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IBEW Local 5 hosts Solar for Schools celebration in Pittsburgh

(1 day ago)

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 6 -- State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., joined state Reps. Mandy Steele, D-Allegheny, Nick Pisciottano, D-Allegheny, and other Allegheny County legislators Thursday to celebrate the recent passage of her Solar for Schools Act . The event was hosted at the IBEW Local 5 Training Center. Speakers were welcomed by business manager Thomas McInytre. Solar for Schools is a new state grant program designed to help school districts across Pennsylvania install solar panels on their grounds or roofs. By generating their own energy, districts can save millions of dollars over the life of a solar project—while creating good-paying jobs, reducing environmental impact, and helping keep costs low for taxpayers. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bill into law on July 17. “Creating solar energy at schools not only reduces the amount of tax dollars spent on utility bills, but also creates union jobs in the high-tech and rapidly growing renewable energy industry,” said Pisciottano. “Solar for Schools is supporting working families, the environment, and local economies here in southwestern Pennsylvania and across the state.” “This is a win for taxpayers, a win for labor, and a win for the environment. I was proud to help shepherd this through the committee process and to help get it across the finish line,” said state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, chair of the PA House Consumer Protection, Technology Read more

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Sep 04, 2024)

Newly listed state grant programs Read more

Grant Memo: Agricultural, Environmental, Public Safety, Redevelopment and Additional Grant Opportunities

(Aug 28, 2024)

Newly listed state grant programs Read more

Frankel: Auditor General’s report on pharmacy benefit managers misses mark

(Aug 28, 2024)

HARRISBURG, Aug. 28 – Majority House Health Committee Chair Dan Frankel issued the following statement in response to state Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor’s audit released today: “I’m embarrassed for the auditor general, but he’s not the first person to struggle to understand our health care system. It’s far too complicated, and these massive companies intentionally use that fact to fleece health care consumers. “Those of us working on this issue understand that spread pricing is a specific way that pharmacy benefit managers make money – by collecting the difference between how much they pay for drugs and how much they charge. Our Department of Human Services banned spread pricing in Medical Assistance years ago, and it is prohibited in contracts. “Unsurprisingly, PBMs still do find a variety of ways to extract profits from pharmacies, even though they are already barred from doing so through spread pricing specifically. PBMs are extremely savvy corporations that excel at finding loopholes and making money off our pharmaceutical distribution system. In fact, they are currently being investigated for these practices by the Federal Trade Commission. “While I’ll allow that this industry is allergic to transparency and intentionally confusing, I am genuinely shocked that a public official charged with protecting the interests of this commonwealth could be so easily snookered. Read more

Benham disputes findings of PBM audit, accuses auditor general of acting in bad faith

(Aug 28, 2024)

“I dispute the findings of the Auditor General’s audit because they are rooted in a lack of understanding of key terms. Had the Auditor General engaged with me at any point on the issue of Pharmacy Benefits Managers, an issue I’ve been working on for quite some time, he would perhaps have a better grasp of the issues." Read more

Benham closes out statewide pharmacy tour with stops in southeastern PA

(Aug 27, 2024)

Celebrates new law to reform pharmacy benefit manager policy Read more

Markosek joins forces with NBA veteran Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to highlight importance of insurance for stuttering treatment

(Aug 27, 2024)

“The good news is that we know treatment can work – Michael and I are living proof that childhood stuttering doesn’t have to stand in the way of a successful future,” said state Rep. Markosek, D-Allegheny. “But timing is important; because treating stuttering is easier and more successful when kids are younger, it’s critically important that parents and caregivers have the coverage needed to get their children started at an early age. Read more

Abney celebrates $260,000 in state funding for safer sidewalks and streetlights around David L. Lawrence Convention Center

(Aug 20, 2024)

“The convention center attracts visitors from across the country to downtown Pittsburgh and is surrounded by many of our city’s top attractions. That's why it's essential to ensure the area is safe and accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists,” said state Rep. Abney. Read more

Bipartisan legislators hail new pharmacy law in Schuylkill County

(Aug 13, 2024)

Lawmakers tout pharmaceutical industry reform to help patients, local pharmacies Read more