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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 Weekly Update
Last Saturday, I attended the dedication of North Middleton Tanker 39 and gave them a House Certificate of Dedication. The fire company dedicated its new tanker to the memory of Lonnie L. McKillip Sr. Firefighter McKillip held the positions of deputy fire chief, assistant fire chief and trustee during his 34-year fire career. He passed away on May 14, 2019.
I was honored to attend a 250th celebration of the Marine Corps at the West Pennsboro Fire Hall on Saturday evening. Lewis B. Puller, Jr., Detachment 524 had a great group of Marines and families celebrating this momentous birthday with an honor guard, the celebratory cutting of the cake, guest speakers and the famous bagpipe playing of God Bless America. Happy birthday Marines!
On Monday, the House was back in session in Harrisburg. Sen. Greg Rothman, Rep. Thomas Kutz and I hosted the Carlisle Cannons, who won the National President’s Cup competition in girls’ soccer. We had lunch and presented the girls with both House and Senate citations and introduced them to the entire House after the opening prayer. The girls and their families got their steps in walking the halls of the state Capitol and we were happy to celebrate their historic win on the national level.
Also on Monday, I attended a joint hearing of the House Health and Education committees meeting to discuss my cell phone bill, which would limit cell phone usage during instructional time. Although Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) recently introduced similar legislation, I was able to testify that I’ve worked on my bill for nearly two years and it is also the national model policy at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Members of both committees debated whether a full ban on cell phones or a limited use policy was the answer to improved student academic achievement. Studies show that when schools eliminate the distraction of cell phones, students are more engaged both in and out of the classroom, their mental health and outcomes both improve. It will be interesting to see if either bill moves out of committee next month.
In the House chamber, I spoke against the majority party initiative to raid the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund of another $10 million after taking more than $100 million from the budget, as the fund is already insolvent. Please click here to listen to my remarks.
Tuesday and Wednesday were short legislative voting days; however, I worked on tax policy and economic drivers that lead to healthy economic growth. While much rhetoric in social media tells a different tale, Pennsylvania is going down the wrong economic path for the next generation, and we need to start focusing on what policies to put in place that restore our economic health. Pennsylvania ranks 42nd out of 50 in economic performance, according to the ALEC Laffer state economic competitiveness index. This index uses 15 important state policy variables like our income tax rate, corporate tax rate, Personal Income tax, sales tax burden and more. As Gov. Josh Shapiro spends down our reserves, we face imminent tax increases in our future … more than what we are paying now. We can and must do better.
Also on Wednesday, I sent a letter to Sen. Dave McCormick discussing opportunities the federal government can pursue to maximize available Medicare and Medicaid savings by serving more seniors in the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) delivery model. PACE is a national program that is referred to as the Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) program in Pennsylvania. The PACE model makes the PACE organization both the payer and provider of services, combining Medicare and Medicaid capitated rates that the program uses to meet each participant’s individualized needs as determined by an interdisciplinary group of clinicians and other support professionals.
On Thursday, my staff attended the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas Treatment Courts first combined commencement ceremony. It was great to hear testimonies from the participants about how the program improved their quality of life and how they are equipped to lead a successful, stable life after completing drug treatment court, DUI Court or Together Optimizing Mental-Health Solutions Court (TOMS). We also worked on constituent cases.
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House GOP Calls for Investigation After Terror-Connected Illegal Alien Obtains PA CDL, REAL ID
In the wake of news that an Uzbeki national illegal immigrant with ties to terrorism obtained a Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License with a REAL ID indication, I joined my fellow leaders of the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus in sending a letter to Attorney General Dave Sunday and Auditor General Tim DeFoor demanding an investigation to find out how this happened and prevent reoccurrence.
The incident raises serious questions about public safety, especially since REAL IDs allow people to gain access to air travel, military installations and other federal buildings. It also raises concerns about the security of our elections due to the Shapiro administration’s automatic voter registration policies.
A copy of the letter is available here.
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Beware ‘Veteran Savings Program’ Scam
The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) is alerting veterans to a scam now circulating that involves a direct-mail postcard claiming to offer eligible veterans an additional $160 per month through something called the “PA Veteran Savings Program 2025.”
The postcard appears official at first glance, using formal language and referencing programs such as CHAMPVA and TRICARE for Life. It urges recipients to call within five days to “help manage call volume,” a tactic often used to pressure veterans into responding quickly. However, the postcard contains several red flags. It does not include a return address, and it lists a bogus phone number (855-600-2411) designed to lure callers into sharing personal information.
If you or someone you know receives suspicious mail, emails or phone calls promising new benefits, financial increases or requests for personal information, it’s important not to respond directly. Instead, seek verification from trusted sources.
Pennsylvania veterans and family members who are uncertain about any solicitation are encouraged to contact the DMVA at 800-547-2838.
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Supporting Small Businesses
Consider showing some love to the small businesses in our community throughout the holiday season but especially on Small Business Saturday, which is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Launched by American Express in 2010, this day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to support the small businesses that help drive the economies of our communities.
Learn more about Small Business Saturday here.
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Hunters Can Share Their Harvest
The state Department of Agriculture and Pennsylvania Game Commission are again encouraging hunters to consider sharing their deer harvest to provide thousands of pounds of venison to people in need.
Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) is Pennsylvania’s venison donation program for hunters who share their extra venison via a statewide network of participating meat processors to food pantries and community assistance centers across the Commonwealth. One deer provides about 200 servings of high-protein, low-fat venison.
HSH has distributed 3 million pounds of donated venison since 1991. More information about the program and how to participate is available at sharedeer.org.
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Happy Thanksgiving!
For centuries, Americans have come together in the spirit of thanksgiving. From the earliest traditions that began in Plymouth, Mass., in 1621 to the first official national observance in 1863, families have gathered in November to celebrate bountiful harvests and all that has been given to them.
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, state offices will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27, and Friday, Nov. 28, including my offices. PennDOT Driver License Centers will be closed on those dates as well, though many services are available online at dmv.pa.gov.
If you are traveling, be sure to check 511pa.com for the latest traffic and weather information.
From my family to yours, may you all have a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
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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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