Committee Passes Kauffman Bill Supporting Human Trafficking Victims

Apr. 18, 2023 /

HARRISBURG – The House Judiciary Committee today voted in favor of legislation authored by Rep. Rob Kauffman (R-Franklin), Republican chairman of the committee, that seeks to support human trafficking victims by making is easier for them to bring lawsuits against their offenders.

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Budget Hearing Wrap

Apr. 14, 2023 /

PUC Chairwoman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille, Vice Chairman Stephen DeFrank, and Commissioners John Coleman, Ralph Yanora, and Kathryn Zerfuss, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on improvements to railway safety, increasing energy rates, energy transport reliability, and the adverse impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Budget Hearing Wrap with Governor’s Office of the Budget

Apr. 14, 2023 /

Secretary Uri Monson, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on the overall fiscal health of the Commonwealth. Republicans also asked about specific budget proposals that were and were not in the budget, including Lifeline Scholarships.

Pension Systems Budget Hearing Wrap

Apr. 13, 2023 /

Pennsylvania School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) Chairman, Chris Santa Maria, Terri Sanchez, Executive Director, and Ben Cotton, Chief Investment Officer, and State Employee Retirement System (SERS) Executive Director, Joseph Torta, James Nolan, Chief Investment Officer, Sara McSurdy, Chief Financial Officer, and Joe Marcucci, Chief Counsel, testified before the House Appropriations Committee. House Republicans focused their questions on the fiscal health of the two systems. This included understanding the unfunded liabilities, investment costs, and future plans of the systems.

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.