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| The Barb Wire |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Barb’s Update
Sen. Greg Rothman (R-34) and I began the week by meeting together with shared constituents. We discussed issues with the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s permitting and tracking process, mixed-use housing (thank you, Mary Kuna) and local pharmacy struggles and closures (thank you, Mr. Richard Gobin and the Pharmaceutical Association). We are grateful for the shared knowledge and work that will be done going forward thanks to these meetings.
On Tuesday, I met in Harrisburg with regulatory experts from the IT consulting company Cicero. We discussed policies that could help ease harmful regulations which many sectors of our government apply to businesses. I worked on education issues with staff and have distributed a co-sponsorship memo for legislation that would clarify acceptance of military student GPAs.
On Wednesday, I met with several constituents in my district office, participated in a conference call on agriculture and received bird flu updates. I attended a meeting of the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA’s Government Affairs Committee and participated in an education panel discussion for new school board members.
On Friday, I met with the House Education and Labor and Industry committees, as well as representatives from the Army Heritage Education Center.
FPR Update – After nearly seven counties’ farm bureaus met with the PA Farm Bureau last week, we are seeing movement on amendments to the Food Processing Residual bill amid third party interests wanting changes. For example, although spent grain from distilleries is used as animal feed, some of these byproducts are spread on farm fields as a source of soil nutrients. These types of protein-rich sources are plant based and should be included in the Tier I portion of the regulations, rather than the more stringent best management practices found in Tier II.
While legislative staff are working through definitions, I am hearing that the two FPR bills will run in committee next week. The hauler broker bill is now being referred to the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, while the food processing regulations will be voted on in the House Environmental Resources Committee. If interested, you may want to have a conversation with your senator to make sure he or she is aware of the legislation coming their way. If you have concerns or complaints with FPR spreading in your area, please remember to contact the Department of Environmental Protection hotline at 866-255-5158.
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Presidential Executive Order on U.S. Dept. of Education Facts
Our office has been receiving many inquiries about the changes to the U.S. Department of Education, so I am providing some facts for your information:
1) Education is inherently a state function. We applaud efforts to underscore the many issues with the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). Making changes to the scope of the department through federal legislation stands on firm legal ground.
a. The departments of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) handled education-related duties before the USDOE was created in 1979.
b. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the Department of Education Organization Act, which split HEW into the USDOE and the Department of Health and Human Services.
2) On March 11, the USDOE initiated a reduction in force of approximately 1,950 workers (47%), which reflects its commitment to efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most - to students. All impacted employees will receive full pay and benefits until June 9, as well as severance pay or retirement benefits based upon length of service.
3) We expect the executive order will mandate the USDOE to:
a. Identify which of its functions, programs and offices are not mandated by statute and eliminate them.
b. Create a plan to reallocate and reassign its functions that would be more effectively managed by other agencies.
4) The executive order will not have any immediate effect on the funding for the USDOE’s programs. The money to keep the USDOE and the rest of the federal government running was allocated through March 14, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending measure on March 11 which will extend funding at current levels through the end of the fiscal year (Sept. 30).
5) In 2022-23, federal dollars made up roughly $2.4 billion (6.57%) of school district funding in Pennsylvania, the lion's share coming from state and local revenues.
6) Most of the public money that flows through USDOE goes to programs codified in federal legislation, including Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Eliminating any of those programs or even moving them to another agency requires a vote by Congress.
7) USDOE is prohibited by law from telling schools what or how to teach. That is the purview of the states and local education agencies.
8) USDOE Secretary Linda McMahon said during her Senate confirmation hearing that Title I funding given to low-income schools, funding administered to students with disabilities via IDEA and Pell grants that help low-income students pay for college would be protected.
9) Secretary McMahon has stated that, under her leadership, the agency’s three principles will be: parents are the primary decision makers; education should concentrate on math, reading, science and history; and post-secondary education should prepare students for well-paying careers.
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Embrace Efforts to Right-Size Government
Last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro issued an executive order regarding the state civil service system, inviting federal employees who were let go by the Trump administration to come to work in the Commonwealth.
Given the exorbitant growth in spending we’ve seen in Shapiro’s state budgets, the last thing he should be doing is trying to grow our government even further. Rather than automatically fill any vacancy, each open position should be reviewed to determine if it is even necessary to fill.
We should also be encouraging these former federal employees to put their skills to work in the private sector, as many businesses continue to face significant hiring challenges and many in-demand jobs are going unfilled due to workforce shortages.
Let’s work together to right-size our government.
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PennDOT Wants to Know Your Feedback on Transportation Projects
Recognizing the importance of a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is inviting residents to review and comment on the agency’s 12-Year Transportation Program.
Public comments can be submitted through the department’s transportation survey until Wednesday, April 30. PennDOT will also host an online public forum about the plan on Thursday, April 10, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Further details are available here.
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PA ABLE Helps Save for Disability-Related Expenses
The PA ABLE Savings Program, an initiative created to help people with disabilities and their families save for future expenses, continues to grow in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania Treasury, which oversees the program, recently announced it has surpassed $150 million in assets.
ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience. The program offers multiple savings and investment options, including an interest-bearing checking account. PA ABLE accounts owners can contribute up to $19,000 per year. Contributions can be deducted on PA state income taxes, and PA ABLE account owners pay no federal or state income tax on account growth when used for qualified withdrawals.
The money can be used for everything from groceries, rent, health care and transportation to longer-term expenses including education and assistive technology.
Learn more at PAABLE.gov.
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Using a Birth Certificate for Your REAL ID?
Make sure it meets these requirements!
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Free Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) Assistance
It makes sense to complete your property tax or rent rebate while filling out your tax return with your tax professional. Our office will be helping as well, and we respectfully request that you make an appointment by calling 717-249-1990. You can also make an appointment at one of these free tax professional preparation locations:
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Additional PTRR Preparation Assistance Available
Representatives from the PA Department of Revenue will be available at the location listed below to help Pennsylvanians who need help filing their Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program applications and/or Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax returns (PA-40s).
This in-person assistance is being offered in part to help Pennsylvanians who are newly eligible for the PTRR program.
Harrisburg Revenue District Office
Strawberry Square, Harrisburg
Phone: 717-783-1405
Email: RA-RV-BET-HBG-TA-EM@pa.gov
Web here.
Hours:
Assistance is available at the Department of Revenue’s district offices from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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| Office Locations |
| District Office: 437 E North Street | Carlisle, PA 17013 | Phone: 717-249-1990 |
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| 427 Irvis Office Building | House Box 202199 Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199 | 717-772-2280 |
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