Briefs
Suburban Philly lawmaker’s bill would require schools to teach students about dating violence
A Montgomery County lawmaker is hoping the second time’s the charm on bill that would require Pennsylvania high schools to teach “dating violence” education to their students. In a ‘Dear Colleague’ memo sent out late last week, Rep. Thomas P. Murt, a Republican from Hatboro, cited Centers for Disease Control data showing that “approximately 10 percent […]
A state House hearing for Pa.’s budget watchdog turned into a minimum wage Q&A
A budget hearing Monday for Pennsylvania’s independent fiscal watchdog agency turned into a proxy fight over Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to boost Pennsylvania’s minimum wage. Lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee used a Monday appearance by the state’s Independent Fiscal Office to crack the hood on Wolf’s plan to increase the wage from the current […]
That’s ‘plant-based drink’ — not ‘milk’ — to you, freshman GOP U.S. Rep. John Joyce says
A seriously moo-ving debate.
Pa. government presses pause on permits for Mariner East 2 pipeline parent company
Pennsylvania’s state environmental protection agency is temporarily blocking permits from Energy Transfer Partners in response to numerous complaints about the company’s Mariner East 2 pipeline and an September explosion in Beaver County. “There has been a failure by Energy Transfer and its subsidiaries to respect our laws and our communities,” Gov. Tom Wolf said in […]
Former Pa. House lawmaker Jennifer Mann partners with Harrisburg lobbying firm
Reminding us that there are always second acts in public life, a former Democratic state representative from the Lehigh Valley is joining forces with long-running Harrisburg government relations firm Triad Strategies. The “strategic partnership” with ex-Rep. Jennifer Mann, of Allentown, “made a great deal of sense, and we’re thrilled to have her in the fold.” Triad’s […]
‘Fight for $15’ campaigners furious at Erie Democrat for showing hand ahead of minimum wage fight
State ‘Fight for $15 activists’ are hoping to inspire a fighting attitude among a key House Democrat in the the clash to raise the minimum wage. Keystone Progress, a progressive advocacy group, is seeking signatures to push back on comments from Rep. Pat Harkins where he suggested he’d compromise on increasing the state minimum wage. […]
Philly lawmaker wants Major League Baseball to honor Roberto Clemente
In 298 career games against the Philadelphia Phillies, Roberto Clemente — baseball’s first Latino star and a Pittsburgh Pirates great — slashed a .330 average against the cross-state rivals. That was his second best against any team. But even if Clemente tormented the Philly fanbase in life, Rep. Angel Cruz, a Democrat from the city, […]
Report: 37,000+ cancer diagnoses made because of Pa.’s Medicaid expansion
It’s been four years since Gov. Tom Wolf expanded Medicaid access to low-income adults. Since then, 1.4 million people have been covered, and Pennsylvania’s uninsured rate has fallen to 5.5 percent. That’s the lowest in the commonwealth’s history, state Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller said Friday. During a Capitol news conference, the agency […]
As the fight over Trump’s Wall rages in Washington, Pa. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon is headed for the Border
The delegation headed by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer "will meet directly with immigrant advocates about the humanitarian situation as well as receive a border security briefing."
Lawmaker who chaired Liquor Control Committee moves to lobbying role for Pa. brewers
Former Rep. Adam Harris, a Republican who spent 16 years in the General Assembly before retiring last session, has a new job leading outreach for Pennsylvania’s beer brewing industry. Harris was chairman of the House Liquor Control Committee in 2016 when the state reformed its liquor laws, including letting distributors sell six packs. “Brewers across Pennsylvania […]
‘Not a climate bill’: Environmental group pans proposed nuclear deal
Environmental groups are emerging as early critics of a proposed bailout of Pennsylvania’s nuclear industry, a policy that state lawmakers are expected to debate early this year. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a New York-based environmental advocacy group, sent a letter to Pennsylvania lawmakers last week asking them to reject any policy fix for […]