor for signing House Bill 131 into law yesterday, which was approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly on June 26. The bill, now Act 11, ensures that all veterans and their families who qualify for GI Bill education benefits are charged in-state tuition rates in Pennsylvania.
Jun. 30, 2015 /
![Wheeland Says Balanced Budget Plan Passed by the House is Right Approach to Governing]()
HARRISBURG – The House passed a budget plan for fiscal year 2015-16 that reflects the desire of residents of the 83rd Legislative District to not have their taxes raised and to foster job growth, said Rep. Jeff C. Wheeland (R-Lycoming) today.
Jun. 30, 2015 /
![Marsico, Delozier and Regan Introduce Medical Cannabis Legislation]()
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), Rep. Mike Regan (R-York/Cumberland) and Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) are pleased to introduce legislation that would permit the use of medical cannabis in Pennsylvania in a controlled fashion.
Jun. 30, 2015 /
![House Passes Historic Liquor Privatization]()
HARRISBURG – The state House today voted in favor of a bill that would privatize the Commonwealth’s liquor system (House Bill 466), according to York County House Republican state Reps. Seth Grove (R-Dover), Stan Saylor (R-Red Lion), Mike Regan (R-Dillsburg), Keith Gillespie (R-Hellam), Kate Klunk (R-Hanover) and Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Township). The members issued the following statement:
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![Harhart Legislation Benefits State’s Vehicle Dealerships, Salespersons]()
HARRISBURG – In a move to update a law impacting the state’s vehicle dealerships, Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Lehigh/Northampton) has authored legislation approved by the state House clarifying that a licensed vehicle salesperson who is employed by a dealer who has an ownership share in more than one dealership, may sell at each of those dealerships.
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![Dunbar and Cutler Applaud Passage of Results First Act to Measure Effectiveness of Government Programs]()
HARRISBURG – Co-sponsored by Reps. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland) and Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), the Results First Act (House Bill 1205), which would provide the Independent Fiscal Office with legal authority to obtain data from Commonwealth agencies to analyze the effectiveness of government assistance programs, was advanced by the state House today.
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![Gillespie Tourism Promotion Bill Moves to State Senate]()
HARRISBURG – The state House today passed legislation authored by state Rep. Keith Gillespie
(R-Hellam) that would give York County commissioners a key tool they and county tourism officials have requested in the effort to further promote local destinations and attractions. House Bill 794 may now be considered by the state Senate.
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![Marsico Cyber Bullying Measure Heads to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation aimed at putting a stop to cyber bullying of children is on its way to the governor’s desk, said Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), prime sponsor of the measure.
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![Speaker Applauds Senate Leaders, Law and Justice Committee for Historic Liquor Vote]()
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) issued the following statement today in response to the Pennsylvania Law and Justice Committee advancing House Bill 466 to the full Senate for consideration on Sunday:
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![Barrar’s Bill Enhancing Public Safety and Removing Financial Burden from 911 Centers Signed into Law]()
HARRISBURG – In a culmination of two and a half years of research and meetings led by Chairman of House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), today Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation into law sponsored by Barrar to update and enhance the Commonwealth’s 911 emergency communications law.
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![House Adopts Toohil Resolution Designating June as ‘Cockayne Syndrome Awareness Month’ in Pennsylvania]()
HARRISBURG – A resolution sponsored by Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne), designating June as “Cockayne Syndrome Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania, today was unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives.
Jun. 29, 2015 /
![House Democrats Vote to Defund PA Colleges, Christiana Says]()
HARRISBURG – As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education, Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver/Washington) Sunday expressed his disappointment in House Democrats, who amidst debate on budget-related legislation voted against state appropriations for all state-related universities in Pennsylvania.
Jun. 28, 2015 /
![Republican Leaders Respond to House Democrats’ Refusal To Invest in Higher Education]()
HARRISBURG – House Democrats today rejected a plan to increase funding for several of the state’s higher education institutions, and as a result, voted to eliminate funding for several state-related universities, announced House Majority Policy Chairman Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and House Majority Whip Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). The proposed funding allocation would have represented a 3 percent increase over last year’s funding levels to keep tuition affordable for students, without any new or increased taxes on Pennsylvania residents.
Jun. 28, 2015 /
![White Backs Balanced Budget with Increases to Education and No New or Increased Taxes]()
HARRISBURG— Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) joined a majority of House colleagues in passing a state budget bill that’s balanced and increases funding to local schools without raising taxes.
Jun. 28, 2015 /
![Kauffman Supports Active Military with EIT Exemption Bill]()
HARRISBURG – A long-time advocate of Pennsylvania’s men and women in uniform, Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin) authored a bill approved by the House today that would provide an Earned Income Tax (EIT) exemption for active duty military pay.
Jun. 28, 2015 /
![Hahn Gives Updates on Budget Bill Progress]()
HARRISBURG – The state House on Saturday passed House Bill 1192, the primary budget legislation for fiscal year 2015-16, according to state Rep. Marcia Hahn (R-Bushkill Township). The bill may now be taken up by the state Senate, which anticipates a vote on final passage this Tuesday, the final day of the current fiscal year.