Oct. 02, 2015 /
![Knowles Honors Two Hometown Heroes at Orwigsburg Highway Dedication Ceremonies]()
TAMAQUA – On Friday, portions of area highways were dedicated in honor of two Orwigsburg natives who were each killed in the line of duty while defending their country, said Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill). These highways were dedicated as a result of a new law, inspired by House Bills 834 and 441, authored by Knowles.
Oct. 02, 2015 /
![Roae Issues Statement Prior to Veterans Memorial Stadium Budget Rally]()
MEADVILLE – With a rally scheduled today at 3 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Erie to push for the enactment of a state budget in Harrisburg, state Rep. Brad Roae (R-Erie/Crawford) issued the following statement:
Oct. 02, 2015 /
![Even When We Agree, We Can’t Agree That We Agree]()
In light of the recent passing of Yogi Berra, a phrase came to mind that seemed to come straight from Berra’s mouth and which perfectly describes our budget impasse: Even when we agree, we can’t agree that we agree.
Oct. 02, 2015 /
![Bill Would Help Families Going Through Divorce]()
Legislation I am sponsoring in the state House of Representatives would reduce the waiting time to obtain a no-fault divorce in Pennsylvania and lessen the emotional strain on families involved in the legal proceeding.
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![Petri Bill to Address Municipal Pension Debt Subject of Hearing in Montgomery County]()
HARRISBURG – Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks), chairman of the House Urban Affairs Committee, and Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery), chairman of the House Local Government Committee, held a joint public hearing on legislation to address the mounting pension debt threatening municipalities across the Commonwealth.
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![Keller: ‘Wolf Tax Increases Will Hurt Employers and Employees Alike’]()
MIFFLINBURG – Rep. Fred Keller (85th District) issued the following statement regarding Governor Tom Wolf’s tax package expected to raise $5.2 billion over two years and includes a $3.5 billion increase in the Personal Income Tax and expansion of the Sales Tax coupled with various other tax increases:
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![Evaluating Governor Wolf’s Counterproposal]()
Gov. Tom Wolf finally made a counter proposal to the Republican controlled legislature offer from mid-August.
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![House State Government Committee Approves Cutler’s Legislation to Protect the Integrity of Commonwealth Politics]()
HARRISBURG – Legislative language drafted by Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Peach Bottom) and Rep. Brandon Neuman (D-Washington) to protect the integrity of Commonwealth politics by improving the filing system for lobbyists and increasing the consequences for violations of the Lobbying Disclosure Act was passed unanimously by the House State Government Committee today.
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![Grove and Glatfelter Celebrate National Manufacturer’s Day]()
YORK – State Rep. Seth Grove (R-York) visited Glatfelter’s Spring Grove paper mill facility to celebrate Manufacturer’s Day in Pennsylvania.
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![Judiciary Committee Moves Legislation to Create Commerce Court for Business-Related Litigation]()
HARRISBURG – In an attempt to improve Pennsylvania’s legal system and economy, House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) moved legislation to promote commerce divisions of the Superior Court and Courts of Common Pleas during the Judiciary Committee’s scheduled weekly voting meeting.
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![Evankovich Would Like to Accept Invitation from Gov. Wolf]()
HARRISBURG – State Rep. Eli Evankovich (R-Westmoreland/Allegheny), a third-term member of the House of Representatives, would like to accept Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent invitation to have a conversation on the budget in order to make progress and come to a real solution to end the budget crisis.
Oct. 01, 2015 /
![Some Simple Budget Math]()
When discussing the state budget, numbers can be overwhelming. At the heart of the current impasse, however, is a very basic equation that comes into play for everything from a simple bridge re-naming to a complex fiscal note – 102 plus 26 plus 1. Every bill that becomes law must receive a majority of votes in the House (a minimum of 102), a majority of votes in the Senate (a minimum of 26) and one governor’s signature.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![Gov. Wolf’s Full Tax Proposal to be Voted in House and Senate]()
HARRISBURG – In an effort to move the state budget talks past the current stalemate, House and Senate Republican leaders today announced a vote on Gov. Tom Wolf’s full and latest tax package proposal will take place in the House on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![Knowles to Co-Chair Government Reform Caucus]()
HARRISBURG – On Tuesday, Rep. Jerry Knowles (R-Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill) was selected by his colleagues to serve as the House chairman of the Government Reform Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators working to develop and promote legislation to reform state government.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![Petri Bill Would Permit B&Bs to Give Complimentary Wine to Patrons]()
HARRISBURG – The House has approved a bill sponsored by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks) that would allow Pennsylvania bed and breakfasts that do not possess a liquor license to provide a complimentary bottle of wine to overnight guests.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![Benninghoff Convenes Cancer Caucus to Discuss State Investment in Cancer Research]()
HARRISBURG – Today in Harrisburg, Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) convened a meeting of the bipartisan House Cancer Caucus to discuss the history of the Tobacco Settlement Fund and Pennsylvania’s success using those dollars to fund groundbreaking cancer research in the Commonwealth.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![House Approves Baker Bill to Stem the Tide of Dangerous New Substances Used to Manufacture Illegal Drugs]()
HARRISBURG – As part of continuing action to combat the nation’s growing drug epidemic, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today approved legislation authored by Rep. Matt Baker (R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter), chairman of the House Health Committee, to empower the secretary of the Department of Health to add new substances to the list of controlled substances used to manufacture illegal drugs.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![Barrar to Explain How Wolf’s Tax Plan Would Affect Seniors]()
WHAT: Rep. Steve Barrar (R-Chester/Delaware) will be visiting the Maris Grove Community to share details of Gov. Tom Wolf’s tax hike plan. Barrar will explain how Wolf’s proposed sales tax expansion and increase will affect senior citizens in Pennsylvania. He will also share information regarding the impact fee (or tax) currently imposed on the natural gas industry.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![Local State Legislators Present Key Facts and Timeline on State Budget]()
There has been much discussion about the state budget. As State Legislators representing our respective districts, we felt it appropriate to offer a few key facts and a timeline of what has transpired.
Sep. 30, 2015 /
![Committees to Discuss Municipal Pension Funding Challenges]()
WHAT: The House Local Government Committee, chaired by Rep. Kate Harper (R-Montgomery), and the House Urban Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Scott Petri (R-Bucks), will conduct a public hearing to discuss the growing challenges of municipal pension funding. According to the Pennsylvania Municipal League, underfunded municipal pensions are a statewide problem. The total unfunded liability carried by taxpayers for municipal pensions is nearly $8 billion, and 66 of the state’s 67 counties are home to at least one community with a pension plan under a high level of financial stress. The hearing will seek to better evaluate the challenges facing specific municipalities and to explore legislative options to address these challenges.