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In Case You Missed It…

Governor Unveils 2023-24 Budget Proposal; Senate Republicans Respond.

PA Senate OKs Picks For Attorney General, State Police Commissioner.

Senate Passes Yaw Bills to Protect Diverse Energy Options for Pennsylvanians; Provide for Decommissioning of Solar Facilities.

Additional Farmland Preserved in Tioga, Union Counties.

Local fire companies across Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties are encouraged to apply for grant funding to help control wildfires.

Governor’s Budget Proposal Fails to Champion PA’s Energy Potential

Gov. Josh Shapiro started the 2023-24 state budget process this week with the introduction of his spending plan.

While the governor’s support for Senate Republican priorities such as workforce development, career and technical training, infrastructure, safe communities and mental/behavioral health are appreciated, the plan still boosts state government spending to unsustainable levels.

The $45.8 billion plan seeks to boost state spending by more than $1.3 billion above the current year’s budget and would almost completely deplete the state’s Rainy Day Fund by 2028.

In addition to the many spending proposals, the budget includes no indication the governor will remove Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which will burden all Pennsylvanians with an annual tax on electricity of nearly $670 million.

This is just the beginning of the budget process. The Senate Appropriations Committee will begin a series of public hearings on the proposal March 20, after which work will continue to create a final spending plan. I will work with my colleagues to enact a responsible budget that respects taxpayers and funds essential services by the June 30 constitutional deadline.

Meet my Intern Olivia Wilson

I had the opportunity to recently welcome my intern, Olivia Wilson, to the State Capitol. Originally from Huntingdon, she is the daughter of Mark Wilson and Wendy Dick of Huntingdon County.  Olivia is currently completing an internship in my Williamsport District Office and is a student at Lycoming College, where she is a senior political science major.

Very active on campus, she serves as the campus Student Senate Community Chair, the vice president of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and is a member of the college choir.  After graduation, she hopes to work in the Capitol as a policy and research analyst.

Historic Breast Cancer Screening Bill Unanimously Passes Senate

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 8, a comprehensive breast cancer screening and genetic testing bill. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

The bill eliminates out-of-pocket costs associated with BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling, as well as supplemental screening such as breast MRIs and ultrasound for women at high-risk. High-risk conditions covered by the bill include dense breast tissue, a personal or family history of breast cancer, genetic predisposition and prior radiation therapy.

The legislation expands on Act 52 of 2020, which required insurers to cover breast MRIs and ultrasounds for women with high-risk factors. Senate Bill 8 is step two, eliminating costs including co-pays, deductibles or co-insurance for those screenings and BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling.

Senate Approves Legislation to Increase PA National Guard Health Care Providers

The Senate approved legislation that would allow more health professionals to participate in the Medical Officer Health Incentive Program, helping to ease the shortage of medical specialists in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The Medical Officer or Health Officer Incentive Program was created in 2014 to provide a tuition reimbursement incentive to those who qualified through their time in the armed services. Even though the program was successful in attracting health care providers into National Guard service, some health professionals, like dentists and physician assistants, were inadvertently left out of the program.

Senate Bill 162, which fixes that oversight, now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration.

Save The Date:  Maple on the Mount

Daylight Saving Time Begins This Weekend

Reminder: Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 12, at 2 a.m. While cell phone and computer clocks usually change automatically, most people move their standard clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night.

It’s also a good time to check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. If the devices are older than 10 years, experts suggest upgrading to 10-year, sealed battery alarms. They don’t require any battery replacement throughout their lifetime. Regardless, it’s still a good idea to press the test button on the alarms at least once every month.

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