katie-muth
Senate Dems push pension hike for retired teachers, state employees | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Teachers and state employees have not received a cost-of-living adjustment to their pensions in more than 20 years.
Pa. Senate Republicans advance late-night constitutional amendment package on abortion, voter ID
Senate Republicans advanced a package of proposed constitutional amendments, including one related to abortion rights in Pennsylvania.
W.Pa. residents, advocates urge state lawmakers to take action against fracking
'As a politician, you can’t be pro-industry and pro-health, you have to pick one,' an advocate told lawmakers.
Campus-based child care has helped student-parents; Democrats evaluate expansion, affordability
In Pennsylvania, the average annual cost of infant care is $11,842 — $987 per month — according to data from the Economic Policy Institute. The estimated care for a 4-year-old costs $9,773 — $814 each month.
‘Shameful’ and ‘dangerous’: Pa.’s LGBTQ+ Caucus calls for swift action on anti-discrimination bill following Chambersburg vote
Calling the decision ”shameful” and “dangerous,” state LGBTQ+ Caucus leaders, which include, state Reps. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia, and Sen. Katie Muth, D-Montgomery, expressed concern over the repercussions of revoking the ordinance, writing in a Tuesday statement that its repeal leaves “LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians in an extremely vulnerable position.”
The wrong font, misplaced staples leads to unusual court rebuke of Pa. teachers’ pension fund
“I have never seen it before,” Duquesne University law professor, and state court watcher, Bruce Ledewitz said. “That could be because lawyers comply with the rules.”
Wolf to sign $40.8B budget that spends on education, saves billions for the future
“This year’s budget reflects resilience,” Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said.
Pa.’s botched vaccine rollout is causing ‘tremendous anxiety and mistrust.’ Senate Dems drop centralized registry plan to change it | Monday Morning Coffee
The four lawmakers say their plan will reduce frustration, and eliminate the need to spend hours searching for appointments.
‘The best part of it is picking your own time to leave,’ Scarnati says, as Pa. Senate pays tribute to retiring GOP leader
A 20-year veteran of the Senate, Scarnati announced in February that he would not seek reelection this year, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
After closed door dealings, General Assembly sends Wolf revised nat. gas tax credit bill; signature expected
The proposal, a limited version of a bill Wolf vetoed this spring, would provide upwards of $600 million in tax breaks to, at most, four manufacturing facilities that use Pennsylvania-drilled methane gas to produce fertilizer or other products.
General Assembly sends Wolf a bill adding protections against sexual assault in police custody
To include police officers, criminal justice reformers were forced to also back enhanced penalties for prison inmates who attack a prison guard.
Pa. Dems call for ‘recovery and healing,’ as state emerges from COVID-19 pandemic
Democratic lawmakers from Philly area gathered virtually Thursday to discuss a path forward for Pa. it emerges from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.