May. 12, 2015 /
![Emrick Bill Would Correct Flaw in Teacher Certification Process]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would address the misuse of a teacher evaluation test in the process of measuring college students’ performance has been unanimously passed by the state House, according to the bill’s author, state Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Nazareth). House Bill 499 may now be considered by the state Senate.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Speaker Applauds EITC/OSTC Bill Passage]()
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) applauded passage of legislation that would significantly expand the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs to help Pennsylvania students.
May. 11, 2015 /
![House Approves Christiana Bill to Increase Funding to EITC/OSTC Programs]()
HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today approved legislation, authored by Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver), which aims to provide more Pennsylvania students and parents with options in pre-K-12 education with the expansion of the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Simmons Bill to Allow Independent Universities to Conduct Wine Auctions Advances]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would allow independent colleges and universities in Pennsylvania to conduct wine auctions, sponsored by Rep. Justin Simmons (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton), today was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives. House Bill 619 will next be considered by the Senate.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Oberlander Secures House Approval for Chief Nursing Officer]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to help strengthen the state’s role in health care across the state, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) has secured House approval of legislation she has sponsored to establish a chief nursing officer for the Commonwealth.
May. 11, 2015 /
![House Approves O’Neill Bill to Address PA Substitute Teacher Shortage]()
HARRISBURG — The House of Representatives today voted to approve legislation, authored by Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R-Bucks), which would address the substitute teacher shortage currently facing many school districts across the Commonwealth.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Toohil’s Resolution Aims to Raise Awareness of Drug Treatment Courts]()
HARRISBURG – A resolution recognizing the month of May as “National Drug Court Month” in Pennsylvania today received unanimous support in the House of Representatives.
May. 11, 2015 /
![House Committee to Examine Change to Doe License Purchasing Process]()
WHAT: The House Game and Fisheries Committee, chaired by state Rep. Keith Gillespie (R-York), will hold a public hearing on House 231, legislation authored by state Rep. Grant Mullery (D-Luzerne) which would allow purchase of antlerless deer hunting licenses through the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s automated licensing system.
Doe licenses are currently purchased only through a county treasurer’s office.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Saylor Property Tax Plan Would Provide Much Needed Relief to Homeowners, Santora Says]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. James R. Santora (R-Delaware) today said that he supports a proposal, sponsored by Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York), which would provide Pennsylvania residents with much needed property tax relief. The House is expected to vote on the proposal this week.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Speaker Announces Special Elections for 87th and 161st Legislative Districts in Cumberland and Delaware Counties]()
HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny County) today ordered two special elections be held on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to fill the vacant seats in the 87th Legislative District in Cumberland County and the 161st Legislative District in Delaware County.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Legislation Would Move Low-Income Families Toward Self- Sustainability, Lawmakers Say]()
HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana), along with Reps. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) and Tom Murt (R-Montgomery/Philadelphia), today released a statement following the introduction of House Bill 1164, which would reform the Commonwealth’s child care benefits structure in order to help families retain temporary assistance, while allowing them to earn their way out of poverty.
May. 11, 2015 /
![Barrar’s Committee to Vote on Emergency Services Bills]()
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, will guide the committee in a vote on a number of emergency services bills including:
May. 08, 2015 /
![House to Vote on Property Tax Reduction Bill]()
HARRISBURG – House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R-Indiana) said today he is scheduling a vote next week on a proposal to significantly reduce school property taxes across the Commonwealth.
May. 08, 2015 /
![Culver Recognizes ‘Women’s Lung Health Week’ in Pennsylvania]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to promote lung health awareness across the state, Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder) introduced House Resolution 302, which designates the week of May 10-16, as “Women’s Lung Health Week” in Pennsylvania.
May. 08, 2015 /
![Harper Discusses Marcellus Severance Tax Proposal]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery) recently sat down for a brief discussion about her legislation to impose a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.
May. 08, 2015 /
![Increased Veterans Benefits Legislation Draws Tallman’s Support]()
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Will Tallman (R-Adams/Cumberland) today joined his House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee colleagues in advancing two pieces of legislation that would improve benefits for Pennsylvania veterans. House Bills 175 and 602, which both passed unanimously, may now be taken up by the full House.
May. 07, 2015 /
![McGinnis to Unveil Pension Reform Bill]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. John McGinnis (R-Blair) is sponsoring legislation that would eliminate Pennsylvania’s public pension debt over 20 years with level dollar funding. House Bill 900 will be introduced and discussed at a news conference McGinnis has scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, at noon in the Capitol Media Center.
May. 06, 2015 /
![House Committee Unanimously Approves Barrar’s Bill to Increase State Active Duty National Guard Pay]()
HARRISBURG – The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, led by Majority Chairman Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware), unanimously approved a bill to increase the minimum state active duty pay for Pennsylvania National Guard members from $75 to $100 per day.
May. 06, 2015 /
![Metcalfe Reloads House Bill 357]()
HARRISBURG — State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) today announced the reintroduction of his Right to Bear Arms Protection Act that would make all future federal gun control laws unenforceable within the Commonwealth (House Bill 357).
May. 06, 2015 /
![PA Needs to Do More to Stop Overdose Deaths, Marsico Says]()
HARRISBURG – Last year, nearly seven Pennsylvanians died each and every day as the result of a drug overdose, according to a report compiled by the Pennsylvania State Coroners Association and unveiled today by Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Lower Paxton), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.