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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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My legislation to address the efficiency of guardianship hearings has passed the Senate and is now pending the governor’s signature to become law. I drafted this legislation because I believe it is necessary to ensure timely and just outcomes for our most vulnerable individuals. You can read the full press release here.
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New District Video!
Our latest district video just dropped – check out my visit with Wallenpaupack Brewing Company!
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Supporting Fiscal Responsibility in the State Budget
It’s been more than 100 days since the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year, and the state still does not have a budget in place.
To put it simply, many of the budget plans we have seen thus far spend more than we will collect in revenue this year, ultimately leading to a significant tax increase in the near future. My fellow House Republicans and I are advocating for a plan that spends within our means, and the Republican-controlled Senate sent us such a budget bill earlier this summer.
I was proud to vote in support of that fiscally responsible budget plan in the House this week. It could have gone immediately to the governor to end the budget impasse, but the vote failed along party lines.
I could not support the $50.25 billion plan advanced by House Democrats, as it represents at least $5 billion in spending beyond anticipated revenues for the year. All parties need to face our fiscal realities and pass a budget that respects the taxpayers who foot the bill.
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District Happenings
Be sure to check out my Facebook page for a recap of all district events and celebrations, including:
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Wayne County Association of Township Officials Fall Convention. |
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Trout stocking on the Lackawaxen River. |
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Helping Our Energy Industry Reach its Full Potential
House Republicans believe if we truly want fiscal responsibility and sustainable budgets, we must focus on economic growth.
First and foremost, we need to get government out of the way of our energy industry to allow it to reach its full potential and ensure we have an affordable, reliable energy supply. Earlier this week, I joined many of my colleagues in signing onto a resolution that would discharge from committee a bill to get Pennsylvania out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Without legislative authority, former Gov. Tom Wolf entered us into this interstate compact that has negatively impacted new energy projects in the Commonwealth. RGGI is bad for consumers and bad for our economy.
Senate Bill 186 passed the Senate in early February with bipartisan support. It was then referred to the House Environmental and Natural Resource Protection Committee, where it has been ignored ever since.
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Voter Registration Deadline Oct. 20
The 2025 Municipal Election is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Municipal and school board positions will be on the ballot, along with statewide judicial elections. Voters will fill one open position each on the Commonwealth and Superior courts and consider retention of three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices and two appellate court judges.
If you are not already registered to vote, the deadline to do so is Monday, Oct. 20. You may register in person at your county elections office, by mail or by visiting the state’s online voter registration website.
To be eligible to vote, you must be a citizen of the United States for at least one month before the election; a resident of the election district in which you register to vote for at least 30 days before the election; and at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the election.
The last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot is Tuesday, Oct. 28. Completed ballots must be returned by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
For more information about voting in the Commonwealth, including how to check your registration and voting location, visit www.vote.pa.gov.
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Improving Child Care for Working Families
The House recently approved, with my support, a bill that helps make childcare more accessible to working families.
House Bill 1108 includes language to address the childcare cliff, which previously forced parents to choose between earning a slightly higher salary or maintaining access to childcare. Often the higher earnings were not enough to make up for the loss of subsidized childcare.
The bill also brings Pennsylvania into compliance with federal rule changes regarding the copayment amounts.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.
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Medicare Open Enrollment Begins Next Week; Beware of Scams
The annual open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries begins Tuesday, Oct. 15, and continues through Saturday, Dec. 7.
The Federal Trade Commission is reminding those eligible for Medicare coverage to use caution as scammers get more active around the open enrollment period in a quest to get money, information or both. To protect yourself:
• Ignore unexpected calls from anyone who demands you share Medicare, personal or financial information. Medicare will only ask you to verify information if you contact them first, and they won’t try to sell you anything or tell you to pay for your Medicare card.
• Don’t rely on your caller ID. It might show Medicare’s name or phone number, but caller ID can be faked. To check it out, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
• Get help to compare costs, coverage and plans.
To help Medicare beneficiaries understand their options, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging offers free, objective health benefits counseling through Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI). Contact your local Area Agency on Aging or call the PA MEDI helpline at 800-783-7067.
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic violence affects an average of 24 people per minute. Statistics show one in four women (24.3%) and one in seven men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month aims to help people recognize and put a stop to
this pattern of abusive behavior used to establish power and control over an intimate partner, causing both physical and emotional harm. Victims may be subjected to abuse, harassment, threats, vandalism, trespassing, burglary, theft and stalking.
As one of the most chronically underreported crimes, domestic violence affects men and women in all racial, ethnic, religious, educational, social and economic backgrounds.
More information about domestic violence and services available to help victims is available here.
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