Press Releases
Leach Joins Overwhelming Bipartisan Senate Majority in Rejecting PA House GOP Revenue Plan
HARRISBURG, September 20, 2017 – State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today voted to non-concur on the Pennsylvania House of Representative’s revenue plan and create a conference committee to write a plan that can be supported by both chambers. The final...
Costa Statement on Credit Rating Downgrade
Harrisburg – September 20, 2017 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement today concerning the downgrade of Pennsylvania’s credit rating by S & P Global Ratings due to failure to adopt a revenue plan with sufficient...
Dinniman Renews Call for DEP to Release Info on Wells Near Pipeline’s Path
WEST CHESTER (September 14, 2017) – State Senator Andy Dinniman today expressed concern with the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP’s) interim response requiring up to an additional 30 days, until October 11, 2017, to issue a final response to his...
Hughes Introduces ‘It’s on Us PA’ Bill Expanding Office of Safe Schools to Include Colleges
HARRISBURG, September 6, 2017 — As part of ongoing efforts to prevent sexual violence on college campuses, state Sen. Vincent Hughes has introduced legislation that would expand Pennsylvania's Office of Safe Schools to cover postsecondary institutions. This expansion,...
Leach Comments on Trump’s Decision to End DACA
HARRISBURG – September 5, 2017 – State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) today commented on President Donald J. Trump’s decision to end the “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) immigration policy. In ending DACA, Trump will deport 750,000...
Dinniman Calls on DEP to Release Info on Wells Potentially Impacted by Pipeline
WEST CHESTER (September 5, 2017) – State Senator Andy Dinniman said today he was forced to file a Right-to-Know Request to obtain a list of private groundwater wells located near the path of Sunoco Pipeline’s Mariner East II project in Chester County. “While I find it...
Dinniman Releases Statement on Pa. ESSA Plan
WEST CHESTER (August 14) – State Senator Andy Dinniman, Minority Chair of the Senate Education Committee, released the following statement in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s announcement this morning on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and the...
Sen. Hughes Comments on Senate Passage of State Budget Revenue Package
HARRISBURG, July 28, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of a package of revenue bills needed to fund the 2017-18 state budget. “This revenue package, though imperfect, represents a bipartisan compromise among four...
Senate Includes Fontana’s Water Line Replacement Language in Revenue Package
Harrisburg – July 27, 2017 – The state Senate today approved a budget revenue package that includes state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana’s legislation that would allow local governments to tap various government funding sources to help citizens fund sewer and water line...
Lawmakers Highlight Need to End Budget Impasse, Fund State-Related Universities
PHILADELPHIA, July 20, 2017 — As Pennsylvania prepares to enter a fourth week without a state budget revenue package, a budget bill that funds the five state-related universities has become embroiled in the state budget funding standoff. State lawmakers today...
Boscola Pleased with Streamlined State Budget
Harrisburg, February 7, 2017 – State Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s $32.3 billion state budget proposal for fiscal 2017-18: “This budget proposal is a workable solution to the state’s...
Brewster: Proposed State Budget is a Blueprint for Change
Harrisburg – February 7, 2017 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) released the following statement concerning Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18:
“The proposed $32.3 billion General Fund budget cuts more than $2 billion in expenses, calls for spending slightly more than 1 percent over last year and deals with a looming $3 billion deficit without a broad-based income tax hike.
Brewster: Proposed State Budget is a Blueprint for Change
Harrisburg – February 7, 2017 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) released the following statement concerning Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18:
“The proposed $32.3 billion General Fund budget cuts more than $2 billion in expenses, calls for spending slightly more than 1 percent over last year and deals with a looming $3 billion deficit without a broad-based income tax hike.
Blake: Budget Streamlines Government, Invests in Education, Economic Development
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2017 – State Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) today released the following statement regarding Governor Wolf’s proposed $32.3 billion state budget: “Governor Wolf, since the start of his administration, has been demanding...
Job Training, Minimum Wage Boost, Education Key Parts of Budget Proposal, Tartaglione says
Harrisburg – February 7, 2017 – Senate Democratic Labor and Industry chair Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) offered comments about the proposed $32.3 billion 2017-18 Fiscal Year budget that Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled today before a joint session of the...
Wolf’s 2017-18 Budget Ushers in Reinvention of Government
Plan increases education funding, cuts billions in expenses, no broad-based tax increase
Harrisburg – February 7, 2017 – Gov. Tom Wolf presented his budget plan for Fiscal Year 2017-18 that calls for an increase in education funding, cuts of $2 billion in government expenses and no broad-based tax increase, state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today.
Senator Haywood Comments on Governor’s Budget Address
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2017 — State Sen. Art Haywood issued the following statement today on the governor’s budget address for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year: [frame align="right"] [/frame]"Following Governor Wolf’s address this morning on the Pennsylvania budget, I fully...
Sen. Street Comments on Governor’s Budget Address
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2017 — State Sen. Sharif Street issued the following statement today on the governor’s budget address for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year: “Pennsylvania is faced with difficult decisions this year as the General Assembly prepares to address the state...
Hughes: Governor’s Budget Plan Invests in Jobs, Working Families
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) who serves as Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed 2017-18 budget invests in jobs and working families and is a good fiscal blueprint to...
Blake: Budget Streamlines Government, Invests in Education, Economic Development
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2017 – State Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe) today released the following statement regarding Governor Wolf’s proposed $32.3 billion state budget: “Governor Wolf, since the start of his administration, has been demanding...
Sen. Street Comments on Governor’s Budget Address
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2017 — State Sen. Sharif Street issued the following statement today on the governor’s budget address for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year: “Pennsylvania is faced with difficult decisions this year as the General Assembly prepares to address the state...
Boscola Pleased with Streamlined State Budget
Harrisburg, February 7, 2017 – State Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh) today issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s $32.3 billion state budget proposal for fiscal 2017-18: “This budget proposal is a workable solution to the state’s...
Sen. Fontana Pleased with Governor’s Budget Investment Priorities
Harrisburg, February 7, 2017 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2017-18 state budget proposal: “This is a lean budget for lean times. “In the face of a daunting deficit, the governor’s...
Costa, Hughes Support Budget Becoming Law; New Funds for Education, Opioid Treatment
Harrisburg, July 10, 2016 - Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) released the following comments in support of Gov. Tom Wolf's announcement that he was allowing the...
Wiley Supports Bi-partisan Passage of Senate $31.5 Million Spending Plan
Harrisburg, June 29, 2016 − Senate Bill 1073, the $31.5 billion dollar spending plan for fiscal year 2016-2017, saw overdue bi-partisan support today in the Senate with a final tally of 47-3 to move it one step closer to becoming a reality in the Commonwealth. A full...
Senator Hughes Statement on Passage of State Budget
Harrisburg, June 29th, 2016 – State Senator Vincent Hughes today voted with the majority of the Pennsylvania Senate to pass a $31.53 billion General Fund budget. The bill offers an on-time budget that contains a modest increase funding for public education and makes...
Senate Democrats Call for More Funding for Human Relations Commission
June 22, 2016 - State Senate Democratic Whip Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) today said that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) has been devastated by recurring state budget cuts and that the state spending plan now under consideration...