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In this Update:
The Good, the Bad, and the VERY Ugly: Telephone Town Hall Kicks Off Town Hall Tour in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne Counties
Join my telephone town hall on the good, the bad, and the VERY ugly in state government on Tuesday, February 25 at 5:30 p.m. You can sign up to receive a call or livestream the event here. In the past, we’ve had thousands of people from Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties join these calls to ask questions, respond to straw polls, or just to listen in. No state government-related question is off limits! We especially want to hear your thoughts on Governor Shapiro’s proposals to legalize marijuana and tax skill games and my efforts to end wasteful spending at vacant state-owned properties. This event is the first of eight total town halls throughout the 29th Senate district in the coming months. I will host six in-person town hall meetings in communities in all three of the counties I represent. I will be joined by state representatives and local officials at each of the meetings, which will be scheduled in the morning, afternoon, and evening to give as many people as possible a chance to participate if they wish. Locations and times will be announced soon. The series will conclude with a final telephone town hall in June. Senate Concludes First Week of Budget Hearings
The Senate Appropriations Committee began public hearings this week to improve upon Governor Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 state budget. The governor proposed some ideas that I fully support, like helping childcare providers and supporting our students seeking real jobs in much-needed careers in the trades. However, other aspects of his new proposal are based on fantasy, not reality. Among the highlights: The Department of Revenue hearing focused on the inflated revenues Gov. Josh Shapiro used to balance his spending proposal. Revenue Secretary Pat Browne confirmed the state is only expected to bring in approximately $47.5 billion in revenue under existing law. Balancing Shapiro’s budget would require elimination of the state’s entire existing fund balance of nearly $3 billion and a transfer of $1.6 billion from the state’s emergency savings, known as the Rainy Day Fund. Following his plan would cause serious financial issues. At the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) budget hearing, the committee sought information about how PASSHE is working to right-size the system given steep declines in enrollment and to minimize student debt. The new Grow PA Scholarship Grant Program provides $25 million in funding for students earning degrees and completing job training programs in high-demand industries. The State Police budget hearing highlighted Shapiro’s budget proposal for the State Police that would slow the phase-out from the Motor License Fund, making $375 million less available for road and bridge repairs. There were also questions about how the State Police would handle Shapiro’s plan to legalize recreational cannabis use. At the Department of Health budget hearing, members shared health-focused concerns regarding Shapiro’s plan to legalize recreational cannabis use. While most doctors prescribe fewer than 100 medical marijuana certifications, three doctors prescribed more than 11,000. Access to health care, particularly in rural areas where hospitals have been closed, was also discussed. Thursday’s hearings included the Department of State and the Department of Transportation. Find the hearings schedule, livestreams of budget hearings, daily recaps and video from prior hearings at PASenateGOP.com. How Can We Recruit More Firefighters?
I’m hosting a firefighter recruitment event on Wednesday, March 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Columbia Hose Company located at 742 W Centre Street in Shenandoah. We’ll discuss how local volunteer fire companies and school districts can work together to address the serious manpower shortage affecting fire companies across Pennsylvania. The event will feature Tracie Young-Brungard, Administrator of Recruitment & Retention for the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner and Eric Frantz, a volunteer firefighter who has successfully developed a high school firefighting club in the Danville School District. RSVPs are required for this event. Call 570-773-0891 to reserve your spot today. Argall Report: Breathing New Life into Old Towns, Ending the Bureaucratic Nightmare at Vacant State Properties
This month’s edition of my local tv program reviews key efforts to breathe new life into towns across Schuylkill, Carbon and Luzerne counties and the ongoing controversy surrounding vacant state properties at White Haven and across Pennsylvania. While MUCH work remains ahead, we’ve made some real progress revitalizing many of our local communities. Many of these successes will benefit our area for decades to come. The program reviews six different projects, including the renovation of the blighted YMCA building in Hazleton into a childcare center and the transformations of the Schwab School in Weatherly and the Altamont Hotel in Hazleton into 98 much-needed new apartments. Also featured is a Senate Majority Policy Committee hearing I chaired on the wasteful delays at vacant state centers in White Haven, Hamburg, and Polk, which were closed without input from the surrounding communities or state legislators. The state’s bureaucracy has spent $162 million in recent years to heat, staff, and maintain sewer and water systems at empty properties across the state – before demolition! PennDOT Hosts Real ID Monday in Lehighton, Schuylkill Haven Driver License Center Temporarily Closes
REAL ID is voluntary in PA, but starting May 7, you’ll need a REAL ID-compliant license or another federally acceptable form of ID to board domestic commercial flights. To prepare, PennDOT is holding special REAL ID service hours across the state, including in our area. The Lehighton Driver License Center is holding these hours on Monday, February 24. Both the Schuylkill Haven and the Hazleton License Centers will hold these hours on Monday, April 14 and Monday, May 5. PennDOT also announced this week that the Schuylkill Haven Driver License Center will close from Monday, February 24 to Saturday, March 8 for extensive renovations. During this time, the Shamokin Driver License Center will open for additional hours. Learn more here. Meeting with Philadelphia Police in Kensington
To better understand the challenges and dangers faced by law enforcement in Philadelphia, Sen. Joe Picozzi invited the Senate Majority Policy Committee to join the Philadelphia Police in Kensington last week. During the four-hour session, we reviewed the situation confronting officers who patrol the area every day, including new initiatives by Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council which are beginning to make improvements, after years of decline in the community. We also toured Riverview Wellness Village, a nearby recovery-based housing center created by Mayor Parker. Riverview provides housing and special services to help those suffering from drug use build sustainable habits for long-term recovery. They are now in the process of adding more beds and workforce development initiatives. The brave officers we met with deserve more than just our thanks – they need more support. Sen. Picozzi stressed to us throughout this visit that the Philadelphia Police have made strides towards reducing crime within the city, but they need more help. The persistent deterioration of neighborhoods that we witnessed is completely unacceptable. Heim Construction Celebrates 30th Anniversary
Heim Construction Co. Inc. is celebrating their 30th anniversary! Employing 85 people, the company has built countless structures in our area and beyond, including libraries, apartments, healthcare facilities, and more. Rep. Jamie Barton and I visited their location in Orwigsburg to congratulate them on their many years of success. Senior Scam Seminars in Palmerton, Lehighton, White Haven, and BeyondThank you to everyone who joined the two senior scam seminars hosted by Rep. Doyle Heffley and me in Lehighton and Palmerton this week. With scammers becoming increasingly brazen and creative, we all need to be aware of how to protect ourselves from falling prey to these criminals. Special thanks to David Shallcross, the Director of the Senior Protection Unit of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, for another set of informative presentations!
Rep. Jamie Walsh and I are hosting a similar event on Friday, March 7 at 11 a.m., at St. Patrick’s Church, located at 411 Allegheny St. in White Haven. RSVPs are required for this event. Please call 570-773-0891 to reserve your spot today. I’m hosting more of these events soon with our local state representatives in Schuylkill, Carbon, and Luzerne counties. Support for Veterans Struggling with Substance Use
Adapting from military life to civilian life comes with serious challenges. Most veterans, with the support of their loved ones, overcome these difficulties. Others, sadly, resort to using substances as a coping mechanism and develop substance use disorder. More than one in 10 veterans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, which is higher than the general population. Help is available for veterans, family members and their advocates at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Find local treatment options here. The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is active in communities throughout the state to connect troubled veterans to the resources they need for recovery. In a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the state agencies work together to provide supportive services that are person-centered and focused on achieving overall wellness. Recognizing National FFA Week
One of the state’s top industries, agriculture, brings farming to mind for most people. However, there is so much more to it. People who are interested in science, business, technology and mechanics can find fulfilling careers in agriculture—just like my wife Beth and many of her family members. The industry requires the skills of professionals in lots of areas to meet demands for food, fiber and fuel production. National FFA Week, which runs from Feb. 15-22, is a great time to consider career possibilities and to appreciate the many men and women who already serve in this critical industry.
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