Jan. 23, 2019 /
![Free Tax Preparation Assistance]()
Tax season is upon us. For many people, this means having to choose between paying high fees to have their taxes prepared by a third party or attempting the filing process on their own.
Jan. 08, 2019 /
![Understated Bipartisanship Drives Progress in Harrisburg]()
Folks don’t see or hear about very many “win-win” stories when it comes to politics.
Jan. 03, 2019 /
![Pennsylvania House Scholarship Applications Now Available]()
High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college can now apply for a 2019 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Scholarship.
Jan. 03, 2019 /
![House Majority Elects Lancaster County’s Bryan Cutler to Lead 2019-20 Legislature]()
With a strong majority going into the 2019-20 legislative session, the 110 members of the House Republican Caucus – including 91 returning legislators and 19 freshmen – this week elected their leadership team to begin Jan. 1.
Jan. 03, 2019 /
![Looming Crisis in Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service]()
With fire and ambulance services continuing to struggle across the Commonwealth, a 39-member commission created by lawmakers to study the situation issued dozens of recommendations in their report released last week.
Jan. 03, 2019 /
![Thoughts on the Upcoming Budget Debate]()
As we head into the new legislative session, the focus of the House Republican Caucus will be on creating a budget that does not rely on new taxes or fees and that supports job creation. So, far, revenue collections are strong, and the state Treasury has collected $333 million more than expected through the end of November.
Nov. 16, 2018 /
![Thanking Our Veterans]()
This past Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice which ended World War I, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month. President Woodrow Wilson declared a national day to commemorate the armistice a year later in 1919. That has since become Veterans Day.
Oct. 10, 2018 /
![House Votes to Support Victims]()
In a historic, bipartisan vote, the House passed legislation that would empower victims of sexual abuse by eliminating the criminal statute of limitations for prosecutions of sexual abuse of minors and extending the civil statute of limitations for lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors until the victim reaches 50 years of age.
Sep. 25, 2018 /
![Waste Not, Want Not – Responsible Use of State Revenue]()
In the recently enacted 2018-19 state budget, there is a line item that the members of the Lancaster Delegation lobbied heavily for and was signed into law.
Sep. 12, 2018 /
![PennDOT Making Plans to Roll Out REAL ID]()
Starting Sept. 4, eligible Pennsylvania residents who wish to obtain a REAL ID may begin the pre-verification process. Customers who received their first license before September 2003 and want to obtain a real ID will need to bring the required documents to a Driver License Center so they can be verified in person. (Residents who received their first license after September 2003 have been able to pre-verify since March.) Those documents include:
Sep. 11, 2018 /
![Lancaster County House Republican Delegation Announces $2 Million Grant for Expansion of Cancer Institute]()
HARRISBURG – The Lancaster County House Republican Delegation announced a $2 million grant to benefit cancer patients by expanding Lancaster General Hospital’s Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute.
Sep. 06, 2018 /
![Save for College with State 529 Plan]()
For families looking to plan for higher education, the Pennsylvania Treasury offers the PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP), in which growth is tied to the rate of college tuition inflation, and the PA 529 Investment Plan (IP), which offers 15 investment options by The Vanguard Group.
Aug. 20, 2018 /
![Invasive Asian ‘Longhorn’ Tick Confirmed in Pennsylvania]()
A new variety of tick was recently confirmed on a wild deer in Centre County. The Department of Agriculture is encouraging people to take precautions to protect themselves, as well as livestock and pets.
Jul. 27, 2018 /
![Enhancing Consumer Protections]()
With news breaking last week of a security breach at the Pennsylvania Department of Health and a previous breach at the Department of Human Services, the House has asked the Office of Attorney General to investigate. Since then, it has come to light that the personal information of nearly 13,000 personnel and inmates within the state Department of Corrections may have been compromised in recent weeks.
Jul. 12, 2018 /
![Protecting Our Communities]()
The new state budget, which I voted for and took effect July 1, directs critical investments to support community protection efforts.
Jul. 06, 2018 /
![Budget Passed, Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended]()
I am pleased to report that prior to the June 30 deadline, the General Assembly approved a no-tax-increase budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year that respects the taxpayer while also investing more money for all levels of education and protecting our communities and families.
Jun. 25, 2018 /
![The Show Will Go On]()
Folks will be happy to know that the Fourth of July fireworks display at Lititz Springs Park will go on as it has for the past 170 years.
Jun. 12, 2018 /
![Victim Empowerment & School Safeguards]()
Last week, the House took several steps to help ensure justice for crime victims and bolster school safety.
Jun. 08, 2018 /
![Better Informing Parents of Child Care Quality]()
When a parent or guardian drops their child off at state-licensed daycare center, they assume that the child will receive the level of care and nutrition that they themselves would provide.
May. 29, 2018 /
![PUC Acts on Behalf of Consumers]()
In response to a letter from Republican members of the state House of Representatives, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) last week issued an order requiring 17 major electric, natural gas and water and wastewater utilities to return $320 million per year to over-charged consumers.