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| Capitol Update |
| Friday, March 04, 2016 |
The latest news from the State Capitol |
An Update on the PA Budget
As the House Appropriations
Committee continues its series of hearings to examine the 2016-17 state
budget proposal, I sat down for a discussion of where things stand with
the current year’s budget, as well as a look ahead to next year.
Budget hearings continued this week
with the departments of Transportation, Conservation and Natural
Resources, Environmental Protection, along with the state-owned and
state-related universities. Next week’s agenda includes a hearing for
the state Department of Agriculture. As chairman of the House
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, I will be taking part in that
hearing.
To view the complete schedule of budget hearings, or to watch video from past hearings, click here.
In other budget-related news, the
Wolf Administration sent information out to the state’s school
districts this week telling them how to go about shutting down due to
lack of funding.
This cannot, should not and does not
need to happen. The General Assembly passed a budget that provided the
most state funding ever to our schools back in December. I understand
it’s not as much as the governor requested, but his decision to
line-item veto $3 billion of school funding is why several school
districts across the state are now on the verge of closing.
Legislation to restore that funding –
and keep our schools open – has been introduced in the state House,
though the governor has threatened to veto that as well.
It is wrong to hold our students and their families hostage as budgets are negotiated.
For more on this issue, check out this article from the Bradford Era.
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Coffee and Conversation in Kane
Thank you to
everyone who came out for coffee and conservation in Kane on Thursday.
It was a great discussion of a wide variety of issues, including
everything from the state budget and school funding to environmental
regulations and the timber, oil and gas industries. I appreciate the
opportunity to hear your concerns and answer your questions.
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Committees Discuss Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Strategy
The House
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, which I chair, along with the
Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, held a joint informational
meeting earlier this week to discuss the Wolf Administration’s strategy
to reduce pollutants entering the Chesapeake Bay, as required by the
federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The administration recently
announced its new strategy in anticipation of the state missing its 2017
reduction targets for nitrogen and sediment. This is expected to have a
significant impact on farmers.
Video of the hearing, as well as written testimony submitted to the committees, are available here.
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More Property Tax/Rent Rebate Clinics Next Week
If you need help with your Property
Tax/Rent Rebate application, our series of Property Tax/Rent Rebate
clinics will continue next week:
- Wednesday, March 9, 9-11 a.m. – Harrison Valley Community Building, 205 E. Main St., Harrison Valley.
- Thursday, March 10, 1-3 p.m. – Kane Senior Center, 100 Fraley St., Kane.
For information about the program, and a schedule of other upcoming clinics, click here.
If you have questions, or you need
assistance and are unable to attend one of the clinics, contact any of
the offices listed below and we will be happy to help! More information
and claim forms are available at RepCauser.com.
- Bradford: 78 Main St., First Floor – 814-362-4400.
- Coudersport: 107 S. Main St., Room 1 – 814-274-9769.
- Kane: 55 Fraley St. – 814-837-0880.
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