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| The Barb Wire |
| #Listrak\DateStampLong# |
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
Monday began with a House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee hearing on the need for updates to the Older Adult Protective Services Act (OAPSA). The issue is tough to solve because although we need to protect seniors from costly scams, we also don’t want to give up their privacy rights and freedoms at the banking level.
Also on Monday, I voted no on House Bill 193, which would require defibrillators to be installed in every state building. The Department of General Services can do that now within their budget if they choose, so no legislation is required. I opposed House Bill 630, the Equal Pay Law, and have attached my remarks here.
Tuesday’s session was unbelievably busy with so many groups and individuals visiting the Capitol that it was difficult to navigate the halls. I began by attending a House Health Committee press conference hosted by the PA Family Institute. It was heart breaking to hear how families in our state have been negatively impacted by their children’s use of cannabis. Here’s a link to the press conference.
It was also School Choice Day, and a rally was held on the steps of the Capitol. All the bills up for consideration in the House Commerce Committee meeting took your freedoms away, except the Self-Service Storage Facility Act. In our House Labor and Industry Committee meeting, we were forced to discuss House Bill 846, which would expand the Prevailing Wage Act to include offsite custom fabrication work and prohibit paying workmen multiple rates on the same project. Next to cannabis, it is probably the worst bill of the week. I questioned how a prefab business in Canada or California would know what the prevailing wage rate is on a job in Pennsylvania six months from now. Why wouldn’t we want to be efficient on a job site and use one person for multiple uses? If the administration wants to slow down production, this is the bill to do it. The bill passed along party lines.
I attended Tuesday’s Blessing of the Balers hosted by my colleague, state Rep. Bud Cook (R-Greene/Washington). Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman and other distinguished stakeholders came to pray over hitch pins that would guide the farmers through this next season. I also flipped a few burgers for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association and met some of the PA Fair queens. That evening, I attended the PA Rural Electric reception in Harrisburg and met members of Adams Electric Cooperative in our region.
Finally, Senate Bill 9, the Women in Sports Act, was passed by the Senate. We are planning for a vote in the House hopefully soon.
On Wednesday as this was Career and Technical (CTE) Education Week, I held a press conference on my House Bill 677, which would create parity in apprenticeships. Here’s a link to the press conference.
Pennsylvania has the most archaic apprenticeship ratio of any state in the nation. Nonunion merit shop businesses need to have four journeymen for every apprentice they want to hire. This impacts CTE waiting lists across the state, as data shows an additional 56,000 apprentices could be hired if this mandate was not in place.
There was a House Education Committee voting meeting on House Bill 17, which would mandate cursive writing; House Bill 191, which would mandate automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at school athletic events and in every school building; House Bill 1326, which would promote transparency in school transportation; and House Bill 538, which would address human trafficking prevention and education programs at institutions of higher learning. I voted yes on all of them except mandating AEDs in every school building in the state. I don’t know of any school building that doesn’t have either a nurse or an AED in place already.
We debated House Bill 1200, which would legalize recreational marijuana, for two hours. I have information below that will educate our district on the facts as I see them.
Later that evening, I drove to Gettysburg to tour Mason Dixon Distillery as a precursor to Thursday’s policy hearing on how to increase commerce by reducing taxes and regulations on small businesses.
On Thursday, I attended the hearing in Gettysburg and then worked out of my district office on policy matters in the afternoon. I participated in a House Education Committee meeting today (Friday) and a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources native species day event at the Cumberland County Conservation District. I will also be attending the FFA Annual Banquet for Cumberland Valley in the evening to witness the incredible achievements of the students in the program.
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Legalizing Recreational Marijuana Wrong Move for PA
A massive bill to legalize marijuana for recreational use in the Commonwealth was approved by the House this week on a party-line vote of 102-101. I voted no.
The 173-page bill was just introduced on Sunday, May 4, and was fast tracked through the House Health Committee Monday. It was quickly brought up for a final vote in the House on Wednesday.
This allowed very little time for lawmakers to review the bill or work to improve upon it via the amendment process.
More importantly, it allowed virtually no time for the public – the people who would be most deeply impacted by this proposal – to see the bill, understand its implications and share their comments or concerns with the legislators they elected to be their voice at the state Capitol.
The public health impacts of marijuana use are well documented. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in 10 people who use marijuana become addicted/develop cannabis disorder, and for those who use marijuana before the age of 18, the risk is even higher; marijuana use directly affects the brain and the effects may be permanent (memory, learning, attention, decision making and reaction time); and marijuana users are more likely to develop chronic mental disorders, including schizophrenia. The THC levels today are much higher than years ago.
Legalizing recreational marijuana significantly increases the risks to children through secondhand smoke and accidental contact or ingestion, particularly through edibles.
Even supporters of legalization have concerns about House Bill 1200, as it would empower the existing Liquor Control Board (LCB) to regulate and sell recreational marijuana to adults at state-run stores similar to those that sell alcohol. The state should not be in the business of selling a schedule one drug or selling alcohol for that matter.
A primary motivator for the rush to legalize recreational marijuana is the upcoming 2025-26 state budget deadline on June 30. The budget proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in February relies on more than $500 million in revenue from taxes and licensing related to recreational marijuana sales. However, the LCB has said the bill would cost $260 million to get up and running, and they would not sell cannabis out of existing state stores. The fiscal note estimates initial costs upward of $400 million. The return on investment (ROI) is only approximately $18 million net. The math just doesn’t work.
We should not be risking the health of our residents to balance the state budget. Yet every Democrat voted for this terrible bill, even the pro-union construction Democrats who know workplace safety is paramount.
The House Republican Appropriations Committee has identified significant fiscal concerns with the House Democrats’ recreational marijuana proposal contained in House Bill 1200:
According to the fiscal note provided by the majority party, the bill would cost agencies in the first two years more than $270 million. PA Liquor Control Board (PLCB) costs of implementation would be more than $260 million, with additional costs to the Pennsylvania judicial branch of more than $6 million and to the state police and attorney general of nearly $2 million.
The bill allows PLCB to bond $100 million to help with start-up costs. The fiscal note estimates a 5.99% interest rate and an annual payment of nearly $11 million. Projecting over 20 years, the cost of repayment would be more than $200 million. Under the language of House Bill 1200, bond repayments come from the Sales and Use Tax, not from marijuana sales.
The estimated $1 billion in Fiscal Year 2025-26 revenues are unlikely to materialize. Most of the House Democrats’ estimated revenues from House Bill 1200 are projected to come from license conversion fees from current medical marijuana processors/growers. To reach this revenue estimate, each of the current 25 processors/growers would need to purchase two new recreational marijuana licenses at a cost of $20 million per license for a total of $40 million paid per processor/grower.
Industry members have shared with our caucus they have no intention of paying $40 million to sell marijuana to the PLCB. Also, the PLCB must determine whether the sale of these licenses is necessary before even opening state stores in year two. Counting on any of this revenue requires the assumption that the PLCB will determine “exigent circumstances” requiring the licensing of medical marijuana growers/processors.
The bill is now in the Senate for deliberation.
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Boosting Accountability for Higher Education Funding
A council created last year to establish a new funding model for state-related universities in the Commonwealth has unanimously approved its report and recommendations to improve accountability in higher education funding.
Under Act 90 of 2024, the Performance-Based Funding Council was charged with developing a new funding model using performance-based metrics designed to increase degree attainment, encourage affordability, meet workforce needs and grow the economy. If adopted, the model would apply to new funding for Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University.
The full report is available for review here.
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Peace Officers Memorial Day
Thursday, May 15, marks Peace Officers Memorial Day.
First established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, the day is designed to pay tribute to the brave local, state and federal peace officers who have died or been disabled in the line of duty. The day falls during National Police Week, which this year is marked from May 11-17.
We are blessed by the men and women who have taken an oath to serve and protect, and particularly by those who have sacrificed their lives to protect public safety.
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Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy Now Accepting Applications for Summer 2025 Class
Since 2022, the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy (KSCA) has been transforming the lives of teenagers using a military academy style training model to provide structure and discipline.
KSCA is a joint effort between the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and the National Guard Bureau, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Applications may be submitted now through July 12 for the 22-week class that begins in July.
The program is open to 16- to 18-year-old Pennsylvania residents who are at risk of not graduating from high school, no longer attending any school or have not received a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. Applicants must be willing to be drug free, free of felony convictions and voluntarily commit to the program. If selected, students will attend the residential phase at Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County.
For detailed eligibility requirements and to begin the application process, click here. You may also request a mailed application or ask questions by contacting the academy via email at RA-MVPACHALLENGE@pa.gov or by calling 717-861-7767.
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Upcoming Events
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Annual 4-H Mattress Sale
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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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