PA House State Government Committee to Hold Second Public Hearing on Pension System Restructuring Legislation

Jun. 02, 2015 /

WHAT: Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will convene the second of two public hearings focusing on legislation (Senate Bill 1), which would dramatically restructure Pennsylvania’s two public employee pension systems – the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).

James: House Unanimously Rejects Governor’s Tax Increases

Jun. 02, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The governor in March proposed a variety of new taxes to pay for billions of dollars in new spending in his first state budget plan. State Rep. Lee James (R-Venango/Butler) and his colleagues in the state House on Monday voted unanimously to reject those tax increases.

Benninghoff Issues Statement on Wolf Budget Vote

Jun. 02, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) issued the following statement in response to the unanimous vote today rejecting Gov. Wolf’s tax plan:

Tri-County House Members Vote Down Largest Tax Increase Proposal in Pennsylvania History

Jun. 01, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – Tri-County state House delegation members Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk), Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) and Cris Dush (R-Jefferson/Indiana) today joined their colleagues in unanimously defeating the tax increase legislation proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf in his March 3 budget proposal by a vote of 193-0. The vote was taken on an amendment to House Bill 283 that would have raised taxes by nearly $5 billion. The amendment proposed to increase the state’s Personal Income Tax by 21 percent, the Sales and Use Tax rate by 10 percent and would have subjected items such as diapers, day care expenses, textbooks, professional services and nursing home care to sales tax for the first time in Pennsylvania history.

House Unanimously Defeats Tax Increases Proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf, Grove Says

Jun. 01, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The House voted unanimously today in favor an amendment which included the tax plans found the Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal, Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) said. Grove authored the amendment in order for the plans to receive fair and timely consideration on the floor of the House.

DiGirolamo Fights for Emergency Fund for Drug Addiction Treatment

Jun. 01, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – To help fight back against the epidemic of opioid-based overdoses and deaths in Pennsylvania, Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R-Bucks) has successfully inserted an amendment into the 2015-16 state budget for additional funding for an emergency treatment program.

House Committee Moves Sankey Bills to Honor Local Veteran, Legislator

Jun. 01, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The House Transportation Committee today unanimously approved a pair of bills authored by state Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-Clearfield/Cambria) that would honor two notable Clearfield County citizens. Both pieces of legislation may now be considered by the full House.

PA House State Government Committee to Examine State Pension System Restructuring Legislation

Jun. 01, 2015 /

WHAT: Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) will convene the first of two public hearings focusing on legislation (Senate Bill 1) which would dramatically restructure Pennsylvania’s two public employee pension systems – the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS).

Cradle to Grave Taxation: House Republicans Speak Out Against Wolf Tax Plan

May. 29, 2015 /

WHAT: Central Pennsylvania members of the House Republican Caucus will discuss Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 budget proposal, which relies on expanded taxes and borrowing to fund spending increases. House members have introduced a plan that, unlike the governor’s, would not increase taxes on the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.

Speaker, Local Leaders Unveil Energy Vision, Dispel Gas Tax Myths

May. 29, 2015 /

LANCASTER – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) hosted an energy roundtable today focusing on the statewide benefits and downstream development of natural gas and discussing employment ramifications from imposing an additional tax on natural gas.

House Subcommittee Explores Technical Career Preparation, Grove Says

May. 28, 2015 /

HARRISBURG – The House Select Subcommittee on Technical Education and Career Readiness, chaired by Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), held a hearing today at the Reading Area Community College, with discussion focusing on technical career preparation at post-secondary schools across the Commonwealth.

House Education Subcommittee to Hear Testimony on Post-Secondary Technical Education

May. 27, 2015 /

WHAT: Rep. Seth Grove (R-York), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on Technical Education and Career Readiness, will join his colleagues in hearing testimony about preparing students for technical careers. The subcommittee, which was created as a result of House Resolution 102, will examine technical education options available to post-secondary students across the Commonwealth.

Policy Committee to Hold Hearing on State Competitiveness, Economy

May. 22, 2015 /

WHAT: Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee, together with Rep. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland), deputy chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee, will host a hearing to discuss Pennsylvania’s economy and business climate as part of a statewide jobs tour.