 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContactCapitol Update Friday, June 9, 2023 The latest news from the State Capitol You are welcome to contact me through this link.  Thank you to teachers Casey VanWhy of Coudersport Elementary School and Jen Rosenberry of Altoona for stopping by my Harrisburg office this week. Education is a major topic of discussion at the state Capitol right now, and we had a great conversation about support for our rural schools and ways to address the teacher shortage across the state.  I traveled to St. Marys last week with the House Manufacturing Caucus to visit two great employers in the area. Horizon Technology has been developing complex and cost-effective powdered metal products since 2001. Elk County Heat Treaters provides heat treating, vibratory finishing, steam treating, inspection, packaging and assembly services under the same roof. We had a great discussion of challenges and future growth opportunities in the powdered metal industry. Bill to Aid EMS Agencies Passes House  With many emergency medical services (EMS) agencies struggling to make ends meet, the General Assembly has approved a bill to boost mileage reimbursements for patient transport. House Bill 479 would ensure EMS agencies are reimbursed by Medicaid for 100% of the miles they travel with a patient on board receiving care or transport by removing the current exemption for the first 20 miles traveled. This is the latest action in the effort to ensure EMS providers have the resources they need to respond to emergencies and save lives. Last year, I led successful efforts to increase the mileage reimbursement rate from $2 per loaded mile to $4 per loaded mile, as well as increase reimbursements for Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) services to $400 and $325 per trip, respectively. House Bill 479 now goes to the Senate for consideration. House Democrats Push Through Irresponsible State Budget, Energy Tax Click here to view video. Adopting a state budget each year is one of the most important tasks of the General Assembly. I take seriously my commitment to ensure your tax dollars are invested responsibly to support the core functions of government. That’s why I was very disappointed this week as majority House Democrats piled on to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s already bloated budget and forced through a nearly $46.5 billion spending plan. That’s a $5.7 billion, or 14%, increase over the current year. This level of spending is unsustainable and, if enacted, would lead to a 30% tax hike in the near future. We cannot and should not spend money we don’t have. Our citizens should not bear the burden of higher taxes to pay for a bigger government. Equally damaging is the inclusion of a $663 million energy tax on Pennsylvania employers and consumers. According to the nonpartisan Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), this tax would increase electricity rates by nearly four times. House Bill 611 now goes to the Senate, where I am hopeful it will be amended to reflect the needs and wishes of our hard-working taxpayers in the Commonwealth. Bill Supporting Human Trafficking Victims Gains House Approval  Legislation that would make it easier for human trafficking victims to bring lawsuits against their offenders was unanimously approved by the House this week and is now pending consideration in the Senate. The Commonwealth’s extensive human trafficking protections include a provision that allows civil lawsuits to be brought by victims against any person who participates in the human trafficking of the victim, as well as against those who recruit, profit from or maintain the victim in the sex trade, or who abuse or otherwise physically harm victims. Some of those cases may be brought in the county where the victim resides, while others may be filed in a county where the human trafficking violations occurred. House Bill 394 would allow all these lawsuits to be brought either where the victim resides or where the violations occurred. This heinous crime is more prevalent in Pennsylvania than many people realize due, in part, to our location with several major East Coast highway arteries running though our state. If you or someone you know is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or send a text at 233733. Vote on Popular Bipartisan Election Reforms Denied  The House majority this week used partisan procedures to block votes on election reforms that have overwhelming public support. House Democrats ruled amendments to require voter ID, post-election audits and reporting requirements “out of order,” and in a follow-up procedural vote, every Democrat member of the House voted against transparency and trust in election results. It is important to note candidates and supporters of Democrats, Republicans and even third parties have filed lawsuits before, during and after several recent elections in Pennsylvania. These proposals could have gone a long way toward restoring trust in the state’s elections. I will continue to advocate for these much-needed changes. Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications  The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its fall 2023 semester. The 13-week program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are placed in committee chair and House leadership offices. Qualified applicants must be: • Undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students or law school students. • Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution. • Students of any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline to apply is July 1. |
It was taken by Donna Larson on there farm in Farmers Valley
