This past week, I joined my colleagues on the Senate Policy Committee for a Town Hall Meeting on Marcellus Shale.  The meeting included panels of public health, environmental, regulatory, local government and industry experts in the natural gas extraction field.  Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Edward A. Mann participated, as did Chief Alvin Henderson, Jr. of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, both of which testified as to their agencies’ ability to respond to emergency situations at drilling sites.  Randy Elder of Kleinfelder joined Dave Spigelmyer of Chesapeake …

As I outlined last week, our caucus has identified several key restorations that we hope to make and have also identified budget savings that we believe will allow us to make smart investments in the programs and services that we believe are important to our residents. In the next few weeks, I hope to provide additional information to you on how we intend to realize these savings. Although not part of the proposal that we outlined last week, the Senate Democrats have long been advocates of closing the Delaware loophole. It is part of the Tax Fairness component in the PA Works Plan. …

Over the past few weeks, I have tried to provide some detailed information on certain components of the governor’s proposed budget. I have had numerous meetings with constituents and advocacy organizations who are concerned with the proposals put forth and have many more scheduled in the coming weeks. Our caucus has also focused in on our priorities as we move through this process.  There are several key restorations that we hope to make: Restore all education programs to state non-American Recovery and Reinvestment Act FY 2010-11 funding levels Restore critical county programs including the …

When I first listened to Gov, Tom Corbett’s budget address last month, it was clear to me that he and I do not share the same priorities. As I learned more about his proposals and the choices that he had made in crafting the budget, those differences in priorities became even more distinct. So during the budget hearings, I was surprised and relieved to hear that many of my Republican colleagues also had serious concerns about the budget figures in several areas including education and economic development. With similar concerns, I looked forward to working with my colleagues to address our …

I was glad to hear that the Port Authority and its union (Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85) picked up talks again on Friday afternoon and are bargaining over concession proposals to be able to restore the service reductions that took place on March 27.  The giveback offer is historic and I am hopeful that, through continued negotiations, real progress can be made in addressing future legacy costs for retired employees, primarily health-care expenses, which is one of the big cost drivers in the Port Authority. In his remarks before County Council this past week, Port Authority Executive …

Tuesday, I introduced legislation to reconfigure the Port Authority Board to ensure better representation for those impacted by the decisions made.  The actions over the past few days have only emphasized the need to bring a new perspective to the board and the decisions it makes. The bill would amend the Second Class County Port Authority Act to require the Chief Executive to appoint members to the board that would represent specific segments of the population.  The only requirement in the current law is that a member of Allegheny County Council shall be on the board, a requirement that is …

During the Governor’s budget address, many people from Western Pennsylvania listened to his proposal and waited to hear how transportation funding would be addressed.  The simple answer is that it was not.  While his address talked about the road to limited government, it did not talk about the road to any other place in Pennsylvania — or the problems with those roads. That is disappointing in so many ways.  The PA Transportation Advisory Committee has stated that $3 billion is needed to address PA’s annual unmet transportation funding needs. Essentially, this year’s budget maintains the …

Governor Corbett’s budget proposal last week was particularly hard on education funding.  Funding for education programs to school districts was reduced by $1.1 billion.  Higher education would be reduced more than $662 million.  The PA Higher Education Assistance Agency will also see a reduction. What does this mean to you?  While some schools in the area have said that it may not have any impact (See State Budget Won’t Adversely Affect CV), others are already looking for ways to meet this challenge (See School Officials Respond to Gov. Corbett’s Budget Proposal).  For the first time in …

As I announced last week, the Senate Democrats have rolled out a six-point jobs plan called PA Works that is focused on creating jobs, reducing spending and giving businesses incentives to make community investments.  The six areas include small business, workforce training, critical state investments, clean and green energy, infrastructure investment, and tax fairness.  One of my priorities as this plan was being developed was to find ways to help small business.  Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy.  They represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms, employ half of all private…

On Wednesday, I joined with my fellow Senate Democrats in unveiling a six-point proposal that is aimed at helping businesses create jobs, rebuilding the state’s aging infrastructure and energizing Pennsylvania’s economy. Our plan will spur the creation of over 28,000 jobs, leverage over $2 billion in new private investment, and will result in more than $150 million in general fund savings. The program, PA WORKS, focuses on six core areas: Small Business, Workforce Training, Critical State Investments, Clean & Green Energy, Infrastructure Investment and Tax Fairness. As Democratic Chairman of …

As you may have heard by now, Governor Corbett has instructed the Department of Community & Economic Development to stop accepting applications for the PA Film Production Tax Credit Program.  Although the budget agreement reached by the General Assembly calls for $60 million in credits to be available, and those credits are against future revenues and do nothing to help the current budget – that is the decision that has been made.  Like you, I was shocked to hear that he has taken such action and am deeply concerned about the impact that it will have on jobs and revenues in our region.  I …

Last Wednesday, the Senate Urban Affairs & Housing Committee took up Senate Bill 353 (SB 353), my legislation that would prohibit private transfer fees from being imposed in Pennsylvania. The bill was unanimously reported from the committee and I am hopeful that it will be considered by the full Senate in the very near future. Private Transfer Fees are also known as resale fees or capital recovery fees and allow the developer or builder of a home (or in some cases, a commercial property) to collect one percent (or more) of the sales price from the seller every time the property changes hands …

Senate Bill 157 (SB 157), legislation to create a Task Force on Homeless Children’s Education, has taken a step forward with its unanimous approval by the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.  I am grateful to the committee for acting so quickly on this bill and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue moving this bill forward. We must act now.  The sooner such legislation is enacted, the sooner we can begin identifying ways to protect these children, ensure that they have access to education and services at their most vulnerable times and position the Commonwealth to become…

Yesterday, I re-introduced legislation that prohibits private transfer fees from being imposed in Pennsylvania.  Private transfer fees are a new tool being used by developers or builders. Also known as a resale fee or a capital recovery fee, a private transfer fee allows the developer or builder of a home (or in some cases, a commercial property) to collect one percent (or more) of the sales price from the seller every time the property changes hands for the next 99 years.  Senate Bill 353 would impose a ban on all new private transfer fees after the effective date of the legislation. Any …

I am proud to join my colleagues in co-sponsoring legislation that calls for the management of concussions and head injuries for youth athletes in the Commonwealth.  Tomorrow a press conference will be held in the Capitol Rotunda to announce the introduction of Senate Bill 200. The legislation would require that if an athlete is injured during practice or a game, and may be suspected of suffering a concussion or some other type of head injury, the athlete will be removed from play and cannot return until the athlete has written approval from a healthcare professional with training in the …

I am proud to announce that Senate Bill 157 (SB 157), legislation calling for the creation of a Task Force on Homeless Children’s Education, was submitted to the Secretary of the Senate this past Friday for introduction. The bill, jointly sponsored by myself and Sen. John Pippy, boasts another 21 senators as co-sponsors reflecting bi-partisan support of the effort. It is expected to be considered by the Senate Education Committee in early February. The 17-member task force created by the legislation would be charged with conducting a study of the homeless child population in the Commonwealth …

I am proud to share with you that I have, once again, been appointed as the Democratic Chair of the Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee in the Senate for this legislative session.  The committee has oversight for bills and issues relating to the Department of Community and Economic Development and the PA Gaming Control Board. In this past legislative session, I had the opportunity to work on the table games bill and sat on the Conference Committee that drafted the final bill for presentation to both chambers. During that process, I worked to secure funding from the …

Happy New Year!Did you know that the tradition of New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C.?  Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar (January).  With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. The god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances, he was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31st, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. By …