| Mehaffie Message |
Working to Ignite PA Job Creation
Last week, through a bipartisan effort, the House passed legislation that would reduce the Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) rate, which is currently one of the highest in the nation.
House Bill 1960 would lower our CNIT rate from 9.99% to 8.99% starting in January. It would be further reduced in future years if the Commonwealth has a General Fund surplus of more than $500 million.
The measure would also increase the cap on net operating losses to 45% or as much as 50% of taxable income if the Commonwealth has a General Fund surplus of more than $750 million.
Lowering taxes on employers would have a ripple effect on the state’s economy by encouraging the expansion of existing businesses, attracting new business investments and creating family-sustaining jobs. This is exactly what we need to boost the Commonwealth’s economic recovery.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 195-8 and now goes to the Senate for consideration. It is one of eight tax reform bills that have recently passed the House to help small business job creators and drive investment in Pennsylvania.
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Parking Fee Added at Middletown Station
My office has received inquiries and has been informed that parking at the new Amtrak station in Middletown is now $2 a day for Amtrak and bus riders enrolled in the rewards program, or $10 a day for other motorists. RabbitTransit has added pay stations in each lot and near the train platform. The stations accept cash in exact change or most major credit cards. There also is an option to pay via app. More information is available here.
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Be Cautious with Spring Flooding
Pennsylvania Acting Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys recently urged property owners to consider purchasing flood insurance to protect their homes, businesses, and possessions.
For many Pennsylvanians, flooding caused by heavy spring rainfall can be a common occurrence. Just one inch of water can cause $25,000 of damage to your home. Many homeowners do not realize that their standard homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover damage due to flooding.
Homeowners who live in federally designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) are likely required to have flood insurance by their mortgage lenders, but the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) says one in four insurance claims comes from outside high-risk flood areas. Individuals looking to purchase new homes and properties should research before buying to determine if the area is prone to flooding, and homeowners who have paid off their mortgages should consider maintaining their flood insurance even though they may no longer be obligated to continue it.
Consumers should be aware that flood insurance policies are not active immediately. In most scenarios, there is a 30-day waiting period before policies are active; this prevents individuals from purchasing flood insurance solely when a storm is headed in the direction of their property. However, there are exceptions for this policy, including if the home was recently added to the federal government’s SFHA map, and if the home was just purchased and the lender requires flood coverage.
Flood insurance is available through both the NFIP and private insurers. Policies can be purchased through licensed property and casualty insurance agents in Pennsylvania to cover almost any building and its contents, including rental property and condominiums. Renters can buy flood insurance protection for their possessions as well, which are typically not covered by either a standard renters’ insurance policy, or a landlord’s policy which covers the building.
Free family emergency plan templates and downloadable checklists are available on the ReadyPA website.
Information on both the NFIP and private flood insurance is available on the Insurance Department's one-stop flood insurance webpage.
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New Funding Formula to Boost PHEAA Grants for Students
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) announced the adoption of a new 2022-23 PA State Grant Program formula that increases a potential award from $5,000 to $5,750. The agency also estimates as many as 9,000 additional students could receive crucial funding toward their higher education, bringing the total to around 107,000 students served.
The agency said the new awarding system maintains the current year’s $5,000 maximum award while providing up to an additional $750 pandemic inflation adjustment to account for financial obstacles families are facing today.
Grant amounts are determined by several factors, including a student’s family income, effect of inflation on incomes and cost of the school they attend.
The 2022-23 PA State Grant application submission deadline was Sunday, May 1 for all renewal applicants and first-time applicants who plan to enroll in a college, university, or college transfer program at two-year public or private colleges. The deadline is Aug. 1 for students planning to enroll in a community college or designated Pennsylvania Open Admission institution.
To apply for a PA State Grant, applicants must first complete the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be accessed online at
www.PHEAA.org/FAFSA.
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Watch for Updates on Bridge Project
Gov. Tom Wolf recently highlighted 133 roads and bridges projects anticipated to start or continue this year southcentral Pennsylvania. Those projects include $3.9 million to replace the Laudermilch Road bridge in Derry Township. Stay tuned for more details.
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The Harrisburg Region Central Labor Council recently held its annual memorial service to honor those who have been killed or injured on the job. The slogan of "Remember the dead – fight for the living" was a poignant reminder of workplace accidents. My thanks to David Gash for the invitation to join them in Riverfront Park.
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A joint Court of Honor ceremony was held last weekend to recognize new Eagle Scouts from Troops 66 and 6619. I joined Rep. Andrew Lewis and a designee for Rep. Sue Helm to provide kudos to these remarkable young men and women. I presented citations to Avery Book and MacKenzie Brown, both of whom blew me away with their kindness, maturity and commitment to volunteerism.
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WITF hosted its Be My Neighbor Day in partnership with PNC Bank to thank neighbors and neighborhood helpers. While there, I met Daniel Tiger, whose television series was inspired by “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.”
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Sara Nye, a friend and an ambassador with the National Down Syndrome Society, last week hosted first responder training for how best our public servants can successfully communicate with individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. This is important information for our police, fire and EMS personnel.
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Hundreds of students with State YMCA of Pennsylvania recently came to the Capitol for the YMCA Youth & Government Model Government program. I met the student assigned to sit in my seat on the House floor. In my hours of discussion with the young people, I found they were incredibly thoughtful and insightful.
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