Category: Pennsylvania Legislation

Laws proposed or passed in the Pennsylvania Legislature

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.

Animal Fighting Paraphernalia Vote In Pa. House

Animal Fighting Paraphernalia Vote In Pa. House — The Pennsylvania House passed legislation last week to protect animals by addressing an aspect of animal fighting, reports state Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). House Bill 164 would create the offense of possession of animal fighting paraphernalia, which would be defined by any device, implement, object, facility, space or drug used, or intended to be used, for animal fighting or to train an animal for fighting.

Possession of animal fighting paraphernalia would be graded as a third-degree misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,500. If enacted, the law would aid in the prosecution of animal fighters since investigators often find the tools of the trade rather than an animal fight in progress.

The bill is in the Senate for consideration.

Animal Fighting Paraphernalia Vote In Pa. House

House To Vote On Transportation Fee Hikes

House To Vote On Transportation Fee Hikes — The  House Transportation Committee completed a series of public hearings on Senate Bill 1, a multi-year, comprehensive transportation funding plan, reports state Rep. Jim Cox (R-129). The committee received testimony from various stakeholders and industry representatives, including Pennsylvania Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and representatives from public transportation systems, construction and engineering interests, agriculture, trucking, rail freight and others.

Senate Bill 1 aims to raise an additional $2.5 billion a year for transportation funding, with an additional $11 billion overall over five years, by proposing to:

–Remove the cap on the Oil Company Franchise Tax, which is charged at the wholesale level, over a period of five years.

–Reduce the State Liquid Fuels Tax over a period of four years.

— Make vehicle registrations valid for two years instead of one and increasing the net cost by $32.

— Make driver’s licenses valid for six years instead of four and increasing the net cost by $6.25.

The House Transportation Committee expects to vote on the bill this week.

Pennsylvania has some of the oldest transportation infrastructure in the country, Cox said. The governor’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission has identified the need for an additional $3.5 billion annually to support maintenance and repair of the state’s roads and bridges, as well as public transportation systems.

You know Jim, ending the prevailing wage requirements might just cut the cost of those infrastructure improvements to the point where we don’t need these burdensome fee hikes.

Just sayin’.

House To Vote On Transportation Fee Hikes

Child Abuse Bill Package Leaves Committee

Child Abuse Bill Package Leaves Committee — The House Children and Youth Committee last week advanced a package of bills aimed at strengthening and enhancing laws pertaining to child abuse, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

The keystone of the package is House Bill 726, which would expand and enhance the definition of child abuse in the state’s Child Protection Services Law. The bill lowers the injury threshold to mirror simple assault, expands the ability to substantiate serious emotional abuse, includes grooming activities, broadens serious physical neglect and expands the definition of perpetrator.

Other bills in the package include:
• House Bill 430, which would establish procedures for reporting suspected child abuse through advanced communication technology in an effort to improve the ability of reports to be made in a timely manner and made available to the proper investigative authorities.
• House Bill 433, which would establish additional safeguards and due process with respect to the outcome of a child abuse investigation.
• House Bill 434, which would remove the separate standards and procedures that exist for school employees accused of abusing a student and hold them to the same standards as parents, child care workers, and other perpetrators of child abuse.
• House Bill 435, which would enhance background clearance requirements for those who work with children or volunteer in a role where they supervise children.
• House Bill 436, which would expand the list of mandated reporters of suspected child abuse, clarify a mandated reporter’s basis to report child abuse and enhance penalties for the failure to report.

This package is in addition to numerous other bills that have already passed the House.

Child Abuse Bill Package Leaves Committee

Victims Voice Bill On Governor’s Desk

Victims Voice Bill On Governor’s Desk — A bill to give crime victims a voice during the parole process of an inmate is now on the governor’s desk, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

House Bill 492 would change the Crime Victims’ Act to allow a victim or victim representative to appear personally before the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and provide testimony in connection with an inmate’s application for parole. The bill would make it clear that the decision of victims or their representatives to appear and be heard by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole is up to them, not the board. Additionally, the bill would allow victims or their representatives to appear by any electronic means made available by the board, such as video conference, if they elect to do so.

If signed by the governor, the law would take effect Sept. 1.

Victims Voice Bill On Governor’s Desk

Vets Get Dibs At Public Colleges

Vets Get Dibs At Public Colleges — The House last week unanimously approved a measure to help veterans who plan to take college courses, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

House Bill 1164 would allow veterans who are students to receive priority course scheduling at public institutions of higher education in Pennsylvania to give them the flexibility to assimilate back into civilian society and receive the necessary education to rejoin the workforce. Unemployment among veterans is higher than the general population. The bill empowers veterans to use their VA educational benefits in the most efficient manner possible.

House Bill 1164 now goes before the Senate for consideration.

Vets Get Dibs At Public Colleges

Pa. To Use UC Money To Save State Jobs

The State House has approved a bill to take money from unemployment compensation taxes and use it keep workers at unemployment centers from losing their jobs and pay for “infrastructure” improvements to the service centers, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).

That would be a definition of irony if it were written by Ambrose Bierce.

Cox says House Bill 26 would divert a portion of employee unemployment compensation taxes to be deposited into a newly established fund known as the Service and Infrastructure Fund.

Money deposited into this fund would allow the Department of Labor and Industry to improve the “quality, efficiency and timeliness of services” provided by unemployment compensation centers, Cox said.

The bill aims to save the department from unemployment compensation service center closures and personnel cuts that would further degrade services to claimants, Cox said.

So were employers paying too much in unemployment comp taxes allowing
for a surplus to be used to save these state workers and improve the
infrastructure as per the bill? Was there a surplus in the unemployment
fund with our great booming economy?

Maybe if the employers paid lower taxes they would not have to lay so many people off and we would not need so many state workers in the unemployment office. Was that considered?

Ninety-nine weeks of “funemployement”. Wheeeee.

Hey, what’s money but magic green paper anyway?

The measure now goes before the Senate for consideration.