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Harrisburg Happenings A report on the budget hearings held during the week of March 4, 2019 Special Report: 2019-20 Budget HearingsThe Senate Appropriations Committee, on which I serve, held its third week of public hearings on Governor Wolf’s proposed state budget for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year. The Appropriations Committee heard detailed reports from cabinet secretaries and other officials from March 4 through 7. This special edition of Harrisburg Happenings provides day-by-day highlights from those hearings. More information on the budget, as well as photos, audio and video from the hearings, is available at: www.pasenategop.com/state-budget/. Monday, March 4, 2019Department of Drug & Alcohol ProgramsMembers of the Senate Appropriations Committee questioned Department of Drug and Alcohol Secretary Jen Smith about the following topics:
Video of the hearing. Life Sciences Greenhouses/Life Sciences PAMembers of the Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony from representatives of the Life Science Greenhouse Initiative, which is funded by the annual Master Settlement Agreement payment for the Tobacco Settlement. I expressed concerns that Erie County does not have a greenhouse, which would help to bring jobs, venture capital and economic development to our area. Link for video below Other senators asked about:
Video of the hearing. Department of Conservation & Natural ResourcesDuring the hearing with the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, I questioned Secretary Cindy Dunn on the status of sand replenishment efforts at Presque Isle Bay and other efforts to improve this important recreational resource. Link for video below Other members asked Secretary Dunn for more information about Governor Wolf’s plan to raise $4.5 billion for infrastructure improvements through a bond that would be repaid by a Marcellus Shale extraction tax. They also posed questions about:
Video of the hearing. Tuesday, March 5, 2019Department of EducationDuring the budget hearing with the Department of Education, I discussed the impact of additional funding dedicated to the Erie School District and strategies to intervene before financially struggling districts become insolvent. Link for video below Other members of the Senate Appropriations Committee discussed a wide variety of topics with Education Secretary Pedro Rivera, including:
Video of part 1 of the hearing (10 a.m. – noon). Video of part 2 of the hearing (1 – 2:30 p.m.). Department of AgingI asked about pharmaceutical cost transparency during the budget hearing on the Department of Aging. Link for video below Other members of the Senate Appropriations Committee questioned Robert Torres, Acting Secretary of Aging, and Tom Snedden, Director of the PACE program, on a number of issues of importance to Pennsylvania’s older residents, including:
Video of the hearing. Wednesday, March 6, 2019Department of Military & Veterans AffairsDuring the hearing with the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, I told State Adjutant General (Major General) Anthony Carrelli that I am very concerned about proposed cuts in mental health funding and asked for an update on construction and rehabilitation efforts at the Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie. Link for video below Other topics discussed during the hearing included:
Video of the hearing. Department of AgricultureI asked Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding about Chronic Wasting Disease, crop damage payments and the potential for Sunday hunting to curb the deer population. Link for video below Other Senate Appropriations Committee members discussed several topics of interest to Pennsylvania’s farmers during the budget hearing with Secretary Redding including:
Video of the hearing. Ben Franklin Technology PartnersDuring the budget hearing for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, I requested information on companies and jobs created through Ben Franklin and discussed economic development in Erie. Link for video below Other issues discussed included:
Video of the hearing. Thursday, March 7, 2019Gaming Control BoardI asked Gaming Control Board Executive Director Kevin O’Toole about the iGaming application at Presque Isle Downs and the prospect of off-track betting, and iGaming’s impact on gambling addiction and local share assessments. Link for below Other topics discussed during the budget hearing with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board included:
Video of the hearing. Department of Community & Economic DevelopmentI asked DCED Secretary Dennis Davin about Erie’s request to participate in the Early Intervention Program and to receive a CRIZ designation. Link for video below Other members of the Senate Appropriations Committee questioned him about the state’s film tax credit program and other initiatives during the budget hearing.
Video of the hearing. Budget Secretary/Governor’s Executive OfficeMembers of the Senate Appropriations Committee closed out three weeks of budget hearings with a session with Budget Secretary Jen Swails. Topics discussed included:
Video of the hearing. |
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