PA House Agenda for May 21 - 25

The state House returns to session on Monday, May 21, to debate and vote on various issues.

Here's this week's schedule for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Information has been supplied by Rep. Mike Turzai, Republican Majority Leader. In Pennsylvania, retired state employees who have been called back to work temporarily via a signed contract with a definitive end date have been later collecting unemployment benefits when that contract comes to an end. These are retired individuals already collecting a pension. State law dictates that annuitants who are re-employed may not work more than 95 days in a calendar year without impacting their annuities and health care benefits.   House Bill 2346 (Rep. Adam Harris, R-Snyder/Mifflin/Juniata counties) would add a new provision to Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Law to …

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Child Safety Locks Deemed Unsafe

The Safety 1st toilet and cabinet locks were sold at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Burlington Coat Factory, Home Depot, Target and Walmart.

Hundreds of thousands of child safety locks are being recalled because they can fail, exposing children to dangerous situations. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with Dorel Juvenile Group (DJG), Thursday announced a voluntary recall of about 183,000 toilet locks and 685,000 cabinet locks. Young children can unexpectedly disengage the toilet locks and gain access to water in the toilet, posing the risk of drowning, according to the CPSC, and the cabinet locks are being recalled because young children can disengage the lock, posing the risk of injury from dangerous or unsafe items stored in the cabinet. Have you had issues with these locks or others not working? Tell us in the comments below. …

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State Rep. Proposes Bill to Do Away with Property Tax Funding For School Districts

Berks County state Rep. Jim Cox's bill would fund school districts with earned income and sales tax increases and new taxes on food, clothing, TV and air transportation.

Several media outlets are reporting on state Rep. Jim Cox (R-129th District – Berks County) and his HB 1776 – the "Property Tax Independence Act."  Hundreds of supporters of the proposed bill descended on Harrisburg last Monday to rally "for change to keep the American dream alive across the commonwealth," attendees told WFMZ TV in Allentown. Cox recently visited The Times Herald to talk about the bill which he says will raise $5 billion by increasing the earned income tax from 3.07% to 4% and the state sales tax to 7%. He said the state would bring in an additional $4.6 billion by adding new taxes on food, clothing, TV and air transportation. Pennsylvania allocated over $10 billion for education in the 2010-2011 budget. "We’re well on our…

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Lee

11:24 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

I listed that phillyburb letter, called it article by mistake, because it references a very pricey school district where house prices are high for middle and low income people as example of how everyone can save from HB1776. So your comment is based on only posts here and the letter I listed? That's not fair to your bottom line, which will improve because the broadened sales tax and slightly …   more ›

Hundreds Rally For Disabled

The protest at the Bucks County courthouse hoped to raise awareness of the implications of state budget cuts.

Hundreds of people gathered in Doylestown on Saturday to protest funding cuts for programs that help disabled Pennsylvanians. They protested at the Bucks County courthouse "to speak out for those who can’t speak out for themselves." Organized by The Arc Alliance, the protest was designed to raise awareness for what the state budget crisis means for Pennsylvanians with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and stand up for those who suffer most from these cuts. "Governor Corbett’s budget affects our most vulnerable citizens – children and adults with intellectual disabilities – by cutting over $146 million in support and services for families," the group said in a statement. "Even though he calls for a 3.9% increase in funds for …

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SEPTA Upgrades Coming

County Line Road to be closed beginning in October.

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David Pitcairn

6:09 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

As I said before, look in the mirror Mike. Interesting, when your words are taken 100% literally, you respond in a huff and attack. Yet now you are doing the same thing. Of course comparing a railroad to the airport property is not exactly the same, just the shape alone makes for differences, but I don't think that was the point of Siobhra's comment which could be applied to Highways also. You …   more ›

Obama Endorses Same-Sex Marriage: PA Advocates Rejoice

President Obama made his historic pronouncement during an interview with ABC News.

  President Barack Obama has publicly come out in support of gay marriage, the first time in history that a sitting U.S. President has ever done so.  Obama, who during the last presidential election stated that he opposed gay marriage, gave the news to ABC News' Robin Roberts in an interview that will air on ABC's “Good Morning America" on Thursday. "I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained…

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Bucks Tourism Agency Announces Awards, Grants

Visit Bucks County celebrates National Tourism Day.

Visit Bucks County, the county’s official tourism promotion agency, celebrated National Tourism Day on May 8 by giving away awards and money. Tourism officials and business partners met at the Bucks County Visitor Center on Street Road near Parx Casino in Bensalem. The event was one of 75 similar ones nationwide celebrating the industry for Tourism Day. Visit Bucks Executive Director Jerry Lepping noted that “tourism in Bucks County supports 11,000 jobs and generates $814 million in the local economy.” In honor of National Tourism Day, Lepping spoke of the group’s participation in a national tourism effort and its specific marketing campaign in New York and North Jersey promoting tourism in Bucks County. Celebrating the special occasion, …

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PA House Agenda for May 7 - 11

The state House returns to session on Monday, May 7, to debate and vote on various issues.

Here's this week's schedule for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Information has been supplied by Rep. Mike Turzai, Republican Majority Leader. Following up on last week’s business tax reform and property tax reform votes, the House will come back this week to consider the Inheritance Tax and Sales and Use Tax filing options.   House Bill 1780, (Rep. Carl Metzger, R-Somerset/Bedford Counties) would effectively eliminate the inheritance tax when property is transferred from a legal parent to or for the use by a child 21 years old or younger. Under current law, the Inheritance Tax would be at a rate of 4.5 percent.   Helping small employers by giving them a Sales and Use Tax (SUT) option to remit their taxes is the idea behind …

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Four Cell Phone Towers to be Installed in Township

One tower has already been installed, three more will soon follow. Officials say the new towers will increase cellular service throughout the community.

"Can you hear me now?" may be asked less often once four new cell phone poles are installed in the township. The first of the four towers, which will help increase cellular service in Upper Southampton and nearby communities, has been installed at 1249 Dennis Rd. by the American Tower Corporation, the same company updating and installing towers in Northampton. "American Tower is a leading independent owner and operator of wireless and broadcast communication sites," according to the company's website. Township Manager Joe Golden said that the application for the towers was submitted at the same time as the application for Northampton. "There was an application made to Upper Southampton Township, about the same time they did it for …

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