State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) says the number of co-sponsors for HB 76, which would end the use of the property tax for school funding, has reached 80.
Category: Pennsylvania Legislation
Laws proposed or passed in the Pennsylvania Legislature
Act 55 Requires Search For Relatives For Foster Kids
Act 55 Requires Search For Relatives For Foster Kids — The Welfare Code for the 2013-14 fiscal year aims to improve outcomes for displaced children who are in foster care or otherwise being served by county Children and Youth agencies in addition to expanding the county human services block grant program, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
Act 55 of 2013 requires county social service agencies or their contracted providers to conduct ongoing efforts to locate relatives of children who have been removed from their homes and/or are accepted for services by the county Children and Youth agency. The law also expands the county human services block grant program to 10 additional Pennsylvania counties, bringing the total number of counties in the program to 30. Preference will be given to counties who had previously applied for the program but were denied.
Act 55 Requires Search For Relatives For Foster Kids
Hiring Ex-Cops Gives Leg-up For School Grants
Hiring Ex-Cops Gives Leg-up For School Grants — The Pennsylvania General Assembly recently approved an amendment expanding targeted grants for school safety that will give school districts priority funding if they hire retired law enforcement officers, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
School districts and municipalities that apply for grants with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for school police and resource officers will receive priority funding if they use personnel who have completed specialized training dealing with interaction with children and adolescents in an educational setting. The overall legislation uses the Office of Safe Schools within PDE to include programs that target school violence through emergency preparedness and all-hazard plans, drills and related activities with emergency responders.
In addition to approving this measure, the House Select Committee on School Safety and Security will hold its fourth and final hearing in Harrisburg next week to conclude its examination of best practices and recommendations to keep students, faculty, employees and others safe while balancing a quality environment for learning. A final report is due Sept. 30.
Hiring Ex-Cops Gives Leg-up For School Grants
False Choice Tax Hike Or Good Roads
False Choice Tax Hike Or Good Roads — State Rep. John McGinnis (R-79) notes that one-third of the spending in the Senate-pushed transportation bill would not have gone to roads and bridges. The bill would have caused a 28-cents per gallon price increase at the pump along with other sneaky costs on the citizen.
“It was like an obese man seeking nutrition at the most expensive dessert shop in town,” he said.
“All of us should oppose false choices with bad consequences,” he said.
For his complete 2-and-a-half minute speech see below.
Hat tip Bob Guzzardi
False Choice Tax Hike Or Good Roads
More Support For SB76
State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129) reports that 13 additional state representatives have signed onto his Property Tax Independence Act (House Bill 76) bringing the total number of supporters to 73. The bill was introduced in March with 60 co-sponsors.
A companion senate bill, Senate Bill 76, was also introduced in March and has a total of 22 co-sponsors, Cox says.
More Support For SB76
House GOP Saves Pa. From 28 Cent Per Gal Tax Hike
House State Government Committee Majority Chairman Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) issued the following statement regarding final passage of Pennsylvania’s 2013-14 state budget.
“I voted for this year’s $28.4 billion state budget because in the
end it is a victory for limited government and limited government
spending. For the third consecutive year, total spending growth falls
below the TABOR allowable growth rate of 2.54 percent by $59 million.
Best of all, fiscally-conservative House Republicans were able to hold the line and, ultimately, defeat Governor Corbett’s nearly $2 billion annual gas tax-driven transportation funding plan and a backdoor attempt by the state Senate to expand Medicaid under ObamaCare.
“No matter how you look at it, Medicaid expansion is a blatant attack on working taxpayers and a blatant violation of our Constitutional rights. Pennsylvania needs to stand together with the states that have already rejected ObamaCare in full to protect our citizens’ freedoms and pockets from this accelerated spending nightmare.
“Rather than increasing taxes and fees to generate transportation
revenue out of the pockets of hard-working taxpayers, we should look to other areas ripe for cuts. If we cut the Department of Public Welfare budget by 10 percent, more than $1 billion in revenue could be generated for necessary infrastructure improvements and repairs. Using the money from the sale of the state liquor stores could also generate $1 billion. Tax and fee increases are the wrong answer for funding roads and bridges. I will continue my fight to protect taxpayers.”
House GOP Saves Pa. From 28 Cent Per Gal Tax Hike
Daryl Metcalfe Concerning Proposed Gas Tax Hike
Daryl Metcalfe Concerning Proposed Gas Tax Hike — State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) put this on Facebook about 50 minutes ago: I
strongly voiced my objections in a Republican Caucus meeting yesterday
regarding the proposed gas tax increase. In a heated exchange with a
caucus leader he accused me of being a bully because I let them know
that if they went against a majority of Republicans to pass the gas tax
with democrat votes then they should not be re-elected as leaders.
He has 2,867 likes.
Daryl Metcalfe Concerning Proposed Gas Tax Hike
Liquor Privatization Clears Hurdle 2013
Liquor Privatization Clears Hurdle 2013 — The Pennsylvania Senate at 1:20 this morning, June 29, voted 27-23 on party lines with Republicans as ayes to approve a revised plan to privatize the sale of liquor.
The deadlock was broken after Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) offered this amendment.
The bill allows Pennsylvania’s 1,100 retail beer distributors to buy permits to sell wine and liquor and grocery stores with beer licenses to be able to get a permit to sell wine, Bars will be able to sell three six-packs instead of two and distributors will be allowed to sell six packs now. Local brewers will be able to see their wares at farmer’s markets.
Democrat Shirley Kitchen of the 3rd District tweeted “this is a purely political move at a political time.”
Gov.Tom Corbett thanked the Senate and said he looks forward to signing the bill, which still need reconciliation with the one passed by the House.
Liquor Privatization Clears Hurdle 2013
28 Cent Gas Hike Being Debated Barrar Tweet
28 Cent Gas Hike Being Debated Barrar Tweet — State Rep. Stephen Barrar (R-160) just tweeted at 11 a.m., today, (June 29) we will start debate on SB1 the bill that will raise the state gas tax by 28 cents per gallon. It will raise about $1.9 billion for transportation projects and mass transit. I plan to vote against the bill and hope to see it defeated. If it passes it will be by one or two votes. call and email your state rep and tell them what you think of the bill.
Prevailing Wage Bills Up For Vote (2013)
The Pennsylvania House Republicans have tweeted that that two prevailing wage bills are up for vote today, June 29.
The House GOP has an excellent explanation as to what prevailing wage is and how it puts a tremendous the tax burden on the average resident here.
Good for the House GOP.