Jul. 06, 2017 /
![Protecting Our Animals]()
One year ago, photos of an animal found on a Lancaster County farm dominated the news. This was not the first instance of animal cruelty in our area; however, the case of a Boston terrier named Libre ignited a fire that quickly grew. Last week, that fire was “extinguished” when Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law House Bill 1238 as Act 10 of 2017.
Jul. 05, 2017 /
![Bill Ending Monopoly on Code Enforcement Services Advances, Heffley Says]()
HARRISBURG – After vigorous debate, the House on Thursday passed House Bill 1469, introduced by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon), which would give private homeowners and small businesses more options for Uniform Construction Code enforcement inspection services.
Jul. 05, 2017 /
![Gabler, Sankey Support Responsible State Budget - Legislation holds spending growth below inflation while restoring key priorities]()
HARRISBURG – State Reps. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) and Tommy Sankey
(R-Clearfield/Cambria) today voted to support a fiscally-responsible state budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year. The legislation calls for $31.996 billion in spending - more than half a billion dollars less than originally proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf - and does not include tax increases.
Jun. 30, 2017 /
![Bipartisan State Budget Heads to Governor, Highlights House Republican Effort to Reinvent PA Government, Leaders Say]()
$32 billion budget eliminates deficit and funds schools without new taxes
Jun. 30, 2017 /
![Farry Responds to Wolf Veto of Plastic Bag Ban Bill]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of his House Bill 1071, which would have prohibited the imposition of a ban, tax, surcharge or fee on a plastic bag supplied by a retail establishment to a purchaser of consumer goods at the point of sale:
Jun. 30, 2017 /
![Gabler Local Government Legislation Passes Legislature]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by state Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) that clarifies the process of filling leadership positions in municipalities is headed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk following unanimous passage by the state Senate.
Jun. 30, 2017 /
![Good Samaritan Bill for Kids in Hot Cars Advances, Says Boback]()
HARRISBURG – To help prevent injury and death of children trapped in hot cars, a bill introduced by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming) that would provide civil immunity for any damage that may be done to the vehicle when forceful entry is necessary to rescue a child was passed unanimously out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Jun. 29, 2017 /
![Bill to Give Farmers More Choice Approved by House, Klunk Says]()
HARRISBURG – With bipartisan support, the House on Thursday passed legislation by Rep. Kate Klunk (R-Hanover) to give farmers more options with how their preserved land is managed.
Jun. 29, 2017 /
![House Supports Barrar’s Bill to Fight Back Against Identity Theft]()
HARRISBURG – In a win for identity theft victims of the Commonwealth, today the House voted in favor of a bill sponsored by Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) to eliminate the automatic expiration of security freezes on consumer credit reports.
Jun. 29, 2017 /
![Northeast Republican Delegation Fights for Fair Oil and Gas Royalties]()
Members meet with attorney general to discuss lawsuit
Jun. 29, 2017 /
![Toepel’s Bill to Support Pennsylvanians With Rare Diseases Moves to Governor’s Desk]()
HARRISBURG – Today, the House approved legislation with unanimous support that would provide patients in the Commonwealth who are living with a rare disease with much-needed information. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-Montgomery), would create a council charged with studying rare diseases in the Commonwealth.
Jun. 29, 2017 /
![McGinnis’ Bill Would Expand Electioneering-Free Zone at Pennsylvania Polls]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to make Pennsylvania election days a more pleasant experience for voters, Rep. John McGinnis (R-Blair) has introduced legislation that would expand the electioneering-free zone at polling places.
Jun. 29, 2017 /
![Kauffman Bill Aimed at Greater Protection of PA Youth Becomes Law]()
HARRISBURG – Today, the governor signed into law legislation, authored by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), that will place stronger penalties on individuals who endanger children in their care. The legislation was drafted following the tragic death of a young child in Franklin County.
Jun. 28, 2017 /
![Judiciary Committee Moves Legislation to Assist Children Left in Hot Cars, Says Marsico]()
HARRISBURG – The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin), approved legislation today that would encourage Pennsylvanians to step in and assist children left alone in hot cars.
Jun. 28, 2017 /
![Governor Signs Stephens Animal Anti-Cruelty Legislation]()
HARRISBURG—Legislation sponsored by Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery) to update Pennsylvania’s existing animal abuse statutes and increase penalties for abusing animals has been signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf.
Jun. 28, 2017 /
![O’Neill, Watson Introduce Bill to Help Protect PA Residents from Contaminated Water Supplies]()
HARRISBURG – In response to ongoing water contamination issues in Bucks County communities, Reps. Bernie O’Neill (R-Warminster) and Katharine Watson (R-Warrington) today introduced legislation to help expedite state and federal assistance to municipalities with contaminated drinking water supplies.
Jun. 28, 2017 /
![House Passes Mako Bill to Bring Financial Best Practices to Municipal Authorities]()
HARRISBURG – The House today approved Rep. Zach Mako’s (R-Lehigh/Northampton) legislation to require municipal authorities to create additional financial protections when collecting money.
Jun. 28, 2017 /
![Gillen Bill to Help Local Families Visit Loved Ones’ Gravesites Moves Forward]()
HARRISBURG – The House Local Government Committee today in Harrisburg approved legislation introduced by state Rep. Mark Gillen (R-Berks/Lancaster) that would legally protect the right of a local mother to visit the grave of her 3-year-old son, a local widow to visit her husband’s final resting place and a local woman to visit the grave of her war-hero father.
Jun. 28, 2017 /
![Patient-Centered Approach to Medicaid Proposed in Ortitay Bill]()
HARRISBURG — Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) today introduced legislation that would create a patient-centered approach to Medicaid in an effort to control costs and improve health care delivery.
Jun. 28, 2017 /
![Kauffman Legislation to be Signed into Law to Better Protect PA Youth]()
WHAT: Legislation authored by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), that will place stronger penalties on individuals who endanger children in their care, will be signed into law by the governor. The legislation was drafted following the tragic death of 11-month-old Heath Ryder in Franklin County. Heath was killed by a 9-year-old girl while in the care of an adult caregiver. The girl was left unsupervised with the infant when the incident occurred. Although the girl was charged and went through the juvenile court system, the adult faced lesser charges, due to limitations in the law at that time.