Pennsylvania state Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, said he supports a letter written by colleagues urging Gov. Tom Wolf to lift a restriction that imposes a 25% indoor capacity on restaurants and bars. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 27 – In an effort to help restaurants, bars and taverns impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, state Rep. Jake Wheatley has announced he will soon introduce legislation that would eliminate penalties and fees for delayed sales tax payments and provide a grace period for paying the 6% liquor sales tax for these businesses. Wheatley, D-Allegheny, said the businesses, who lost significant amounts of revenue after closing their doors for months to help prevent the spread of the virus, deserve this break. “It’s imperative that restaurants, bars and taverns be given a financial break for being responsible and doing their part during the state’s emergency declaration,” Wheatley said. “With many of these businesses beginning the process of reopening, removing these additional fees would give them some additional breathing room and go a long way to help them recover from their losses and get back on their feet.” Back in May, Wheatley and state Rep. Dan Deasy, also D-Allegheny, sent a letter to the governor , requesting that liquor license fees be waived for restaurants and bars due to the devastating financial impacts they’ve experienced due to the pandemic. More information on his pending legislation can be found at this link: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=32170 Read more
Bill would remove barriers to outdoor dining, encourage people to patronize struggling restaurants Read more
PITTSBURGH, July 21 – Calling it a dire public health crisis, state Rep. Jake Wheatley has announced his intent to introduce a bill to address racial inequities among Black, Brown and Indigenous communities in Pennsylvania. “Study after study continues to show definitive links between higher rates of chronic health conditions, like high blood pressure and diabetes, among our Black, Latino and Native American residents,” said Wheatley, D-Allegheny. “Racism is truly a public health problem, leading to higher levels of stress and significantly reduced access to medical and social services, among other impacts, resulting in increased levels of disease, disability, and death. As we continue to demand changes to address systemic racism in Pennsylvania and across the nation, we must also respond to this public health crisis – because lives are truly at stake.” Wheatley’s legislation would create a racial equity task force within the Pennsylvania Department of Health, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. This task force would oversee the review of policies and provide recommendations to the governor and the General Assembly on efforts focused on reducing the disparities between people of color and white residents statewide. More information on the bill can be found at the following link: Read more
Proposed change would level the playing field between local businesses and online retailer Read more
Project will focus on improvements to the intersection of Route 366 and Pleasant Avenue Read more
HARRISBURG, July 15 – COVID-19 resulted in the closing of schools statewide this past spring, a move that at the time had bipartisan support and echoed actions taken across our country, but it was one that also shined a bright line on the inequality embedded in many of our school districts across the state. This gross inequality allowed for more well-funded and financially supported districts to open online weeks if not almost two months ahead of neighboring districts that had less funding and less financial support. State Reps. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny, and Jim Roebuck, D-Phila., on Thursday introduced legislation (H.B. 2705) that would offer a path forward to make sure school districts in the future are not delayed in opening online due to uncertainty of access to technology, and that every child who is from a home living in acute poverty has the necessary technology provided to them to make them ready for online learning from day one. “COVID-19 is an unprecedented emergency that no district, state, or likely, nation was prepared to address,” Miller said. “However, we must learn from our experience this spring and we must make sure that no child or school district will be delayed from accessing or providing online education in the future due to financial hardship. It is unjust that our wealthier school districts can be up and running, while our more economically challenged school districts have to go door-to-door, hat-in-hand for Read more
Grants can help nonprofits, businesses weather coronavirus crisis Read more
A measure requiring law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough background investigation on potential new hires was signed into law today by Gov. Tom Wolf, state Rep. Harry Readshaw announced. The legislation was passed unanimously in both the House and Senate chambers. Read more
Majority’s actions akin to ‘bulldozing over’ discussion, debates Read more
DRAVOSBURG, July 13 – A measure to allow elected officials to also serve as public employees in more small boroughs in Pennsylvania was passed by a 196-5 vote today in the PA House, the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Bill Kortz, announced. Kortz, D-Allegheny, said H.B. 2571 would amend the state’s Borough Code to increase the population threshold of boroughs where residents could hold borough elected office and also serve as borough employees from 3,000 to 4,000. “The primary goal of my legislation is to encourage more borough residents to run for office and increase overall participation in the election process,” Kortz said. “I’m extremely pleased with my colleagues’ support.” The bill will now be considered in the Senate. Read more
Says legislature and administration should work together to develop a plan for Pennsylvania’s energy future. Read more
AMBRIDGE, July 2 – Beaver County residents struggling with opioid use disorder will benefit from a $146,444 grant to fund employment support services, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced . Matzie said the federally funded Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant will support services such as vocational assessments, resume writing, interviewing skills, job placement and transportation assistance related to employment. “Opioid use disorder has robbed decent, hardworking people of formerly productive lives,” Matzie said. “So many want simply to get back on their feet and recover their independence. With this funding, we can offer them the skills and resources they need to take that first and most important step – gainful employment.” Life’s Work of Western PA will use the grant – which is part of a package of $2 million in SAMHA funding to 14 organizations statewide – to provide services to residents struggling with opioid use disorder in Beaver, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Fayette and Greene counties. The grants are administered by the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Read more
Bills would increase training, expand background checks Read more
HARRISBURG, June 24 – The House today unanimously passed two bills that would improve policing in the commonwealth by ensuring hiring agencies have full access to a candidate’s background information and by enhancing officer training, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced. “These are common-sense bills that set us on the path to real reform,” said Matzie, who said he voted for both bills because they promise to improve law enforcement’s ability to hire and maintain the best-qualified people for the job. Matzie said H.B. 1841 would require employers to disclose employment information to law enforcement agencies conducting background checks and also create a database to track officer disciplinary actions so agencies would be aware of potential red flags before hiring an officer who has separated from another agency. “Most employers conduct background checks,” Matzie said. “In an area as critical as law enforcement, it’s only practical that important information would be included in those checks.” Matzie said a second bill, H.B. 1910 , would require mandatory training for officers on interacting with people of diverse racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds and on the use of force and de-escalation methods. It would also require officers to be evaluated for post-traumatic stress after a lethal use-of-force incident. “Police officers have a Read more
Bills would increase training, expand background checks for police Read more
A measure requiring law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough background investigation on potential new hires was approved by the state House of Representatives, state Rep. Harry Readshaw announced. The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration. Read more
AMBRIDGE, June 24 – Beaver County’s largest community senior center is receiving $35,858 in funding, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said the grant to Center at the Mall will allow the center to enhance operations for the many active seniors it serves. “ Community centers like Center at the Mall are a lifeline to social activity, nutrition, fitness and other programs that keep our senior community healthy and engaged,” Matzie said. “The pandemic has removed so many of these activities for our seniors, but as restrictions lift, we can expect them to return. “This funding is going help the center enhance and improve its operations so when life returns to a closer version of normal, our seniors will return to an even better, more enriching experience.” The grant is part of a package of $2 million in funding -- appropriated by the General Assembly from the Pennsylvania Lottery -- that is going to 60 senior centers statewide. In all, there are more than 500 senior community centers throughout Pennsylvania that provide a variety of offerings, such as nutritious meals, educational opportunities, transportation services, financial and insurance counseling, and exercise programs. Proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery help to fund these programs every year. More information on senior community centers is available by visiting this link: Read more
AMBRIDGE, June 23 – Beaver County residents struggling with homelessness will benefit from more than $31,000 in federal funding for critical resources, including affordable housing and emergency shelter, state Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver/Allegheny, announced today. Matzie said that in addition to a grant totaling $31,125, Beaver County will share in more than $1.72 million in funding being distributed to 20 counties throughout the central and western portions of the state. “Job losses and a slowed economy caused by the pandemic have left hardworking families in our community in immediate need of help,” Matzie said. “Securing this funding will help those who need a safe, clean place to call home.” The funding – administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development – is provided through the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program and is part of a package of nearly $5.5 million that will fund rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, street outreach, and emergency shelter, among other resources. Priority for funding is given to applicants representing areas of the commonwealth that do not already receive a direct allocation of Emergency Solutions Grant funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Read more
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