PA Department of Community and Economic Development Budget Hearing Wrap

Apr. 13, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Rick Siger, along with Mike Hanna Jr, Executive Deputy Secretary, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on how DCED intends to grow our economy through responsible initiatives training workers for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Schemel Highlights Part-Time Legislature Proposal

Apr. 13, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – As the Pennsylvania House of Representatives enters mid-April having only been in voting session five days thus far in 2023, Rep. Paul Schemel (R-Franklin) is highlighting his rationale for wanting to transition Pennsylvania to a part-time legislature.

PA Office of State Inspector General Budget Hearing Wrap

Apr. 12, 2023 /

State Inspector General, Lucas Miller, along with Clarke Madden, First Deputy State Inspector General, and Melissa Yerges, Deputy State Inspector General, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on how the agency is working to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in state government.

PA Department of Revenue Budget Hearing Wrap

Apr. 12, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Pat Browne, along with Drew Svitko, Executive Director of PA Lottery, John Kaschak, Executive Deputy Secretary, Amy Gill, Deputy Secretary for Tax Policy, and Christin Heidingsfelder, Deputy Secretary for Administration, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused the majority of our questions on the operations of the DOR and the Pennsylvania Lottery, revenue collections and estimates for the current and upcoming fiscal years, and the various tax changes proposed by Governor Shapiro.

PA Dept of Labor and Industry Budget Hearing Wrap

Apr. 12, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Nancy Walker, along with Maria Macus, Deputy Secretary, Unemployment compensation, Dan Kuba, Deputy Secretary, Workforce Development, Scott Weiant, Deputy Secretary, Administration, Gerald Mullery, Deputy Secretary, Workers Compensation, and Ryan Hyde, Executive Director, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on fixing the Unemployment Compensation system and working to reduce fraud and abuse of the system. Additionally, Republicans asked about plans for increased labor law compliance and the economic consequences to raising the minimum wage.

Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Budget Hearing Wrap

Apr. 11, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh, along with Gloria Gilligan, Director, Office of the Budget, Kristin Ahrens, Deputy Secretary of Developmental Programs, Jennifer Smith, Deputy Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Jamie Buchenauer, Deputy Secretary of Long-term Living, Sally Kozak, Deputy Secretary of Medical Assistance Programs, Hoa Pham, Deputy Secretary of Income Maintenance, Shante’ Brown, Deputy Secretary of Child Development and Early Learning, Laval Miller-Wilson, Deputy Secretary of Child, Youth, and Families, and Stephanie Shell, Deputy Secretary of Administration, testified before the House Appropriations Committee.

Benninghoff, House Committee to Examine Funding of PA State Police

Apr. 11, 2023 /

WHAT: Republican Chairman Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and fellow members of the House Transportation Committee will host an informational meeting to examine use of the Motor License Fund to supplement the budget of the Pennsylvania State Police. The fund is supported by the gas tax and portions of vehicle registration and driver’s license fees.

Metzgar: $200 Million to Be Disbursed Toward Broadband Development Projects

Apr. 06, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – As the House Republican designee for the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, Rep. Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset) announced that the authority will begin the process of disbursing $200 million of federal funding in the Pennsylvania Broadband Infrastructure Program. The program aims to boost broadband deployment to aid unserved and underserved communities in the Commonwealth.

Mackenzie Calls on Governor to Consider More Solutions for School Safety

Apr. 05, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – In an effort to protect school children, Rep. Milou Mackenzie (R-Lehigh/Montgomery/Northampton) sent a letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro making an official request for more solutions to get children to and from school safely. The letter was sent in response to the tragic murder of a student walking to school in Philadelphia. The murder occurred at 7:30 a.m., only two blocks away from the school, where the victim was attacked by three masked assailants and killed.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 30, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Dr. Laurel Harry, along with Christian Stephens, Deputy Secretary for Office or Field Services, Christopher Oppman, Deputy Secretary for Administration, Kelly Evans, Deputy Secretary for Office of Reentry, and Tammy Ferguson, Deputy Secretary Eastern Region from the Department of Corrections and PA Parole Board Chairman, Theodore Johnson, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on the expenses of state prisons, what can be done to reduce those costs, and the safety in our state prisons for corrections officers and inmates. Additionally, House Republicans asked what can be done by the department to help with the problems in the Delaware County prison.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 30, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Mike Carroll, along with Kurt Meyers, Deputy Secretary for Driver and Vehicle Services, Meredith Biggica, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal, Chuck Zimmerman, Financial Management Director, Larry Shifflet, Deputy Secretary for Planning, and Nicole Tyler, Director of Equitable Transportation testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on the state and federal funds PennDOT is spending to improve our roads and bridges. Republicans also asked about Mass Transit spending and ways we can modernize our approach to programs and funding. Additionally, Republicans asked what PennDOT is doing to improve the customer experience.

Pennsylvania Department of State Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 29, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Al Schmidt, along with Jonathan Marks, Deputy Secretary for Elections and Commissions, Kalonji Johnson, Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs, Arion Claggett, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, and Kim Mattis, Director, Bureau of Finance and Operations, of the Department of State testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on updates to the SURE system, the implementation of Act 88 of 2022, and delays in the Professional Licensure System. Additionally, Republicans asked what DOS can do to help with elections issues in Luzerne County.

Health Committee Reports Out Three Bills

Mar. 29, 2023 /

WARREN — Rep. Kathy L. Rapp (R-Warren/Crawford/Forest), Republican chair of the House Health Committee, today announced the committee reported out its first three bills and sent them to the full House for consideration.

Department of Health Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 28, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Dr. Debra L Bogen, Kristen Rodack, Executive Deputy Secretary, Danielle Pierre, Deputy Secretary of Administration, Andrea Race, Chief Financial Officer, of the Department of Health testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on regulatory reform, support for EMS responders, and support of efforts to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Additionally, House Republicans questioned the rationale behind cutting support for individuals and families coping with ALS.

Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) Budget Hearing Wrap

Mar. 28, 2023 /

Acting Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones, Ellen DiDomenico, Deputy Secretary, and Jenn Newell, Bureau Director for Quality Assurance and Administration of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on coordinating the care of people facing addiction issues equally statewide. Additionally, House Republicans asked what DDAP can to do to reduce regulatory barriers to care and recruit and retain staff in the recovery field.