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Florida, Pennsylvania leaders speak out against DeSantis’ policies ahead of Harrisburg visit
‘We don’t want to see others be inspired by Gov. Ron DeSantis to mimic his behavior,’ Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani said.
Lawmakers question Pa. Corrections Department head on inmate health and safety
Lawmakers questioned the head of Pennsylvania’s prison system about inmate welfare and safety in a state House Appropriations Committee hearing Thursday on the Department of Corrections’ $2.9 billion budget proposal. Acting Department of Corrections Secretary Laurel Harry told members of the committee that prison populations are the lowest level since 2001, and the department has […]
Lawmakers focus on election, licensing issues in Pa. Department of State budget hearing
Questions about Pennsylvania’s election readiness and slow constituent services dominated a state House Appropriations Committee hearing on Wednesday as lawmakers examined the Department of State’s $35 million budget request. Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt told lawmakers that the department is in the process of modernizing its online election administration infrastructure and developing new […]
Survivors’ heartbreak points toward gun violence solutions, advocates tell Pa. House panel
'The Legislature has stood by and watched death after death, shooting after shooting with no action. Today, that changes,' Judiciary Committee Chairperson Tim Briggs said.
PASSHE head tells lawmakers state universities need greater funding to compete
'There are challenges of demography and ... legacy financial deficit ... and we're going to need to partner with the state in order to do that,' Chancellor Daniel Greenstein said.
Pa. House lawmakers ask state-related university leaders to justify proposed funding growth
Asked by Rep. Ryan Warner, R-Fayette, whether the universities would commit to a tuition freeze if they received the 7% increase, each president said they could not.
Education Secretary Khalid Mumin calls Shapiro’s school plan a starting point for fair funding
“When we're talking about funding school districts that have external issues as well as internal issues, we have to invest in mental health, we have to invest in … the teacher pipeline, we have to provide students with a voice and parents and communities with a voice to help us to further lead. Lead our students through the educational system,” Mumin said.
House ethics panel prepares to take complaints as lawmaker accused of harassment officially resigns
A special election for former Democratic Rep. Mike Zabel's Delaware County seat is set for primary day on May 16.
Pa. House GOP leader warns Gov. Shapiro’s budget proposal will lead to massive deficit
(This article was updated at 4:51 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, to include comment from Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office.) Pennsylvania would have a massive budget deficit within three years under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2023-24 budget, the ranking Republican member of the state House Appropriations Committee said Wednesday. Rep. Seth Grove, of York County, […]
Pa. Rep. Mike Zabel resigns under growing pressure from sexual harassment accusers
Pennsylvania state Rep. Mike Zabel, D-Delaware, told House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia, on Wednesday that he would resign in the wake of sexual harassment allegations from multiple women.
Pa. lawmakers react to Shapiro’s $44.4B budget proposal, marking the beginning of negotiations
After hearing about the Democratic governor’s proposed $44.4 billion budget during a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, lawmakers in the now-divided Legislature had mixed reactions to the spending plan.
Pa. Gov. Shapiro proposes $44.4B spending plan in 1st budget address
The administration said the $44.4 billion spending plan aims to preserve the state’s flush coffers while still making investments to promote growth and continue funding pandemic-era relief programs.