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My Vision For Our State Budget
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On Tuesday, Gov. Tom Wolf shared his budget address with the Legislature. Read my reaction below:
Property taxes are a perennial problem for thousands of Pennsylvanians, and I was disappointed to hear no mention of property tax reform in the governor’s budget address. Additionally, as a taxpayer, I am very concerned about Wolf’s proposed $1 billion spending increase, and how this may negatively impact Carbon County taxpayers. This year and every year, we must ensure our schools are properly funded – and that we provide critical services for our seniors and most vulnerable citizens. I believe we can do this without broad-based tax increases.
Thankfully, the governor shares with me a sense of urgency about the opioid and heroin epidemic – which is our most serious public health crisis to date. We must continue meaningful, bipartisan work on this important issue.
As we begin to carefully craft a budget for the coming fiscal year, I remain committed, through my role on the Appropriations Committee, to serving as a responsible steward of Pennsylvania’s tax dollars. With this perspective in mind, we can deliver an on-time, balanced budget to Gov. Wolf’s desk.
USDA Invests Resources in Fighting Spotted Lanternfly
Good news from the U.S. Department of Agriculture! The agency is investing $17.5 million in the fight against spotted lanternfly in Pennsylvania.
Quarantines have been established in several counties in the southeastern part of the state in an attempt to stop the spread of this non-native species, which poses a significant threat to the state’s more than $20.5 million grape, nearly $134 million apple, and more than $24 million stone fruit industries, as well as the hardwood industry in Pennsylvania, which accounts for $12 billion in sales.
Read more here: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/02/07/perdue-announces-emergency-funding-spotted-lanternfly-pennsylvania
Carbon Career Technical Institute Students Visit Capitol
It was my pleasure to host a great group of students from Carbon Career and Technical Institute (CCTI) at the Capitol on Tuesday. They had the opportunity to hear the governor's budget address from the House gallery! I am very proud of our CCTI students who, for the fourth consecutive year, had the highest School Performance Profile academic score in the state among 16 comprehensive career and technical schools.
Visiting on Tuesday were Rebekah Lorah, Todd Daldos, Kyle Edwarads, Skyler Graver, Alyssa Halada, Alyssa Stamets, Megan Vrablic, Stephanie Barto, Eugene Colosimo, Jeffrey Hazleton, Sandi Kohutka and Peggy Kalogerakis.
Looking Forward to Our 2018 Senior Expo
Our 2018 Senior Expo will be held in a new location – the Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Hall. We were unable to book Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall due to issues outside of our control, but we look forward hosting a great Senior Expo, along with Sen. John Yudichak, on Thursday, Sept. 6.
Turnpike Commission Offering Summer Jobs
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is accepting applications for toll collector, maintenance, clerical and engineering positions.
Toll collectors must be available to work any of the three shifts over a 24-hour period, including weekends and holidays. Employees will work a 40-hour week and will not receive benefits. The pay is $11.50 per hour for toll collectors and $11 per hour for other positions.
All eligible candidates must be at least 18 years of age and completed a secondary education program such as high school or GED at the time of hiring. The program is limited to 16 weeks per employee and runs between May 1 and Sept. 30. Those who participated in the program previously must re-submit an application for consideration.
All applications MUST be submitted online at www.paturnpike.com/employment, and applications should select “SUMMER WORK” in the first step of the registration process. Copies of online applications should be sent to my Harrisburg office by Friday, April 6.
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