Recent News
Senate Republican Leaders Highlight Pro-Growth Budget Passed by Senate
Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39) and Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) said the bipartisan state budget plan passed today will help grow Pennsylvaniaโs economy and makes key improvements to the spending plan proposed earlier this year by Gov. Josh Shapiro. [Read More]
E-news Updates – November 8, 2025
In this Update: Senate Acts to Expand Access to Midwife Maternal Care Measure to Alleviate Corrections Officer Shortage Passed by Senate Bill Protecting Privacy of Lottery Winners Passes Senate Watch Out for Increased Deer Activity on Roads A Special Thanks to All Veterans Senate Acts to Expand Access to Midwife Maternal Care The Senate approved […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – November 1, 2025
In this Update: Indiana County Senior Expo Western PA School for the Deaf Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center Bill Requiring Parental Notification of School Weapons Incidents Set to Become Law New Protections Against Telemarketers Approved by Senate Senate Votes to Eliminate Unnecessary Boards and Commissions Make Your Voice Heard Tuesday on Election Day Internship Opportunity for […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – October 25, 2025
In this Update: Senate Approves State Budget that Funds Essential Services Without Raising Taxes Statement on the Tragic Incident on Philadelphia Street in Indiana Indiana County Veteran Bridge Designation Jefferson County Senior Expo Senate Again Acts to Repeal RGGI Electricity Tax Landmark Bill to Modernize PAโs Broken Permitting Process Approved by Senate Tuesday is the […] [Read More]
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๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐! ๐
As part of the 2025-26 State Budget agreement, the illegal regulation mandating Pennsylvaniaโs participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) โ a multi-state pact that would have added more than a billion dollars in new #electricity taxes on Pennsylvania families and job creators โ was ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐๐!
Preventing #Pennsylvania from entering RGGI and stopping this tax protects consumers from dealing with even more severe consequences, including the closure of Pennsylvania power plants, job losses, and the threat of rolling #blackouts in the years ahead.
โ
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ข๐`๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ โ
The closing of the 2025-26 state budget process marks a new beginning for this commonwealth, filled with economic growth and opportunity. This budget moves, monumentally, to increase the promise of Pennsylvania. This is a pro-family and pro-job creator plan, and we have protected taxpayers by making sure the Rainy Day Fund stays intact.
Above all, we have removed the anvil of the RGGI electricity tax, which has been hanging over the heads of every consumer of electricity in this commonwealth. This budget is a product of divided government, and while it may have taken more time than any of us would have preferred, we have brought a divided government together to move our commonwealth forward.
๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐
During Senate Session this week, I had the distinct pleasure of introducing a fine young man from my district.
Carson Granado is a 7th grade student at the Western PA School for the Deaf and is from the Apollo area. Carson likes his school, enjoys math, and aspires to be an aerospace engineer.
It was wonderful to meet Carson, his classmates, and teachers during their time at the Capitol. I greatly appreciate you all taking the time to travel to Harrisburg!
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐
I was honored to serve as a keynote speaker during at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Association of Asphalt Material Applicators (PAAMA) held in Harrisburg.
We discussed budgetary issues as well as the importance of maintaining Pennsylvaniaโs road #infastructure network and other #economic issues impacting our Commonwealth.
It was a pleasure to spend time with this great group which included constituent, Andy Firment. My thanks to Andy, and to Rex Eberly, PAAMA Executive Director, for inviting me.
๐ ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐จ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง
Gov. Shapiro is focused on visiting other states when PA still needs a budget. Itโs time to end the Shapiro Shutdown.
All it takes is one day and one vote for House Democrats and the Governor to join us to enact the budget passed by the Senate last week.
For the second time, @pasenategop approved a 2025-26 state budget that respects #taxpayers and protects the financial stability of our commonwealth while ensuring that #counties, #school districts, and other state government partners receive needed funding.
๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐บ๐ธ
Private First Class, John Tabacsko was honored last week with a memorial designation in his name on the bridge carrying State Route 1053 over the south branch of Bear Run in Banks Township, Indiana County.
PFC Tabacsko was born on March 17, 1922 in Sidney within Banks Township and was one of nine children. He attended Lochvale Grade School and graduated with the Class of 1938. John enlisted in the United States Army on August 9, 1942 and reported for duty to New Cumberland, PA. He was transferred to Camp Gordon, Georgia where he trained with the 472nd Field Artillery Battalion.
In October 1944, Private Tabacsko landed in the Phillipines and took part in several major battles of the Pacific Theater. He was killed in action on March 24, 1945 while serving with his unit on Lozon Island. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, Shirley and their young son, John โ both whom have since passed. His youngest sister, Margaret Clawson remains a living link to his memory at the age of 92. We are forever indebted to PFC Tabacsko and his family for his service and sacrifice for our great country.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐
๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐๐ฌ
HARRISBURG โ For the second time this year, Senate Republicans approved a state budget that respects taxpayers and protects the financial stability of our commonwealth while ensuring that counties, school districts, and other state government partners receive needed funding.
The amended budget bill, Senate Bill 160, totals $47.9 billion, a responsible spending level that represents an increase of $300 million from the plan passed by the Senate in August. The new Senate budget plan continues to meet the Senate Republican requirement of imposing no tax hikes on Pennsylvania families while taking the added step of fully funding the commonwealthโs debt service and its share of school employeesโ retirement. These steps will ensure Pennsylvaniaโs credit rating remains strong and the school employeesโ pension system meets its obligation to current and retired teachers.
Leading by example, the Senate-passed budget includes a 5% cut in spending for the General Assembly, reflecting the Senate Republican priority of drawing down excess reserves and right-sizing legislative spending.
โToday, all 27 Senate Republicans advanced a state budget for a second time this year,โ Pittman said. โThe budget pays the bills, pays our obligations, fulfills pension debt services, and relieves the immediate crisis in front of us. In one day and with one vote from House Democrats, this budget can get to the governorโs desk. The Democratsโ budget impasse should never have happened, and those who rely on government services and programs should not be facing hardship. Senate Republicans have and will continue to stand up for taxpayers and families. We welcome the governor and House Democrats to come back to Harrisburg and join us to enact this budget into law.โ
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐
I was honored to serve as a keynote speaker at the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association`s Fall Energy Conference. We discussed several topics which included the importance of ensuring Pennsylvaniaโs #energy independence, funding for #infrastructure projects and other economic issues impacting our Commonwealth.
It was a pleasure to spend time with this great group of folks. My thanks to constituent, Andy Bradigan for inviting me.
