In 2022, Pennsylvanians were frustrated by “business as usual” in Harrisburg. Read more
Neighbors – come out Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., for a FREE shredding event AND Curbside Resource Fair at the Woodland Village Shopping Center parking lot, 6100 Woodland Ave. Read more
SCRANTON, Aug. 4 – Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, joined Governor Josh Shapiro and several state officials at the United Neighborhood Center in Scranton today, as the governor signed an expansion in the state’s popular Property Tax Rent Rebate Program. The PTRR benefits hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania seniors, widowed people 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older by providing them a rebate on their property taxes or rent paid, if their income is below a specified threshold. Under the expansion nearly 175,000 additional Pennsylvanians will qualify, and the rebate amount is being increased. “Far too often I hear from my wisest neighbors that they no longer qualify for their property tax rebate because they have received modest increases in their Social Security payments over the years,” Speaker McClinton said. “But they still need the rebate money to help them pay bills, put fuel in the car, or purchase medication. “Expanding the income eligibility for the Property Tax Rent Rebate program and the increased rebate amounts, will provide our seniors more security as our economy continues to recover.” McClinton added that the income eligibility limits hadn’t been increased in nearly two decades. Under the new guidelines, eligible Pennsylvanians earning up to $45,000 a year will qualify for a rebate, and Read more
The House Majority leadership team and Policy Committee wrapped up the statewide “Save Our Schools” tour Thursday morning with a stop at Carrick High School in Pittsburgh to tour the building, discuss the need for fair funding for public education and rally with education advocates. Read more
“As we’ve visited communities around Pennsylvania, one thing is clear: every community – rural, urban or suburban – they all want the best opportunities for their students,” Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila/Delaware, said. “And as a state we owe them that much. It is enshrined in our Constitution. We need to start living up to the promise we make our students and the promise we’ve made in our state’s future.” Read more
Every day I am grateful to serve as my neighbors’ voice in Harrisburg. It is a privilege to advocate for the issues you care about and to advance policies that not only strengthen the communities in Philadelphia and Delaware County that I represent, but that will benefit neighborhoods across the commonwealth. For the past six years, I’ve also have had the tremendous honor to serve my colleagues as a member of the House Democratic Leadership Team. First, when I was elected to serve as the caucus chair in 2018, then as Democratic leader in 2020, and now as the first woman Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. While I’ve been in the position for nearly six months, some mornings I still pinch myself that my colleagues have entrusted me with the distinction of serving in the state House’s highest position. And I am very proud of what the House has been able to achieve in the time since I was elected Speaker. My colleagues and I have focused on putting the needs of our students, seniors and working families ahead of politics and passing bills that improve the quality of life here in Pennsylvania. And we’ve been delivering on our promise to put people first. First, we’re delivering by returning money to our seniors by expanding the Property Tax Rent Rebate Program to make 150,000 more seniors eligible, and we increased the maximum rebate for the first time since 2007! We’re also safeguarding our Read more
Over a dozen Pennsylvania state representatives visited a Centre County school to shine a light on issues rural educators are facing. Read more
The House Democratic leadership team and Policy Committee joined students, teachers, and education advocates in Reading Tuesday morning for a tour of two local high school buildings and a discussion on education inequality in Pennsylvania. Read more
“This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue, and it is not a city issue or a rural issue – it’s a Pennsylvania issue,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, said. “Equitably funding schools is about investing in Pennsylvania’s future and ensuring that every student regardless of the neighborhood they live in has the tools to thrive academically, socially, and civically. Our state’s future starts now, and it’s time to equitably and adequately fund our public schools.” Read more
Building off of last year’s landmark successes of state Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward and state House Speaker Joanna McClinton, Pennsylvania women have continued to make waves in 2023. In addition to seven women serving in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet - including Laurel Harry, the first female leader of the state Department of Corrections, there are a record number of women serving in Congress, and a host of committees in both the state Senate and House now being chaired by women as well.The honorees profiled on the following pages – researched by City & State staff and written by journalist Hilary Danailova – include female public servants, business executives, nonprofit leaders, advocates, academics and others who meet at the intersection of politics and policy. Read more
Next Wednesday is our National Night Out event, located at 60th and Woodland Avenue! Read more
NEIGHBORS – Our office has moved! We are now located at 149 S. 60th St.! We will resume normal business hours on Monday, July 24. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 15 – State and city officials gathered in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood today to unveil a newly renovated basketball court in the renamed Sgt. Robert Wilson III Park. The park bears the name of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Wilson III of the city’s 22nd Precinct who was murdered while protecting civilians during the course of an armed robbery in 2015. Wilson grew up in the neighborhood and played basketball at the park. The basketball court was refurbished using a combination of state and city funds and will provide local youth a place to play, exercise and socialize. “When we invest in recreational spaces for our youth and families, we are investing in the health, wellbeing and future of our communities,” said Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, “Today’s event not only commemorates the lives of several community heroes, including Sergeant Wilson, but also demonstrates how people from across the community can work together to improve the lives of all our neighbors.” “I am proud to invest in this new and improved basketball court, the latest in a string of new world-class public resources we’re delivering to Cobbs Creek! Not only will this facility empower Cobbs Creek to gather, play and build community, it will serve as a monument to the legacy and ultimate sacrifice of Sergeant Robert Wilson,” Councilmember Read more
Don’t miss the Sgt. Robert Wilson III Basketball Court ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, July 15! Read more
HARRISBURG, July 7 – Today, legislation ( H.B. 1448 ) introduced by state Rep. Anthony Bellmon, D-Phila., and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, passed the House and is headed to the Senate for consideration. The bill would r equire public schools to provide instruction on conflict resolution to all students. The instruction would include topics such as skills of conflict resolution; respect for different cultures, races, and beliefs; effectively managing emotions; and how to resolve differences peacefully. The bill also would require the instruction to be age-appropriate and incorporated into an appropriate area of study. The Department of Education would compose a list of evidence-based model programs schools could use to provide this instruction to students. Bellmon said that teaching conflict resolution in schools can help reduce violence. “In areas across the commonwealth, such as Philadelphia, we’re seeing far too many young lives taken by gun violence,” Bellmon said. “It’s imperative that our children know that conflicts can be resolved in a non-violent way, and that’s why I introduced this bill that can help prevent unnecessary violence and even save lives.” McClinton echoed Bellmon’s sentiment. “Everyone has a role in keeping our communities healthy and safe, and by equipping our youngest Read more
Every year hundreds of thousands of our wisest neighbors and other eligible Pennsylvanians benefit from the state’s popular Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Under the program, which was established more than 50 years ago, seniors 65 or older, widowed people 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older can receive a rebate of up to $650 on the property tax or rent they paid the previous year if they have an income below a certain threshold. But over the years, fewer Pennsylvanians have qualified for a rebate because their income had increased due to modest Social Security cost-of-living adjustments and surpassed the threshold. In fact, the income limits and the rebate amounts haven’t changed in nearly 20 years. But that is about to change. This year House Democrats led the charge to give this important program a facelift. Soon the PTRR income threshold will get a needed boost. The income limit is increasing to $45,000 for both homeowners and renters, and the income limit will rise annually based on changes in the cost of living. Updating the income limit means an additional 173,000 Pennsylvanians will qualify for a rebate! Plus, because the existing rebate amount hasn’t kept up with inflation, we’re bumping that up too! Under the improved Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, the maximum rebate will increase from $650 to $1,000. These updates to the PTRR, which garnered overwhelming bipartisan Read more
Our community suffered a tremendous loss Monday following a mass shooting event in the Kingsessing section of southwest Philadelphia. Read more
Speaker McClinton's statement on Thursday's Supreme Court decision on college admissions: “A year after the Dobb’s ruling rescinded a woman’s right to an abortion, SCOTUS – an unelected and unaccountable body - again reversed a long-time precedent that may negatively impact millions of Americans. Today’s ruling ending the use of affirmative action in higher education admissions hurts all students but is especially detrimental to Black and brown students who are already underrepresented on many college campuses. This is incredibly disappointing at a time when we need to be doing more to foster diversity and inclusion, not less. In Pennsylvania, we’ll continue to fight for equitable educational opportunities for every student." Read more
HARRISBURG, June 28 – Today, H.B. 1448 introduced by state Rep. Anthony Bellmon, D-Phila., and Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, was voted out of the House Education Committee and is headed to the full House for future consideration. The bill would r equire public schools to provide instruction on conflict resolution to all students. This instruction would include topics such as skills of conflict resolution; respect for different cultures, races, and beliefs; effectively managing emotions; and how to resolve differences peacefully. The bill also would require the instruction to be age appropriate and incorporated into an appropriate area of study. The Department of Education would compose a list of evidence-based model programs schools can use to provide this instruction to students. Bellmon said that teaching conflict resolution in schools can help reduce violence. “In areas across the commonwealth, such as Philadelphia, we’re seeing far too many young lives taken by gun violence,” Bellmon said. “It’s imperative that our children know that conflicts can be resolved in a non-violent way, and that’s why I introduced this bill that can help save lives.” This is Bellmon’s first bill to be voted out of a House standing committee. He is urging quick passage in the full House. Read more
Harrisburg, June 26 – Just six months into the 2023-24 legislative session, Pennsylvania House Democrats are delivering on their promise to prioritize the issues Pennsylvanians care about by passing more than 100 bills focusing on a variety of critical issues that will improve lives for Pennsylvanians. “I’m proud that House Democrats are continuing to advance a people-first agenda,” Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, said. “In just the past few weeks our caucus has advanced measures that would make more seniors eligible for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, plus increase their rebates. We passed an expanded Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit -- because when families can afford childcare, more Pennsylvanians can work. We passed tax credits for people in some of the commonwealth’s most in-demand and understaffed professions like nurses, teachers and police. We’re helping all Pennsylvanians save for retirement using our Keystone Saves Program. And we advanced a long-overdue boost in the state minimum wage, which lags every surrounding state and has kept too many Pennsylvanians in poverty.” “After a dozen years of inaction on issues that Pennsylvanians truly care about, we have put forth a diverse, aggressive and bipartisan agenda that will ensure Pennsylvania is a better place to live, learn and work,” said House Majority Leader Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery. “Our Read more
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