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...

Post Session Report :: Monday, February 6, 2017

SB 170, PN 146 (Rafferty) – This Bill amends Act 200 of 1931 to reform the Delaware River Port Authority.  Senator Haywood offered amendment A00096, which would not require DRPA members to be confirmed by the Senate (the Governor would keep his traditional role of...

Senate Democratic Wrap-up for the Week of January 29, 2017

  The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 69, which would amend a portion of the Crimes Code to establish “Cordelia’s Law.” The measure would make abusing horses a first degree misdemeanor under the animal cruelty laws. It’s currently a first degree...

Post Session Report :: Wednesday, February 1, 2017

SB 261, PN 243 (Scarnati) – This bill amends the Judicial Code regarding civil and criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse, and provides for waivers of sovereign and governmental immunity relating to claims of childhood sexual abuse.  A vote of 48-0 was...

Post Session Report :: Monday, January 31, 2017

SB 69 PN 159 (Eichelberger): This bill amends Title 18 (Crimes Code) Section 5511 (regarding cruelty to animals) by adding the term “equine animal” and provides for the lowering of the level of culpability for general animal cruelty offenses. The bill was approved...

Post Session Report :: Monday, January 30, 2017

SB 138, PN 92 (Yaw) – Amends the Oil and Gas Lease Act to generally provide for the payment of royalties within 90 days after production, to authorize inspection of records to ensure proper payment, and to ensure coverage for joint ventures.  A vote of 48-0 was...

Transit Worker Protection Now!  General Assembly Dawdles, Workers Assaulted

Op-ed by Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione

For transit workers, the news hasn’t changed much and it certainly hasn’t gotten better.  It’s the same story, year after year: “SEPTA

bus driver taken to hospital after men throw liquid on her,” “Man charged with assault in punching, beating of SEPTA bus driver,” “Bus driver shooting sparks calls for safety.”