State Legislature News
Several changes to Pennsylvania laws that deal with child abuse are moving in the state Legislature following favorable committee votes. The House Children and Youth Committee has approved six bills, including a new definition of child abuse that would expand prosecutors’ ability to file charges. The panel is also sending to the House floor new [...] Read More
The House could vote as soon as Tuesday on a $28.3 billion general fund budget for 2013-14, which raises spending from this year by a $550 million. This plan requires no increase in broad-based taxes, such as the sales or personal income tax, to support it. It reflects the House Republicans’ view of how available [...] Read More
HARRISBURG — Before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives divided itself in two during the first floor vote on the state budget Monday afternoon, it unanimously supported one bill that’s considered a victory for victims’ rights. Victims of crimes in Pennsylvania, or the ones they’ve left behind, will now have a chance to weigh in before a prison inmate is [...] Read More
Property tax reform has remained elusive for years, with York County’s elected delegation in the minority as they push for change. But local legislators are saying the stars could finally align this fall, and there are at least two locally crafted proposals competing for support. Majority Whip Stan Saylor, R-Windsor Township, said he has a [...] Read More
Lloyd Smucker cleared an important hurdle this week when his bill seeking stricter oversight of teacher misconduct unanimously passed in the state Senate. The West Lampeter Township Republican has been trying for years to update existing laws; he decided to take action after several cases of sexual abuse involving teachers in Lancaster County came to [...] Read More
By Timothy Puko and Brad Bumsted Published: Thursday, June 6, 2013, 3:42 p.m. Updated 9 hours ago District attorneys in two counties are investigating state Rep. Jesse White’s use of Internet aliases to slam opponents. Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said Thursday he is helping with Washington County’s investigation. Marsico said his involvement, in part, is to [...] Read More
Philadelphia’s embattled Traffic Court is one vote and one key signature away from extinction. The state House on Wednesday, by a vote of 114-81, gave final approval to a bill to dissolve the court, just four months after federal indictments were issued against nine current and former judges in a ticket-fixing scandal. The Senate is [...] Read More
Tempers flared at the third and final state Senate hearing focused on the governor’s liquor privatization proposal and related plans to change the way alcohol is bought and sold in Pennsylvania. By the end, the committee’s chairman was barely closer to nailing down the details of a proposal, saying a final plan should allow Pennsylvanians [...] Read More
First he denied it, now he concedes it’s true. Anti-drilling state representative Jesse White admits he used fictitious names and identities — like Victoria Adams — to attack pro-gas supporters on the internet. Now, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone confirms that he has launched an investigation to determine whether white has broken any laws. [...] Read More
A move to legalize high-cost short-term loans in Pennsylvania is being resurrected in the Legislature. Unlike the legislation that stalled out in the Senate last year after passing the House, this plan brings with it an avenue for borrowers to earn their way to longer-term, cheaper loan products. Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh County, on Friday introducedlegislation that [...] Read More
