“My bill opens the grant program so that county jails, if they choose to do so, have greater flexibility in terms of medication options for individuals who are overcoming addiction while incarcerated and before release,” she said. Read more
“Families and seniors are losing their homes from local school taxes in Monroe County. Cyber/charter schools take $40 million out of our Monroe County school districts. This practice has gone silent for over two decades and I needed to bring it to light," Probst said. Read more
State Rep. Bridget M. Kosierowski voted for the 2023-24 state budget because it increases education funding and additional legislation will help more seniors receive rebates on their property taxes. Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, is alerting local veterans that in observation of the Juneteenth holiday, on Friday, June 16, his monthly support program will be held the following Friday, July 21 at his district office in Allentown. Read more
“Here in our part of Monroe County, our public schools will get a deserved bump via this statewide historic investment in K-12 education. It’s part of a $717 million increase in education funding that will provide relief to districts that are struggling financially." Read more
During debate Wednesday evening on H.B. 611, the state budget bill, state Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, acknowledged that while education advocates preferred the original House Democratic budget bill, they are still supportive of the amended version because of its notable increases in funding education. After voting in support of this 2023-24 budget, Madden said it's now time to turn attention toward statute of limitations reform for victims and survivors of childhood sexual assault. Read more
State Rep. Jeanne McNeill offered the following statement about the final passage of the 2023-24 state budget Read more
“This is my first state budget, and I am glad to see the commonwealth provide $617 million more in funding for Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts," Haddock said. Read more
“This was not my preferred budget. But a yes vote was the correct one. With divided government, we need to govern. Governor Shapiro is correct: we need to send him a proposal which reflects our agreements and not let our disagreements hold up our obligation to govern responsibly," Schlossberg said. Read more
Here are several grant programs that recently opened for applications. Read more
“I want to stand in support of HB 611,” Madden said. “And I’d like to mention that I’ve heard from many of our education advocates, and while they acknowledge that the House bill that we sent originally was a much better bill, they are happy with the funding of education in this bill, and because we’re trying to achieve equity.” Read more
During the brief House debate of the budget bill, Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe County, noted the general fund budget the House passed that spent almost $1.4 billion more than the Senate budget bill was a better bill but the education advocates she heard from are happy with the education funding in this bill in trying to achieve equity as a February Commonwealth Court ruling ordered in declaring the school funding system unconstitutional. Read more
Pa. House Education Majority Chairman Peter Schweyer stands with House Democrats, teachers, and public education advocates to fight for adequate funding for Pa. Public schools. Schweyer says it’s time to stop demonizing the schools and teachers and start giving them the tools they need to succeed. Read more
State Rep. Kyle Donahue today praised the passage of legislation to expand decoration eligibility for military members of friendly foreign nations. Read more
The House Transportation Committee today reported out a bill sponsored by Rep. Jeanne McNeill that would prohibit early termination fees of leased vehicles for medical reasons. Read more
From the rank and file to leadership, caucus members’ reactions to a potential compromise that includes state funding for private school tuition ranged this week from guarded skepticism to open hostility. Read more
House Education Committee Chair Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, said the push for vouchers could blow up current budget negotiations. The current scheme under consideration is "lifeline scholarships," which he strongly opposes. Read more
During debate on HB106 on Wednesday, June 28, state Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, voiced her support for the Patient Safety Act and noted its passage is a promise kept to nurses across Monroe County and the entire commonwealth, who've long been advocating for safer nurse-to-patient ratios. This is a great day for the unions who've been fighting for this for years, Madden said, and a giant step forward in prioritizing safety for hospital patients across the state. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz speaks in support of legislation that would mandate safe staffing levels in medical facilities across the Commonwealth. Read more
“As a nurse for more than 25 years, I can vouch for the attention that is required to appropriately care for a patient. By requiring hospitals to maintain staffing ratios, patients can feel confident that they will receive adequate care, while ensuring that nurses are not unnecessarily overwhelmed in what is already a stressful job,” said Kosierowski. Read more
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