Earlier this week, I spoke in the House State Government Committee in support of legislation that would ban gifts worth more than $50 to state legislators.

The committee approved the bill, and I see that as a start.

But I believe we need to go further. If we’re serious about putting the public interest first, we should work toward getting corporate money out of government and making sure the voices of Pennsylvanians—not special interests—are driving the decisions we make.

There is more work to do, but this is a step in the right direction.

Please see video above for my full remarks.

An online action center now makes it easy for residents to contact their state senators and urge action on legislation aimed at curbing excessive lot rent increases in manufactured home communities.

As I noted in my previous email, I urged the Senate to take action on House Bill 1250 and House Bill 1257.

House Bill 1250 would address excessive lot rent increases in manufactured home communities. More than a quarter-million Pennsylvanians live in these communities, making this legislation particularly important as residents face rising housing costs.
 

Residents who would like to urge the Senate to act on HB 1250 can use the online action center here.

I will continue to keep you informed about HB 1250 and other legislation affecting Pennsylvanians and our communities.

Legislation that would allow independent and unaffiliated voters to participate in Pennsylvania’s primary elections passed the House this week, marking an important step toward expanding participation in the Commonwealth’s electoral process. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this legislation.

House Bill 280 moves to the Senate for consideration.
 

More than 1.3 million Pennsylvanians are not affiliated with either of the two major political parties, including many veterans and younger voters. These Pennsylvanians contribute to our communities and help fund our electoral system, yet they are excluded from participating in primary elections.

I believe that should change. Every eligible voter should have a meaningful opportunity to participate in our democratic process, regardless of political affiliation. House Bill 280 would allow independent and unaffiliated voters to cast their ballots in primary elections and have a greater say in the candidates who appear on the ballot.

Thirty states already provide voters with greater access to primary elections than Pennsylvania does. Passing this legislation in the House was an important step, and I hope the Senate will now take up the bill.

We recently hosted our inaugural Senior Fair at the new Bushkill Outreach Center! I had a wonderful time connecting with residents from across Monroe and Pike counties and learning more about the needs and resources available to our older residents.

A special thank you to all of our exhibitors and community organizations for sharing valuable information, services, and resources with our attendees. I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring our community together and help connect residents with the support available right here in Northeast Pennsylvania.
 

Thank you to my staff, Christa Caceres, Pike County Commissioner, and all of the organizations who joined us. Some of the exhibitors included :

• League of Women Voters of Pike County
• Pike County Area Agency on Aging
• MyCIL Center for Independent Living
• Ladore Retreat and Conference Center
• Northeast PA AHEC
• Safe Monroe
• Griswold Home Care for the Poconos
• Residential Home Health and Hospice
• Monroe County Habitat for Humanity
• Monroe County Transit Authority

If you missed the Senior Fair or would like additional information and resources for older residents, please contact my office at RepProbst@pahouse.net. We’re happy to help connect you with available resources.

I hope everyone who attended enjoyed the event as much as I did. I can’t wait for the next one.

The Pike County Career Center is hosting its Fall Harvest Job Fair from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. Wednesday, October 14 at the Career Center, located at 837 Route 6, Unit 2, Shohola.

More than 15 regional employers will be on hand, representing industries including education, healthcare, hospitality, law enforcement, sales, and more. The job fair offers local job seekers an opportunity to explore career options and connect directly with hiring representatives.

Admission is free for job seekers and employers. Employers interested in participating are encouraged to register early, as space is limited.

The Career Center is also asking participating employers to consider donating non-perishable items to its mini food pantry, which supports unemployed and underemployed individuals who use Career Center services.

For more information, contact Cindy DeFebo, Director of the Pike County Career Center, at (570) 296-2909 or cdefebo@pikepa.org.
 

Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 and Medicare-eligible Pennsylvanians can take advantage of the Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (Formerly APPRISE).

MEDI is a free program run by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging that helps older Pennsylvanians choose Medicare supplements based on their income and medical needs.

For more information, call MEDI at 1-800-783-7067 or visit its website.

Pennie, Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace, is where individuals and families can shop for and enroll in health coverage and find out if they qualify for financial assistance to help lower their costs.

Open Enrollment for 2027 health coverage runs from Nov. 1 through Jan. 15. To have coverage begin Jan. 1, enrollment must be completed by Dec. 15.

To learn more about Pennie and explore your health coverage options, visit Pennie’s website.

PennDOT is seeking public feedback on its construction and maintenance activities through an online customer satisfaction survey.

The 17-question survey is open through October 20 and asks about how residents receive roadway information, experiences with PennDOT construction and maintenance work, reporting concerns, and use of the state’s 511PA traveler information services.

According to PennDOT, the department worked on more than 2,600 road miles and 373 state and local bridges between January and August. The department has also announced 79 “Rapid Deployment Projects” as part of a planned $775 million investment from the Motor License Fund over 18 months.

The survey also asks respondents how effectively PennDOT communicates information about roadway projects and conditions.

Please click here to access the survey.

As we approach the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, here are some key dates to remember:

• Monday, Oct. 19 – Last day to register to vote
• Tuesday, Oct. 27– Last day to apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot
• Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Election Day: Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters must be in line by 8 p.m. to cast their ballot.
• 8 p.m. on Nov. 3 – Deadline for mail-in and absentee ballots to be received

To find your polling location, update your voter information or for more voter services, visit vote.pa.gov.

I was lucky enough to have The West End Fair Queen, Falon Schaefer, come and visit me at the Capitol! And then, Dr. Damary M. Bonilla-Rodriguez from UnidosUS!

We had a fun night at our opening reception for Trisha Lowery Lippert and her beautiful work. We have these openings every few months showcasing local artists’ works and sharing our legislative services that the office offers.

Another successful celebration at the fourth annual Latin Scholarship Fund Gala! Three incredible scholarships were awarded, along with wonderful entertainment from Rebel Stages, DJ Club D, Hector Rosado Y Su Orchestra Hache, Sol Katana, and Edwin Prudencio as our MC!

A special thank you to the Board of Directors — Yolanda Cruz, Michelle Fernandez, Giselli Perez, Mario Arostegui, and Carmen Delfi — for making this dream a reality and helping expand scholarship opportunities for our local students.

It was an excellent celebration of community, culture, and education. And I’m happy to report that I’m finally learning how to salsa dance! 

Wednesday was a special treat at the Capitol. It was the 13th annual Cultural Celebration Day! Thank you Peace Islands Institute Pennsylvania, Jinyin Temple of Sino Esoteric Buddhism, Chestnut Retreat Center, and so many other organizations who made this day so special! The music, the cultural dances, the food, the friendship, and the kindness was unmatched.

District Office

18 South 9th Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 420-2850

Pennsylvania State Capitol

5-A East Wing  Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 772-1421