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In this Update:
“Grow PA” Bills to Support Affordable Pathways to Higher Ed, Career Prep Pass Senate
Students will have more affordable higher education and career opportunities under bills approved by the Senate last week. The “Grow PA” bills connect students to high-demand careers in Pennsylvania. Rather than pursuing big-government solutions with unclear outcomes like the Governor’s now-withdrawn PASSHE-Community College merger plan, these bills provide strong incentives for students to stay and work in Pennsylvania after completing their degrees. As the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, I authored one of the bills to require ALL of our colleges and university to plan for a challenging future and better prepare our students for in-demand careers here in Pennsylvania. Due to demographic and economic challenges, many of our institutions of higher education are grappling with falling enrollment, leaving behind empty dorms and reduced degree offerings. We need to chart a new course. These bills are a solid place to start. How Can We Repair Old Schools?My bill to gather information about the conditions of schools to determine how much funding is needed for repairs was passed with bipartisan support by the Senate Education Committee. I introduced this bill, as the chair of the committee, after visiting schools like Panther Valley Elementary School and seeing how serious the need is for major repairs and upgrades. Too many of our older schools are delaying needed repairs and use dark, hot, windowless, uncomfortable classrooms. Public Hearing Reviews Innovative, Hands-On Learning Program
The Senate Education and Appropriations Committees held a joint public hearing on the Total Experience Learning program. This program is making a real impact on student growth and teacher retention in Berks County. Learning more about successful programs like Total Experience Learning is key as we consider how to better prepare our students for the realities of the 21st century workforce. I visited the Governor Mifflin School District to see the program in action. I was very impressed! Supporting Long-Term Care Professionals
The Senate approved two bills I authored that would update training procedures and remove employment barriers so more people can join the long-term care workforce. Both received bipartisan support. Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center. The professionals who make sure they are cared for and respected have an extremely important job yet are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages. These bills are essential. Shapiro Energy Plan Hurts Working Families
Pennsylvania possesses the natural resources to lead our nation and grow our economy, but bad ideas jeopardize our future. Governor Shapiro has proposed a new energy plan with legislative Democrats that would send family-sustaining Pennsylvania jobs to Ohio and West Virginia, strain the stability and reliability of our power grid, and increase costs for all of us. In the past month, West Virginia embraced a new natural gas plant that will create 1600 construction jobs and 60 permanent jobs, while our governor proposes a massive tax to scare away similar projects here in Pennsylvania. His plan could undo years of bipartisan work to support “cogens” – electric power plants that reuse coal refuse, restoring the environment in the process. Closing these plants will let the black and grey wastelands left behind by past mining operations plague us for hundreds of more years. Working families in Pennsylvania deserve better. New Law Assists Law Enforcement with Punishing Thieves
Retailers across the nation are under siege, with some struggling to stay afloat amidst a rising tide of organized crime. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the total loss of stolen goods in 2021 was $5.5 billion. I introduced legislation to strengthen the ability of law enforcement to hold these criminals accountable. This bill was signed into law last year as Act 42 of 2023, after receiving strong bipartisan support in both the Senate and the House – something you don’t see often in Harrisburg. Because of this new law, it is now easier for these thieves to be charged with a felony. We’re not talking about punishing a mom who steals baby formula to feed her children – these new penalties target organized criminal opportunists who are looking to pad their pockets with stolen goods. During a hearing of the Senate Majority Policy Committee last week, I asked John Holub, Executive Director of the PA Retail Association and Patrick Schulte, Chief Deputy of Organized/Financial Crime for the Office of the Attorney General, about how this law will help fight back against these criminals. Tax Cuts or More Spending?
In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a massive $3.2 billion increase in state spending. Last month, Senate Republicans unveiled an alternative approach that would reduce taxes by approximately $3 billion annually. These historic tax cuts would provide relief to every Pennsylvanian who earns a paycheck by reducing the personal income tax rate from 3.07% to 2.8%, and every person paying an electric bill by eliminating the Gross Receipts Tax on energy. Learn more about the process of enacting the 2024-25 state budget and watch the Senate in session here. |
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