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A lawmaker claimed Pa. has seen a ‘large uptick’ in alcohol-related incidents; state police data says otherwise
Senate Law and Justice Committee Chairman Sen. Mike Regan, R-York, is right — there’s no way to formally regulate how much alcohol a bartender pours into a to-go cocktail. But one reason he gave for supporting legislation that would let liquor license holders sell canned cocktails to-go, doesn’t add up. “We’ve seen recently that there […]
Pa. lawmakers continue to debate over ‘meaningful’ charter reform
The prime sponsor of an “educational choice” bill called the legislation the “beginning of a conversation.” But even with recent changes, critics say it’s a far cry from meaningful reform. The legislation sponsored by Senate Education Committee Chairman Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, would expand the state cap on tax credits for businesses that fund private and […]
‘We are running out of time.’ Senate advances legislation to make to-go cocktails permanent
Gov. Tom Wolf said he would veto a bill that would allow thousands of retailers to sell canned alcoholic drinks, but that didn’t stop the Senate from pushing through legislation that would also make to-go cocktails a permanent menu item in Pennsylvania.
It’s last call — for now for to-go cocktails, as House and Senate jockey over bill
Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 disaster declaration is over, and to-go cocktails are ending with it — at least until lawmakers approve a bill that lets sales continue.
Pa. Senate committee takes up the future of illegal skill games as top lawmakers return industry funds
In the last week, Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, and Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said they returned thousands of dollars in donations from the skill games industry.
GOP lawmakers want to change Pa.’s voter ID requirements. Here’s how
If you’re a Pennsylvania voter, the only time you have to show identification at the polls is if it’s your first time casting a ballot at that location. Two state senators want to change that. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto legislation that would require voters to show ID every time they vote. […]
What’s holding up Harrisburg lawmakers from making to-go cocktails permanent?
A top Senate Republican had a fundraiser at the home of someone who’d stand to benefit from private sales of canned cocktails this week.
Pa. General Assembly votes to terminate Wolf’s COVID-19 emergency declaration
(*This story was updated at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, 6/10/21, to include comment from Rep. Kevin Boyle, D-Philadelphia.) For the first time in 15 months, Pennsylvania is no longer operating under a COVID-19 emergency declaration. Using its newly expanded emergency powers, the GOP-controlled Legislature voted to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s pandemic disaster declaration this week. […]
Senate advances ‘vaccine passport’ bill with new measure to restrict health secretary; Wolf will veto
Three weeks after voters limited the emergency powers of Gov. Tom Wolf and his successors, the Pennsylvania state Senate has moved to impose similar restrictions on the state health secretary. The GOP-controlled chamber voted 29-20 on Wednesday to approve legislation that prohibits the Keystone State’s top public health official from mandating stay-at-home orders, imposing masking […]
Pa. House approves legislation to mandate disposal of fetal remains
In a statement, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates called the bills “cruel and dangerous.”
Welcoming two new members, Pa. Senate back to full complement
Joined by friends and family, Sens. Marty Flynn, D-Lackawanna, and Chris Gebhard, R-Lebanon, were sworn into the chamber.
With a legacy at stake, Gov. Tom Wolf pushes for fair school funding
“Gov. Wolf might be gone in 18 months, but he’s not gonna be forgotten,” Rep. Matthew Bradford, of Montgomery County, the top Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said. “His legacy is what we do on these school funding issues.”