Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState Capitol UpdateFriday, March 10, 2023The latest news from the State Capitol You are welcome to contact me through this link. Annual Address Launches Budget Season at PA Capitol Click here to view video. Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his first budget address before a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday. The $45.8 billion plan represents an increase of $2.5 billion, or nearly 6%, over the current year’s budget. At a time when people across the Commonwealth are struggling with inflation, the last thing we need is bigger government and more spending. Under this proposal, the governor will spend through our budgetary reserves and Rainy Day Fund within the next five years. It is irresponsible to use this money for more government programs. It is there to deal with emergencies and to protect our citizens against higher taxes. Although I am concerned about the level of spending on new initiatives, it is important that we make strategic investments in our core functions, such as education and public safety. Ultimately, I will advocate for a budget that addresses the needs of our rural communities and respects the taxpayers who foot the bill. For more information about the budget, visit www.PAHouseGOP.com. Lumber Museum Offers Free Admission March 12 for Charter Day  To help the Commonwealth celebrate its 342nd birthday on Charter Day, March 12, the Pennsylvania Lumber Museum in Potter County will be among nearly two dozen historic sites across the state offering free admission. Learn more about the museum here. Pennsylvania was created when England’s King Charles II granted a charter to William Penn in 1681. Once each year, the Pennsylvania State Archives displays the original document, for a limited time, at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. For the remainder of the year the charter is safeguarded in a special vault within the archives. For a complete list of the participating museums and historic sites in this year’s celebration, click here. Mark Your Calendar for Maple Weekend! Click here to view full brochure Looking for something sweet to do next weekend? Check out the annual Maple Weekend next Saturday and Sunday, March 18-19, at nearly two dozen different maple producers in Potter and Tioga counties. You’ll find a variety of opportunities at each location to learn more about the process of collecting sap and making maple syrup and other products, as well as the chance to sample or purchase a wide range of products, including syrup and maple candy, and more unique maple products such as salad dressing, barbecue sauce, jellies, homemade cookies, maple milkshakes and cotton candy. Click here for details about this educational – and very tasty! – event. Attention Volunteer Fire Companies: Wildfire Protection Grant Applications Being Accepted  Qualified area fire companies are invited to apply for grants funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help increase protection from wildfires in rural communities like ours. Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents qualify for the aid, which is used for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting brush and forest fires. Grant applications must be electronically submitted through the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ grant website by 4 p.m. Thursday, May 11. Only online applications will be considered. More information is available here.  Spring Ahead: Turn Clocks Ahead One Hour This Weekend Daylight saving time will begin on Sunday, March 12, at 2 a.m. Be sure to turn your clocks ahead one hour Saturday night before going to bed. This is also a good time to check and/or change batteries in both smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. It is also recommended the alarms be replaced every 10 years. Smash Those Spotted Lanternfly Eggs!  The invasive Spotted Lanternfly is continuing to spread across the Commonwealth and moving northward. Cameron County was added to the state’s quarantine zone last year, and a half dozen additional counties in western and central PA were added earlier this year. It is important to familiarize yourself with all stages of the Spotted Lanternfly’s development in an effort to combat its spread. This time of year, it’s important to be on the lookout for egg masses and to destroy them before the weather warms up for good and eggs hatch. Please note: Egg masses need to be smashed or permanently submerged in rubbing alcohol to kill them. Eggs that have been scraped on to the ground can still hatch, so it is important to follow proper egg removal instructions, which are demonstrated here. Officials suggest power-washing equipment and vehicles, inspecting the undercarriages of vehicles and inspecting other hard surfaces such as patio furniture, grills or play equipment. More information about this invasive species is available here. |