Ciresi said he is especially pleased with the funding to help restaurants, hotels and theaters – and the people who work there – as he’s been consistently working to allocate additional funding to these struggling industries. The legislation establishes a $145 million Hospitality Industry Recovery Program to support hotels, restaurants, bars and taverns that suffered a decline in revenue in 2020. Read more
I am grateful to see a bold commitment to education, especially addressing the long-time inequities in how our state has funded K-12 education that were disproportionately affecting our communities. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Joe Webster is excited about Gov. Tom Wolf's budget address. He says it's all about equity for our children in education and for the working class and our economy. Read more
FOLSOM, Jan. 28 – State Rep. Leanne Krueger announced today that her Folsom office will move to a new location effective Feb. 1. The new office will be at 1300 E. MacDade Blvd., Suite 1, at the corner of MacDade Boulevard and Folsom Avenue. The office is just one block from the traffic light at the Swarthmore Avenue intersection. Krueger and her staff will be offering services remotely while they set up the new office. Anyone in need of assistance with a state-related issue should reach out by phone at 610-534-6880 or by email at RepKrueger@pahouse.net . “My staff and I are excited to continue helping community members from our new location, which is still conveniently located and is just a few blocks from the old space,” said Krueger, D-Delaware. Krueger also maintains an office with part-time hours at 2 Cambridge Road, Brookhaven. Read more
State Rep. Mark Rozzi applauds his colleagues in the House for joining him in passing legislation to help victims of childhood sexual abuse get closure and redress on their harrowing experiences. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 27 – As the legislature’s foremost advocate for justice on child sexual abuse, state Rep. Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, hailed today’s House passage of legislation that moves a two-year window for childhood sexual assault victims to file civil lawsuits closer to reality. Read more
COVID-19 vaccinations are on everybody’s minds right now, so here's a collection of some important and hopefully helpful information into one location. Read more
I wonder, to whom are these men directing their rage and their hateful, hurtful so-called jokes? How and why has it gotten to this point where these types of words – this vengeful and incendiary type of messaging – is becoming more common? Read more
Watch the replay of an online forum on Pennsylvania's election infrastructure and law, ft. Sec. Kathy Boockvar. Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 26 – State Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks, announced that his bill, which would establish a Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force to help reduce the cost of flood insurance premiums, was approved unanimously today by the House Insurance Committee. Warren’s H.B. 70 would address this financial issue which resulted from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s redrawing of its flood maps. When FEMA in recent years revised its flood maps to require many more properties in Pennsylvania to hold flood insurance, its goal was to mitigate the financial harm and help lessen the emotional devastation caused by floods. However, the remapping has had a negative financial impact on homeowners and communities in floodplains as many more Pennsylvanians now are struggling to pay rising flood insurance premiums, and many more communities along Pennsylvania's rivers and creeks are at risk of reduced property sales and values due to those premiums. “The increasing number of homes required to have flood insurance has had a deleterious effect on homeowners’ finances, local property values and our communities’ economies,” Warren said. “My legislation would address the problem of rising premiums through the establishment of a Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force, which would help to reduce flood insurance costs by recommending potential programs that provide premium discounts and by supporting programs Read more
This event will be held outside. Face masks and adherence to social-distance practices are required. Candles and hot cocoa will be available, and attendees are encouraged to bring handmade posters. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Mary Jo Daley, co-chair of the Women's Health Caucus, encourages Governor Wolf to allocate the $302 million allocated for PA for child care in December's federal relief package during a recent forum with Public Citizens for Children & Youth. Read more
As a founder of the bipartisan Student Debt Caucus, O’Mara said that finding solutions to Pennsylvanians’ rising student debt balance is among her top priorities as a legislator. She added that mounting student debt could impact not only the borrowers’ finances, but also the finances of their families, partners and grandparents. Read more
State Rep. Napoleon Nelson hosts Montgomery County Commissioner Dr. Val Arkoosh and Rev. Marshall Mitchell online to answer questions about Pennsylvania's vaccination operations. Read more
“I am grateful to be given the opportunity to serve on the Education Committee and look forward to working on many important priorities, including achieving real fair funding for education, charter school reform, comprehensive education reform, cost savings and shared services, and more.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 13 – House Republicans rammed a proposed constitutional amendment that threatens the independence of the judiciary system through a newly formed committee today, with little notice and no public hearing, said state Rep. Tim Briggs, Democratic chairman of the Judiciary Committee. House Bill 38 would amend the state constitution so that appellate judges would be elected by district rather than statewide. It advanced from the Judiciary Committee by a 13-12 vote. “This bill would have a devastating effect on the balance of power in our government. It shows a fundamental lack of understanding of the independent role of our judiciary and further politicizes our courts. Some Republicans want to rig the system, and they want to do it quickly – without public input,” said Briggs, D-Montgomery. “A vote on legislation that would substantially change our courts should be given proper consideration and discussion. And yet, the Judiciary Committee was given less than 24 hours’ notice that our reorganization meeting would take place today and would include a vote on this constitutional amendment, which amounts to judicial gerrymandering.” Briggs added that the bill will disenfranchise all Pennsylvania voters. Under the current system, voters have an opportunity to vote on all 31 statewide judges and justices, but under H.B. 38, voters would only have the opportunity to vote for three judges and justices. Today, Briggs made Read more
“I am looking forward to continuing to work with the Policy Committee, now as one of its vice chairs,” Ciresi said. “The committee’s policy agenda is one that will help us lead the way out of this pandemic and create a better, stronger economy for all Pennsylvanians. I look forward to working on these important issues – the work we were sent to Harrisburg to do – with my fellow committee members.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Jan. 12 – The House Democratic Caucus’ Southeast Delegation elected Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware, as the delegation’s chair for this legislative session. As chairwoman, O’Mara will lead the 35-member delegation on legislative initiatives and negotiations. The southeast delegation is the caucus’ largest and fastest-growing delegation, consisting of members from Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Montgomery and York counties. “I’m humbled that my colleagues chose me to lead the southeast delegation for the next two years,” O’Mara said. “As someone who doesn’t come from a political family -- my dad was a firefighter and my mom a school bus driver-- my experiences growing up are the reality of many hard-working Pennsylvanians. I am honored to lead the delegation and look forward to lifting up the voices of not just my constituents, but every Pennsylvanian in need of social and economic equity.” O’Mara took the oath of office on Jan. 5 to begin her second term. She said that she will continue to focus in the new term on supporting first responders, addressing the student debt crisis and removing the stigma surrounding mental health. Questions may be directed to O’Mara’s office by calling 610-544-9878. Read more
“I am grateful to our House Democratic leadership for entrusting me with the great responsibility of serving on these outstanding committees," Webster said. "The work we do as legislators is largely determined by what takes place in committee. I look forward to offering my perspective and identifying ways to help important pieces of legislation get the bipartisan votes that they deserve.” Read more
“I hope to be able to fight for our seniors and their abilities to age in the right place, to fight for fair tax policies for our residents and small businesses, and to invest in our youth, the future of our communities and society.” Read more
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