Feb. 29, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with Judiciary]()
House Republicans questioned the financial transparency of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), who is responsible for operations of courts within the Commonwealth. Additionally, Republicans asked about the unilateral decision of the Supreme Court to allow for venue shopping in medical malpractice lawsuits, the rationale for the “traveling courts,” and the significant increases in the Judicial budget.
Feb. 29, 2024 /
![Safeguarding our Community from Fraud]()
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Rep. Joe Hogan (R-Bucks), and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Safeguarding our Community from Fraud” to identify vulnerabilities, share preventive measures, and promote a unified approach for community protection against fraudulent activities, particularly elder exploitation.
Feb. 29, 2024 /
![Barton, Policy Committee Host Hearing to Address Obstacles to Opportunity in Building and Construction]()
TAMAQUA—As Pennsylvania faces a housing crisis, Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill) and the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Chairman Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), convened a hearing to discuss the imminent need for construction permitting reform.
Feb. 29, 2024 /
![Bills Aim to Improve, Streamline Vital Property Tax, Rent Relief Program]()
HARRISBURG – A group of state House lawmakers announced Thursday a package of bills designed to reform and streamline the state’s successful Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
Feb. 29, 2024 /
![Cutler: With Election Threats Task Force, Shapiro Entirely Misses the Point of Election Security]()
HARRISBURG – House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) Thursday responded to the formation of an Election Threats Task Force formed by Gov. Josh Shapiro, and to be led by Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, with the following statement:
Feb. 28, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with Dept. of Environmental Protection and Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources]()
House Republicans questioned the DEP on improvements of their permitting process, dam safety, and regulatory updates, including the status of the Regional Green House Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the Climate Action Plan. Additionally, Republicans asked about the increased spending within DCNR and their ability to keep up with their current core functions before taking on new initiatives.
Feb. 28, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with PA Community College Leaders]()
House Republicans focused their questions on trying to understand the potential impacts of the Governor’s “Blueprint for Higher Education” on our valuable community colleges. Once again, Republicans were shocked to learn how little work has been done on this massive, proposed idea to upend and merge the funding of two higher education systems in Pennsylvania that often serve different populations.
Feb. 28, 2024 /
![Cutler to Introduce Legislation Expanding Access to Donated Prescription Drugs]()
HARRISBURG – House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) announced Wednesday he plans to introduce legislation to expand access to donated prescription drugs in Pennsylvania.
Feb. 28, 2024 /
![Stender, Policy Committee Host Hearing to Address Obstacles to Opportunity in Pennsylvania Agriculture]()
TURBOTVILLE – In response to growing concerns within the community, Rep. Michael Stender (R-Northumberland/Montour) and the House Republican Policy Committee, led by Chairman Josh Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), convened a hearing to discuss opportunities missed in Pennsylvania agriculture due to the Commonwealth’s burdensome permitting processes.
Feb. 27, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with PA Dept. of Health with Dept of Drug and Alcohol Programs]()
House Republicans inquired about the fiscal health of each agency and asked pointed questions on the amount of funding for current programs and proposed new initiatives. Additionally, Republicans asked about long-term care facility regulations, hospital sustainability, adult-use cannabis, and substance abuse disorder treatment.
Feb. 27, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with PA Department of State]()
House Republicans focused their line of questions on how prepared the Department of State (DOS) is for the upcoming 2024 elections, as well as the lack of uniformity in the Commonwealth’s election process. Additionally, Republicans asked how the DOS plans to spend proposed increases in “Voter Registration and Education” equitably, the Governor’s unilateral decision to begin automatic voter registration, and the department’s continued plans to improve the professional licensure process.
Feb. 27, 2024 /
![Time for Big Ideas in Pennsylvania]()
This year has ushered in a lot of expensive talk in Harrisburg.
Feb. 26, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with PA Department of Labor and Industry]()
House Republicans focused their questions on the various workforce development programs within the department – both new and existing. Additionally, Republicans questioned the impacts of the proposed minimum wage increase on job growth, the amount of unemployment compensation fraud and whether the dollars were recouped, and labor law enforcement practices.
Feb. 26, 2024 /
![Removing Obstacles to Opportunity: Building Pennsylvania]()
WHAT: House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Rep. Jamie Barton (R-Berks/Schuylkill), and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Removing Obstacles to Opportunity: Building Pennsylvania” to address building ordinances and the cost-prohibitive issues developers face when trying to build or renovate in Pennsylvania.
Feb. 26, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with PA Dept. of Insurance]()
House Republicans focused their questions on the financial health of the Pennsylvania Insurance industry and how the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) is allocating its funding. Concerns were raised about the Governor’s proposal to transfer $50 million from the Workers’ Compensation Security Fund for the benefit of subsidizing low- and middle-income families’ health insurance premiums.
Feb. 26, 2024 /
![Hogan Introduces Bill to Protect Seniors from Financial Exploitation]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Joe Hogan (Bucks) recently introduced House Bill 2064, which would protect seniors from financial exploitation by equipping financial institutions with the necessary tools for identifying, reporting, and preventing the financial exploitation of older adults and care-dependent individuals.
Feb. 26, 2024 /
![Removing Obstacles to Opportunity: Growing Pennsylvania’s Agriculture]()
House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Joshua D. Kail (R-Beaver/Washington), Rep. Mike Stender (R-Northumberland/Montour), and other lawmakers will host a hearing titled “Removing Obstacles to Opportunity: Growing Pennsylvania’s Agriculture” to address permitting and regulations in the agriculture industry that unnecessarily cause delays and stymie Pennsylvania’s growth.
Feb. 26, 2024 /
![Mackenzie’s Bill to Assist Domestic Violence Victims with Unemployment Benefits Advances]()
HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh) that would assist victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania when applying for unemployment compensation (UC) benefits was unanimously approved by the House Labor and Industry Committee last week. House Bill 1446 now moves to the full House for consideration.
Feb. 23, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency]()
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) Executive Director and CFO Robin Wiessmann and Deputy Executive Director and Chief Counsel Leonidas Pandeladis testified today before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on how the PHFA is improving their services after their high-profile failure with distributions from the Federal CARES Act for rent and mortgage relief programs. Additionally, Republicans asked for details on the Governor’s plan to spend more money through the PHFA in the PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund, commonly referred to the “PHARE” program.
Feb. 23, 2024 /
![Budget Hearing Wrap with PA Dept. of Corrections and Probation and Parole Board]()
House Republicans focused their line of questioning on cost increases for the department, even though the prison population in Pennsylvania has been declining. Republicans also asked what the DOC can do to help counties deal with the recent increase in high-profile prison escapes and increases violent incidents.