– A bill co-sponsored by state Reps. Tarah Toohil, D-Luzerne, and Mike Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, that would make resources available for children born to mothers who are at high risk for maternal depression has been approved by members of the House. Read more

HARRISBURG, Jan. 23 – State Rep. Marty Flynn, D-Lackawanna, said the Commonwealth Financing Authority today approved $644,000 in state gaming grants for important projects in portions of Lackawanna County he represents. “While the casinos have continued to provide thousands of jobs and helped the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania, an additional benefit is the local economic development dollars that are provided to host and adjacent counties,” Flynn said. Flynn said the grants include: $250,000 to the Scranton Enterprise Center to make renovations; $5,000 to Shalom Scranton/The Greenhouse Project for handicapped accessibility and HVAC improvements; $55,000 to the Scranton Police Department for the purchase of tasers; $20,000 for the restoration of the Scranton Transit Trolley Car No. 505 at the Electric City Trolley Museum; $30,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Scranton for facility improvements and ground renovations; $25,000 to the City of Scranton for the preparation of a pollution reduction plan for the separate storm sewer system; $24,000 to the Tripp Park Miss-E League for equipment; $60,000 to Heritage Valley Partners for improvements to the connector trail from the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail to downtown Scranton; $100,000 to Goodwill Industries of Northeastern Pennsylvania for the purchase of vehicles; $65,000 to the Lackawanna County Land Bank for the implementation of a Read more

HARRISBURG, Nov. 14 – State Reps. Peter Schweyer and Mike Schlossberg, both D-Lehigh, and Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, announced the approval of $353,500 in state grants to install street lights, improve sidewalks and ramps, and create a multi-use trail in Allentown. Allentown will receive $250,000 for a center city street lighting and ADA ramp installment project and $250,000 for the second phase of the American Parkway light project through the state's Multimodal Transportation Fund program. The city will also receive a $103,500 state grant to create a multi-use trail that would extend from Allentown’s Central Park to the Lehigh Parkway through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program. “I am pleased to work with Representatives Schweyer and Schlossberg to advocate for and secure funds to help defer some of these expensive costs municipalities have with critical infrastructure improvement projects,” said Browne, Senate majority Appropriations Committee chairman. “Projects such as these three are important to creating a healthy, safe and high quality of life standard here in Allentown.” The Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program grant will be used to create a 1-mile paved multi-use trail that would extend westward from Allentown’s Central Park, known as Auburn Cross Trails, to the Lehigh Parkway, creating a link between the city and regional trail networks. The funding will be used to develop a Read more

State Rep. Marty Flynn, D-Lackawanna, today announced he will host a House Democratic Policy Committee public hearing to discuss property taxes at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, Ballroom, 700 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton. Read more

When state Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, a Reading Democrat, thinks about kids with cancer, he thinks about two children in particular. Read more

WILKES-BARRE — State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski made the case that universal health care is a moral right at a packed public forum Tuesday night. Read more

SCRANTON, Aug. 8 – A staffer from state Rep. Marty Flynn's office will provide outreach assistance next week in South Abington Township. The visit will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 16 at the South Abington Township Building, 2nd floor meeting room, 104 Shady Lane Road, Chinchilla. The monthly outreach visits alternate on the third Wednesday of every month between South Abington Township and Clarks Green. Flynn's staff can help with Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program applications, PennDOT paperwork, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, PACE/PACENET prescription-drug coverage, unclaimed property searches and any other state-related matter. His main office – in Jay's Commons, 409 N. Main Ave. – is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 570-342-4348. Next month’s visit will take place Sept. 20 at the Clarks Green Borough Building, 104 N. Abington Road. Read more

SCRANTON, Aug. 7 – Older residents with questions about Medicare or health insurance coverage should visit state Rep. Marty Flynn’s office during his monthly outreach next week. Flynn said an APPRISE counselor will be available from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, Aug. 14 at his office – 409 N. Main Ave. in Jay's Commons – to help answer questions about Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, Medigap plans, Medicare drug plans, PACE/PACENET prescription-drug coverage and various low-income assistance programs, such as the Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help. Appointments are suggested by calling Flynn's office at 570-342-4348. The local APPRISE program is sponsored by the Voluntary Action Center and is funded by the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging. Read more

HARRISBURG, Aug. 4 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer has been appointed to the Labor and Economic Development Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. “I look forward to working with lawmakers from across the country on the biggest concern for families – good jobs that pay good wages. Being part of a national working group focusing on labor and economic development means I have a real chance to improve working conditions and job opportunities for all,” said Schweyer, D-Lehigh. Schweyer is one of two House Democrats appointed by House Speaker Mike Turzai to serve on the committee, along with Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky of Montgomery County. “It’s a privilege to represent Pennsylvania on this national committee and I thank Speaker Turzai for giving me this opportunity,” Schweyer said. Read more

WILKES-BARRE, Aug. 3 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, today invited constituents to a discussion on the rising cost of health care and what direction the American health care system should take at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 at Rodano’s Pizza, 53 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701. “Health care has always been a topical subject, but with the current federal administration’s attempt to overturn the Affordable Care Act more and more people are paying attention and seriously looking into our health care system,” Pashinki said. “This discussion is aimed at sharing information about the state of health care in America, what the continuing problems are, what we can do about them and the dangers of continuing the status quo.” Recent studies of 11 industrialized nations have shown that the United States is paying twice as much for health care compared to the other 10 industrialized nations. “Americans are paying double what many other nations are paying for health care and in some cases receiving worse results,” Pashinski said. “Not only that, but as a country we are ignoring the moral element of health care and treating it like any other consumer product. Health care involves life and death situations and can’t simply be viewed as a product that you can either afford or not afford.” This event is open to the public and the media and refreshments will be provided. Read more