Cost of Living Adjustments for Public Retirees

(Mar 21, 2023)

Submitted testimony by testifiers for the Joint Policy Committee hearing on March 21, 2023 on Cost of Living Adjustments for Public Retirees. Read more

 

PA Democrats push support for COLA increase for retirees

(Mar 21, 2023)

Financial struggles, 20 years in the making, got an examination by Democratic legislators at the Pennsylvania Capitol today. Since 2002, a group of retired teachers and state employees have been living on the same pension amount without a cost of living adjustment. Read more

 

Senate, House Dems discuss need for COLA for PSERS and SERS retirees

(Mar 21, 2023)

HARRISBURG, March 21 – State Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, and House Democratic Policy Committee Chair Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) today joined Sen. John Kane (D-Chester/Delaware), Rep. Steven Malagari (D-Montgomery) and Rep. Dan Deasy (D-Allegheny) to co-host a joint public hearing on legislation that would provide a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for retirees in the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). The hearing, held earlier today at the State Capitol in Harrisburg, featured two panels of testimony that focused on the increasing cost of living and the struggle of retirees living on state pensions in Pennsylvania. “It has been more than 20 years since our retirees in either PSERS or SERS have received a COLA – over two decades. These are our teachers, our cafeteria workers, our PennDOT employees that make sure our roads are safe, our human services employees that assist families in need – so many dedicated employees that gave their lives to our communities, our Commonwealth, and our schools who are now having an incredibly difficult time making ends meet on their current pension payments,” Muth said. “It is time that our legislature stands up for public school employees and our state employees – and it is time that PSERS and SERS prioritize the retirement security of their Read more

 

OSHA Protections for Public Employees

(Mar 20, 2023)

Submitted written testimony for Joint Policy Committee hearing involving the PA House Majority Committee and PA House Senate Democratic Policy Committee on March 20, 2023. Read more

 

House, Senate Dems discuss bills to extend workplace protections to public employees

(Mar 20, 2023)

“Today’s hearing shined a light on the need to ensure safety conditions for almost 600,000 public sector workers in Pennsylvania,” House Majority Policy Committee chairman Ryan Bizzarro said. “Public sector workers cannot and should not continue to be treated as second-class employees. The time has come to extend OSHA protections for all public sector workers.” Read more

 

Bipartisan Policy Committee gathers info on derailment response

(Mar 14, 2023)

“I think the key ingredient today for us was to learn,” said Rob Matzie, the Majority Policy Committee host. “We have been talking about what we can do relative to rail safety. There are a lot of questions, and we will explore each and every option as we continue this dialogue and pursue every option.” Read more

 

Impact of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

(Mar 14, 2023)

Submitted testimony from the bipartisan House Policy Committee hearing on the Impact of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment. Read more

 

Looking for ways to empower residents to revitalize Main Street

(Mar 13, 2023)

“As a small business owner and borough council member, I've witnessed the challenges that people face when pursuing projects that would be beneficial for all, such as turning unused storefronts into locations for viable businesses,” Salisbury said. “Unfortunately, the process is often too burdensome and expensive for prospective local business owners to take on because it requires experienced lawyers to navigate all the complexities.” Read more

 

Train derailment focus of upcoming bipartisan policy hearing

(Mar 10, 2023)

The House Majority and Republican Policy Committees will host a bipartisan hearing in Beaver County next week on the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and how Pennsylvania is responding. Read more

 

Hearing: Affordable Housing Crisis

(Mar 10, 2023)

HDPC hearing on the affordable housing crisis in Pennsylvania Read more

 

Hearing: Raise the Wage

(Mar 10, 2023)

HDPC hearing on raising the minimum wage Read more

 

South Side businesses renew calls to end neighborhood violence

(Feb 09, 2023)

"This is an awesome and vibrant neighborhood, and we need some help from you guys to make it to continue to be so," Lou Kroeck of the South Side Chamber of Commerce said. Read more

 

Residents, business owners and leaders meet to discuss South Side safety

(Feb 09, 2023)

State Rep. Jessica Benham hosted the gathering and says the state is investing in solving the issues, like the PennDOT project in the East Carson corridor and $8 million towards preventing youth violence. Read more

 

Policy Committee addresses needs for South Side neighborhood

(Feb 08, 2023)

“Those of us who live here know the challenges that we have faced, recently and stretching into the past, and I know – from my conversations with my colleagues – that many of these challenges are shared by other communities throughout Pennsylvania,” state Rep. Jess Benham said. Read more

 

Public Safety & Nightlife

(Feb 08, 2023)

The Pennsylvania House Democratic Policy Committee convened a hearing on improving public safety and nightlife, specifically in the South Side neighborhood. Read more

 

Public Safety and Nightlife

(Feb 08, 2023)

Submitted testimony for a policy hearing on Public Safety and Nightlife, hosted by state Rep. Jessica Benham on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2003. Read more

 

Policy roundtable: Committee talks green construction and innovation

(Feb 06, 2023)

“I’m always proud to introduce colleagues and friends to some of the great resources located in the heart of my legislative district,” co-host Rep. Dan Frankel said. “Phipps has been a leader in green innovation, opting to make changes 20 years ago that some organizations and businesses are finally accepting today, including the creation of three of the greenest buildings in the world.” Read more

 

Green Innovation: Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens

(Feb 06, 2023)

Information submitted by Phipps Conservatory for a Policy Committee roundtable and tour on the grounds of facility, which it city owned but managed by a nonprofit organization. Read more

 

Policy Roundtable: Union leaders discuss importance of organizing

(Feb 03, 2023)

“Unions are part of the fabric and history of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania,” said state Rep. Dan Miller, who co-hosted the roundtable discussion. “The history of our state can’t be written without recognizing the contributions unions have delivered for Pennsylvania workers – and Pennsylvania’s economy. Unions not only help put food on the tables for the families of workers, but they have also been the driving force behind innovation, setting prevailing fair wages and securing worker safety. Unions’ lasting legacy, however, continues to be their ability to provide a better way of life for millions of workers and their families.” Read more

 

Union Organizing

(Feb 03, 2023)

In the wake of a union resurgence – including widespread public support not seen in more than 50 years – union leaders from Allegheny County and across the state met with members of the PA House Democratic Policy Committee for a roundtable discussion today in Pittsburgh. Read more