Tuesday, February 16, 2016
 

Dear Friends,

Hello! Thank you for subscribing to my E-newsletter. I am honored to serve the 23rd Senate District and look forward to working with you toward building a better future for Pennsylvania!

This E-newsletter serves to keep you updated on what is happening throughout Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna and Union counties and what I am doing as your state senator in Harrisburg. I hope that you will find this E-newsletter helpful, and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Gene Yaw
State Senator
www.SenatorGeneYaw.com

New Tax Hikes Proposed Under Wolf 2016-17 Budget Plan

Click Photo to Watch Video

For the second straight year, Governor Tom Wolf has proposed a state budget with massive tax increases, unsustainable spending and no reform of major cost-drivers.

On February 9th, the Governor proposed $3.6 billion in tax hikes to support his $33.28 billion spending plan for 2016-2017. The tax hikes include a 10.7% increase in the state Personal Income Tax (PIT), from a rate of 3.07% to 3.4%, an expansion of the state Sales Tax to include cable bills and other items, and a new tax on fire, property and casualty insurance.

Under the Governor’s plan, the PIT increase would be retroactive to January 1, 2016, meaning taxpayers will owe an extra six months in back tax payments if the budget is enacted June 30.

The governor continues to use kids and threatens thousands of teacher layoffs as a means to promote his misguided budget, and then attacks members of the legislature for it. The person who created this crisis is the governor himself. He talked about compromise but he has no interest to make it happen. He could have very easily signed any of the previous budgets to move Pennsylvania forward.

The Governor’s budget proposal includes a 3.4% increase in Basic Education funding, but abandons efforts to reform the number-one cause of school cutbacks and school property tax increases: the public pension system.

The proposal includes restoration of the $3.3 billion in aid to schools that Governor Wolf slashed from the 2015-2016 appropriation passed by the General Assembly in December, in a widely criticized bid to pressure lawmakers into approving his massive tax hikes.

It’s unfortunate that the governor has said it's either his way or the highway, and I am really worried whether or not Pennsylvania can survive three more years of this irresponsible leadership.
 

Education In Pennsylvania: By the Numbers

Bill Would Legalize the Sale of Consumer Fireworks in PA

On February 10th, the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, of which I serve as a member, held a public hearing on a bill that would legalize the sale of fireworks in Pennsylvania.

Senate Bill 1055, legislation introduced by Senators Don White (R-41), Elder Vogel (R-47) and myself would lift the ban on the sale of “consumer” fireworks, known as “Class C” fireworks, and allow businesses legally operating in the state to sell consumer fireworks -- such as bottle rockets, roman candles and mortars -- to Pennsylvania residents without the need for a permit.

Currently, Pennsylvanians can buy Class C fireworks in surrounding states, but not in Pennsylvania. What we are proposing is a common sense approach. Pennsylvania is losing money and jobs by limiting the sale of consumer fireworks.

The bill remains under review in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
 

WASD Construction Trade Program Wins
Back to Back NAHB Championships

The Williamsport Area High School Construction Trades Program won the 2016 National Association of Home Builder Student Chapters Residential Construction Management Competition (RCMC) in Las Vegas earlier this year. The WAHS program also won the championship in 2015.

RCMC is a competition that gives students the opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to a real construction company by completing a management project proposal. Proposals are submitted to a group of construction company executives who act as judges. During the convention, students defend their proposals to the judges in front of an audience.

Special congratulations to Randy Williamson, WAHS construction trades teacher; students Mackenzie Bowman, Tabitha Weiss, Joshua Crane, Hayden Beiter and Conner Oldt!
 

PPL Heating Help

PPL Electric Utilities, working with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, is looking for your help in locating homeowners to participate in a special pilot program that would provide free heating upgrades.

Specifically, they’re looking for income-eligible homeowners (up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level) who have broken, unfixable oil furnaces and are using space heaters to heat their homes. The pilot program would replace the oil furnace with ductless multi-split heat pumps and also weatherize the home. This is all free to the customer.

They need to act quickly! Since the program ends April 30, they’d like to be able to install the heat pumps before the end of winter.

If you know anyone who might be interested in the program and would qualify, please call Angela R. Tracy, regulatory programs specialist, at 717-257-5707 or 717-579-0535.
 

Around the District

Ronald McDonald Drive Continues

Seeking Input

The Brandon Park Commission and the City of Williamsport have created a survey to collect input from the public about their experiences with and desires for the future of Brandon Park in the City of Williamsport. The survey will be available online until February 29th.

The input collected will assist the Brandon Park Commission and the City of Williamsport in understanding the needs of the public as a Master Plan for the park is created. All users of the park are invited to complete this survey, whether they live in Williamsport or beyond.

This survey should take approximately ten minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. Thank you.
 

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