Senate Appropriations Committee members used today’s budget hearings with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and presidents of several universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to highlight the negative impacts of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s energy policies, and ways to strengthen post‑secondary educational institutions. [Read More]
Serious concerns were raised about PennDOT’s questionable management of public transit and infrastructure projects during a budget hearing with the Senate Appropriations Committee today, with lawmakers pressing the agency not only on project oversight but also on the growth of funding held in certain accounts and the lack of transparency surrounding how those dollars are being spent. [Read More]
Growing prison costs, and the economic benefits of eliminating the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in Pennsylvania and improvements to the state’s permitting process were discussed during budget hearings with the Department of Corrections, the Pennsylvania Parole Board, and the Department of Environmental Protection today. [Read More]
Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee raised concerns about the growing cost of Medicaid and other entitlement programs and how to identify and eliminate fraud during a budget hearing today with the Department of Human Services. [Read More]
The cost of security upgrades for Gov. Shapiro’s private residence and his use of the State Police and other taxpayer-funded resources were scrutinized by members of the Senate Appropriations Committee during budget hearings with the Department of General Services and the Pennsylvania State Police today. [Read More]
Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35), Sen. Judy Ward (R-30), and Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32) today announced their intent to introduce legislation to substantially reform pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to better serve Pennsylvania residents. [Read More]
Efforts to make housing more attainable for working families were reviewed during a Senate Majority Policy Committee public hearing today. Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32) invited the committee, chaired by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29), to Fayette County to hear from local officials, housing advocates, builders and developers about how state government could combat Pennsylvania’s statewide housing crisis. [Read More]
Making preventative supplements available to families could prevent more than 80% of peanut and egg allergies and save taxpayers millions, according to testimony given today at a Senate Majority Policy Committee public hearing. [Read More]
A bill to restore Pennsylvania’s traditional opening day of statewide firearms deer season to the first Monday after Thanksgiving will soon be introduced, according to Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) and Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-18), sponsors of the measure. [Read More]
Legislation championed by Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) requiring cursive handwriting to be taught in schools has been signed into law. [Read More]
