– 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
Pa. state Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski talks about the legacy of King Coal and how Pennsylvania's taxpayers just can't afford to make the same mistakes with the Marcellus Shale drilling industry, explaining how we need a fair, reasonable tax that protects jobs, protects taxpayers and gives us the tools we need to protect clean water. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 31 – State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Luzerne, today said he is pleased with the $1.95 million in supplemental federal allocations to expand high-quality pre-kindergarten and Head Start services for eligible children in Luzerne County. Mullery said funding is made available via 2017-18 Head Start Supplemental Assistance grants, administered by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning. “These funds will ensure that those participating Head Start programs that have demonstrated a need for additional services in Luzerne County can meet that need, enabling the enrollment of additional three- or four year-old children and/or the expansion of full-day and full-year educational opportunities for children,” Mullery said. Mullery added that the additional resources will aid in ensuring young children in Luzerne County are better prepared for kindergarten. “Investing in our children is one of the best investments we can make,” Mullery added. “I’m pleased that we’re able to help make that investment in our future.” Read more
State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Luzerne, today said he is pleased with amendments to the Administrative Code that would provide protections for employees at Pennsylvania’s State Correctional Institutions. Mullery said the new language passed by the Senate would require the Department of Corrections to hold public hearings before the agency can decide to close a state prison. A 30-day notice of the public hearing would have to be provided prior to scheduling. “This result is welcome news to the more than 400 employees at SCI-Retreat in my legislative district, and the thousands employed in corrections across the Commonwealth," Mullery said. In January, Mullery, along with Sen. John Yudichak and other members of the House and Senate Northeast Delegations, stood together to organize several hearings and informational sessions throughout the region to display the impact closure would have on the local economy. “This revision ensures the voices of employees, their families, local and state government officials, and all those in the community will be heard during the decision making process," Mullery added. SCI-Retreat, which is located in Newport Township, houses 1,103 inmates and employs more than 400 Luzerne County residents. Mullery is vice chairman of the Northeast Delegation. Read more
WILKES-BARRE, July 28 – State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, this week called on Speaker of the House Mike Turzai to return the House to session and take up Pashinski’s discharge resolution on House Bill 1416 , legislation that would sequester people responsible for budget negotiations until a compromise is reached. “The Senate has sent their finalized budget-related bills over to the House and it’s now time we return to session and either take up these bills or take up House Bill 1416 to force negotiations,” Pashinski said. “Following the antics of this past weekend, in which the entire House was called into session and ended up taking no budget-related votes whatsoever, it’s now more apparent than ever that there is currently no pressure to resolve our budget impasse. The impasse of 2015 should be fresh in our memories and I’m afraid we’re staring at another similar situation that will undoubtedly harm our public schools, institutions of higher learning, human service providers and any Pennsylvania entity that relies on state funding.” H.B. 1416, known as the Budget Impasse Negotiation Act, would require the following people to be present at a designated location and take part in daily negotiations until a budget compromise is ready: The governor; The secretary of the budget; The president pro tempore of the Senate; The majority and minority leaders of the Senate; The chair and minority Read more
MT. LEBANON, July 27 – As more students with disabilities or a mental health diagnosis are successfully integrated into public schools, state Reps. Dan Miller and Mike Schlossberg are planning legislation to add those topics to the health class curriculum. Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, and Schlossberg, D-Lehigh, want Pennsylvania school districts to educate students in an age-appropriate manner about mental health, physical disabilities and developmental disabilities in order to help break down barriers, both in school and beyond. “Our bill would require the Department of Education to create curriculum guidelines for health classes that provide a framework for positive discussion and increased understanding,” Miller said. “Our hope is that by guiding this discussion in a positive way at each level, we will help decrease stigma and support a true inclusion experience – where more and more students know someone with a diagnosis, they can support each other, and no one sits alone.” Schlossberg, who has been very public about his own successful fight against depression, said a key goal of the legislative effort is erasing stigmas associated with disabilities and mental illness. “Stigma isn’t just some abstract, icky feeling. It has concrete, long-term damaging effects on a person’s ability to learn, become employed and build long-lasting relationships,” Schlossberg said. “This legislation would give schools the Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, released the following statement on the indictment of Allentown Mayor Edward Pawlowski: “As someone born and raised in the city of Allentown, someone who has dedicated my entire adult life to serving the people of my city and is proud to follow in the footsteps of my father and his 33 years serving the city of Allentown, I am truly dismayed and saddened. Ed Pawlowski should tender his resignation as mayor immediately if he truly values Allentown and its people. “City Hall needs to be a place where government works to move Allentown forward so it can remain an amazing place to live, work and raise a family." Read more
HARRISBURG — State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, launched a new constituent and community outreach service dubbed “One. 19” in White Haven on Monday. The initiative involves scheduling meetings and constituent service hours in all 19 communities Mullery represents. Read more
ALLENTOWN, July 25 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg issued the following statement about the latest legal development regarding Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski: “Ed Pawlowski needs to resign as mayor of Allentown. Now.” Read more
HARRISBURG, July 25 – State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Luzerne, launched a new constituent and community outreach service dubbed “One.19” in White Haven on Monday. The initiative involves scheduling meetings and constituent service hours in all 19 communities Mullery represents. Mullery and his district office staff have offered off-site constituent service since he was first elected. “Now, we want to do something more substantial with the hope of creating more community and constituent involvement,” Mullery said. “By visiting every community, I am able to hear firsthand stories, concerns, complaints and priorities of my constituents in every corner of the district. “Access remains one of my top priorities and this initiative gives those throughout the district the opportunity to take advantage of our resources in their own hometown.” On Monday, Mullery’s tour began at the White Haven Center where he met with Acting Director Mark Georgetti, Deputy Secretary Nancy Thaler and center employees. The group discussed pending legislation affecting the treatment center and Mullery answered questions from the staff. Mullery joined White Haven Police Chief Tom Szoke for a ride-along throughout White Haven and Dennison Township. He met with Gerald Feissner to discuss progress at the Standard Farms location. In June, Standard Farms received one of the 12 medical marijuana grower licenses from the Pennsylvania Department of Read more
ALLENTOWN, July 21 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer is leading an effort to collect school supplies at his Allentown office, 1912 S. Fourth St. “As a strong supporter of public education, I believe we should do everything possible to ensure that all students have adequate school supplies, regardless of where they attend school,” said Schweyer, D-Lehigh. To that end, throughout the year Schweyer’s office serves as a collection point for school items such as pencils, pens, notebooks, backpacks, crayons or anything else students need for their classroom. “If you would like to help local schoolchildren, please consider dropping off a few supplies when you’re near my office. Let’s do our part to help every student in the Allentown School District be equipped to succeed,” he said. For more information, contact Schweyer’s office at 610-791-6270. Read more
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