kathy-rapp

A ‘tidal wave’ in psychology: Advocates call on lawmakers to approve psilocybin treatment

BY: - June 12, 2022

A bill is now before a Pa. House committee, but its prospects appear uncertain.

Patient limits for nurses has majority support, but won’t advance in Harrisburg. Why?

BY: - January 25, 2022

The culprit is legislative rules that have troubled reformers and advocates in many fields, not just health care.

To block school mask order, House GOP appeals to arcane committee

BY: - September 14, 2021

Majority House Republicans have asked an obscure state regulatory oversight committee to review the Wolf administration’s school mask mandate.  In a 15-5 vote on Tuesday, the GOP-controlled House Health Committee’s lawmakers approved a six-page letter laying out their legal objections to the order.  It goes on to request that the Commonwealth Joint Committee on Documents […]

Pa. House passes Down Syndrome abortion ban. Wolf vows veto

BY: - June 8, 2021

Tuesday’s vote marks the third time the House has advanced the proposal.

COMMENTARY

Given the choice to do the right thing on telemedicine bill, the Legislature did the predictable thing — again | Wednesday Morning Coffee

BY: - April 22, 2020

Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers. Watching Tuesday’s state Senate debate over a telemedicine bill that also constrains access to abortion, it was hard not to be reminded of the ancient fable of the scorpion and the frog. If you don’t know the story, the short form is that it centers on a frog who gives a scorpion a […]

COMMENTARY

Coronavirus threat: Pa. House needs to pass public health emergency bill, Senate Dem Costa says | Friday Morning Coffee

BY: - February 28, 2020

The call from Sen. Jay Costa comes as the state makes preparations to deal with the virus

Polk-home

As debate rages, Wolf says he will veto attempts to stop Polk and White Haven shutdown

BY: - December 17, 2019

Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto a bill that would overturn his administration’s decision to shutter two state facilities that care for the intellectually disabled. Wolf first made the promise in a private Nov. 19 letter to the Philadelphia chapter of ADAPT, a disability rights group, and it was reiterated by a spokesperson Tuesday. […]

GOP-controlled state House panel advances Down syndrome abortion ban

BY: - May 6, 2019

The House Health Committee voted along party lines Monday to advance a controversial proposal to ban abortions after an in-utero Down syndrome diagnosis. The panel voted 15-9 to approve legislation, sponsored by Rep. Kate Klunk, R-York, that amends current state law to add a Down syndrome diagnosis to the list of conditions under which a […]

COMMENTARY

Is this the next fight over abortion rights in Pennsylvania? | Thursday Morning Coffee

BY: - May 2, 2019

In the absence of judicial action, anti-choice advocates are trying to legislate the medical procedure (and that's what it is) out of existence.

Pa. House committee advances ban on vaping in schools

BY: - March 12, 2019

Everybody knows that smoking cigarettes isn’t allowed in school. But is vaping? The House Judiciary Committee unanimously advanced a bill Tuesday to close a loophole that lets students use electronic nicotine delivery systems like vapes on school property. The legislation would also make it a crime under state law to sell these products to anyone […]