Capitol Update by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint)
 FacebookWebsiteBioLatest NewsState FormsPhoto GalleryContact Capitol Update Friday, January 27, 2023The latest news from the State Capitol You are welcome to contact me through this link.  Thank you to Galeton Area School District Superintendent Clyde Pierce for inviting me to the school last week for a tour and discussion of policy issues to support rural schools. Outreach Hours Set for Feb. 2  To help ensure access to state government information and services, I will host monthly outreach office hours at the following locations on Thursday, Feb. 2: • Emporium Borough Office – 9-10 a.m. • Port Allegany Borough Office – 11 a.m. to noon. Services available include assistance with any state-related issues or concerns, driver license and vehicle registration applications, and applications for various state programs, such as the senior citizen Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE/PACENET prescription drug assistance programs. Veterans Services Available  Area veterans are invited to contact my office to schedule appointments to talk with a representative from the American Legion to ensure they are getting the services and support they need.Due to changes initiated by the American Legion, appointments in the Bradford and Kane offices will be conducted virtually via a tablet. Appointments are required for meetings with the Legion representative, whether they are in person, by phone or by tablet. The schedule for January is as follows: • Coudersport office: Thursday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Coudersport office is located at 107 S. Main St. Please call 814-274-9769 to schedule an appointment. • Bradford office: Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Bradford office is located at 78 Main St., first floor. Please call 814-362-4400 to schedule an appointment. • Kane office: Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. The Kane office is located at 54 Fraley St., Suite 2. Please call 814-837-0880 to schedule an appointment. Assistance is available with issues such as compensation, education, pension, health care and death benefits. Veterans need not be a member of the American Legion to participate. New Speaker Blocks Action in House  With newly elected Speaker of the House Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) refusing to call the House into session, I joined most of my fellow House Republicans this week in signing on to a letter demanding we be called back to the state Capitol to do the people’s business.Unfortunately, we are one signature shy of what we need to force the speaker to bring us back into session. That means we are unable either to introduce or vote on legislation. Nearly a month into the new year, this is unacceptable. Please know that it is business as usual here in the district, where I and my office staff stand ready to assist you with any state-related questions or concerns. I also will continue doing all I can to force the speaker to bring us back into session so we may work on the important health, education, economic and other challenges facing the Commonwealth. GOP Appropriations Committee Starts Budget Conversation  House members got an early jump on the upcoming budget as they took part in a roundtable discussion about the state’s finances this week with Matthew Knittel, executive director of the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). In the coming months, the House Appropriations Committee will be tasked with creating a fair annual state budget that respects taxpayers.Knittel discussed how changing demographics in the Commonwealth – by 2030, Pennsylvanians age 80 and over will increase by 22% — are putting a strain on state services and the budget that funds them. He also noted the surplus the state experienced in the current budget year was the result of short-term federal funding. By 2027-28, the state’s deficit is projected to climb to $3.1 billion. To learn more about the state’s economic outlook, click here. Newly elected Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his budget proposal to a joint session of the General Assembly in early March. Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications  The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its summer 2023 semester. The 13-week program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few. 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; and 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 March 1. |