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The Weekly Roundup
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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House Approves Bill Ensuring Fairness in the Lodging Industry
To bring Pennsylvania’s statutes up to speed with ever-changing technology, the House this week passed my legislation to require online booking sites, such as Airbnb and Home Away, to register with the Department of Revenue to ensure hotel taxes are fairly collected.
House Bill 1810 doesn’t impose new taxes. Rather, it puts all businesses in the lodging industry on equal footing by ensuring online rental services pay the same taxes their traditional competitors already pay. It’s not fair to hard-working Pennsylvanians who follow the laws must now compete with Silicon Valley-based multi-national companies that are not paying the state and local taxes. Many of the businesses are based out of state and operate multiple properties throughout Carbon County and the Pocono region.
The legislation, which is now in the Senate, would level the playing field for traditional and online platforms that facilitate the booking of short-term, overnight lodging to register with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. The registration would allow counties and state government to better collect the hotel occupancy fees from patrons.
Click here to read more about the bill.
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Committee Approves Bills to Protect Consumers
The House Health Committee passed on Tuesday consumer protection legislation to address unfair practices faced by independent pharmacies, as well as consumers.
Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which negotiate with drug companies and insurers to help define which drugs are covered by health insurance plans and set the drug reimbursement rates for community and chain pharmacies, have been cutting reimbursements to community pharmacies, which are generally family-owned, for medications sold to patients on Medicaid. This practice has led to substantial financial difficulties for community pharmacies. My House Bill 2212 would remedy this problem.
Companion legislation, House Bill 2211, would permit pharmacists to disclose prescription drug information to a patient that would allow the patient to get the best price for medications. Some prescription drugs cost less if paid for out of pocket instead of through insurance, but some gag clauses prohibit pharmacists from alerting consumers to the savings.
In light of the bills, the Auditor General’s Office announced on Wednesday it will launch a review to bring transparency and accountability to prescription drug pricing in the state. The result will be a report focused on practices by PBMs. The investigation will include regional hearings, during which local pharmacists, pharmacy benefit managers, health insurance companies and health care providers will discuss how best to resolve this complicated issue.
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Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended Until Dec. 31
Older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities now have until Dec. 31 to apply for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program. The original deadline was June 30.
The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.
As of June 1, the department had received 472,564 rebate applications. As specified by law, rebate distributions cannot begin until July 2. After June 30, rebates will be distributed as claims are received and processed. Applications typically take four to six weeks to process.
Eligibility information and forms are available on my website by clicking here, or by contacting my office at (610) 377-6363. Residents are reminded that assistance in filling out the applications is available free of charge at my district office. There is no need to pay a private firm for help.
Claimants who already applied for rebates may check the status of claims online at revenue.pa.gov by clicking on the “Where’s My Property Tax/Rent Rebate?” link. Claimants may also call, toll-free, 1-888-PATAXES to check the status of their rebates.
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Protecting Consumers from Loans
I recently introduced legislation to protect consumers from predatory loans while ensuring they still have fair access to capital.
Pennsylvania lags behind other states due to the ambiguity of current law, and this bill would bring our laws up to par with technology.
House Bill 2429 protects consumers by requiring the fees, interest and payment schedule of loans be completely and accurately disclosed upfront – at the time when money is borrowed. This legislation also requires credit service organizations to assess a buyer’s ability to repay the credit extension, further protecting consumers.
This bill has been wrongly labeled a ‘pay day lending bill.’ I am working with interested parties to address concerns about the fee structure, and it is my hope we can come to an agreement on amendments to improve this bill so that consumers are even further protected.
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Honoring Our Flag
The American flags flew freely during the recent dedication of the Mansion House Pedestrian Bridge, part of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.
Yesterday was Flag Day and I want to share with you an experience I wrote about in a column that restored my faith in society following the recent protests of the national anthem and disrespect shown to our flag.
I was one of several speakers, including four generals from our armed forces, at a ceremony to unveil a plaque at the Gold Star Garden in Pocono Raceway. As the ceremony went on, more and more people gathered to pay their respects to the families that lost loved ones in defense of our nation.
During another ceremony before the race got underway, Taps was played. As race fans entered the grandstands, they stopped and stood still. I didn’t see anybody walking as the haunting notes echoed across the track. One father came in with his young son and stopped, nudged his son to take off his hat and the two stood silently, as a sign of respect to those who gave their all for us.
These gestures may seem small - but they show the respect our soldiers, sailors, airmen and women and the flag deserve. Our flag flies free because of all the men and women through the years who have died defending it.
To read more of my column on Flag Day, click here.
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PA Bass Season Opens June 16
Warmer summer weather marks the beginning of bass season, which officially opens on Saturday, June 16, across the Commonwealth. Bass fishing is popular in Pennsylvania because we have so many great spots -- creeks and rivers to large ponds and lakes -- for anglers to catch smallmouth and largemouth bass. Pennsylvania has more than 86,000 miles of streams and rivers and more than 4,000 lakes and reservoirs to fish, with the majority of these waters containing bass. You can buy a fishing license at more than 900 different issuing agents across the state or online at GoneFishingPA.com.
The 2018 version of the PA Fish and Boat Commission’s Save Our Susquehanna (S.O.S.) license button is now available for $10. With the button purchase, you can help to raise funds for habitat improvement to save the Susquehanna River and its smallmouth bass fishery. This optional purchase is available to all current fishing license holders and use of the button fulfills the display requirements as long as the angler has a paper license in their possession. This can also be purchased where fishing licenses are sold, or online.
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| Office Locations |
| 110 North Third Street, 2nd Floor, Lehighton, PA 18235 | (610) 377-6363 |
| 2681 State Route 903, Unit 3, Albrightsville, PA 18210 | (570) 722-8700 |
| Room 403 Irvis Office Building, PO Box 202122, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2122 | (717) 260-6139 |
| Email: dheffley@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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