Hughes Statement on Scheduled School Reform Commission Vote

Philadelphia – November 16, 2017 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) issued the following statement concerning the scheduled vote to disband the School Reform Commission (SRC) and return control of the schools to local officials.  Hughes was slated to...

Post Session Report :: Wednesday, November 15, 2017

SB 785 PN 1239 (Rafferty): The bill amends Title 75 (Vehicles) by creating a new chapter providing for the operation of golf carts at certain public highway crossings, and by providing for emergency all-terrain vehicles.  The Senate concurred the House amendments...

Post Session Report :: Tuesday, November 14, 2017

HB 165 PN 129 (Saccone):  This bill amends Title 51 to create two new military decorations The Pennsylvania Achievement Medal and The Pennsylvania Veterans Service Award.  The bill was approved by a vote of 49-0. SB 251 PN 1316 (Vulakovich): This bill Amends the...

Post Session Report :: Monday, November 13, 2017

Monday, November 13, 2017 SB 251, PN 300 (Vulakovich) – This bill amends Title 75, the Vehicle Code, to allow for the use of radar by local police departments.  Senator Vulakovich offered amendment A00547, which deletes the requirement that local police departments...

PA Senate Democrats Push Back on Trump’s ACA Enrollment Changes

HARRISBURG, November 1, 2017 — Following President Trump’s efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act by limiting open enrollment, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus will ramp up efforts to ensure eligible individuals gain health insurance through...

Senators Urge Yes Vote on Property Tax Ballot Referendum

Op-ed by State Senators Lisa Boscola and Pat Browne

Citizens of Pennsylvania will have an opportunity to cast their vote for an important ballot question which could lead to real property tax reform. We are urging citizens to vote yes.

Due to its legal language and structure, ballot questions are often written in confusing and hard-to-understand and this one is no different. However, the underlying issue is pretty straight forward. By voting yes, voters will approve a constitutional amendment to expand the homestead exclusion from one-half of the median assessed value of all homestead properties in a taxing district to up to 100 percent of the assessed value of each homestead property.