In the News Archives

Lobbyist, lawmakers entwined in complex relationship: Is it influence peddling, or essential?

March 27, 2018

By Susan Phillips | State Impact Pennsylvania

On the day of the Governor’s budget address last month, Amtrak’s 7:25 Keystone service from Philadelphia’s 30th street station to Harrisburg filled up with lobbyists on their way to the Capitol.

PennEnvironment’s David Masur was one of them.

Seven domestic violence bills advance through PA Senate

March 22, 2018

By Stephen Caruso | City & State PA

A bipartisan group of senators this week announced their hopes for an upcoming vote on a package of seven bills that address domestic violence in Pennsylvania.

The bills ultimately passed the Senate Wednesday, with one of the bills headed to the governor’s desk.

Senate passes raft of crime bills, including tighter gun law

March 22, 2018

(Harrisburg) — With heavy snow falling, the state Senate made it into the Capitol Wednesday to vote through a raft of bills that aim to increase protections for crime victims. One of the measures is now on its way to the governor’s desk, and six others are...

Senate passes gun control measure among domestic violence bills

March 22, 2018

HARRISBURG — The state Senate Wednesday approved a package of bills aimed at better protecting victims of domestic violence, including a measure that will close a loophole in the state’s gun law that victims’ advocates have said makes it too easy for abusers to...

Pa. Senate OKs bill to toughen gun laws in domestic abuse cases

March 22, 2018

HARRISBURG — The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a bill to force people with a domestic violence ruling against them to more quickly forfeit their firearms, a bill that includes last-minute changes negotiated by the...

Senate OKs bill to toughen gun laws in domestic abuse cases

March 21, 2018

By Marc Levy | The Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) a The Pennsylvania Senate is giving its unanimous approval to a bill to force people with a domestic violence ruling against them to more quickly give up their firearms.

Pa. Senate advances bill to give judges more tools in domestic-violence cases

March 21, 2018

HARRISBURG — A bill that is likely to become law could open the door for more judges to use risk-assessment tools — screenings aimed at determining whether someone presents a danger to others — when they set bail in domestic-violence cases. The bill, which Gov. Wolf...

Pennsylvania Senate OKs bill to toughen gun laws in domestic abuse cases

March 21, 2018

HARRISBURG >> The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a bill to force people with a domestic violence ruling against them to more quickly forfeit their firearms, a bill that includes last-minute changes negotiated by...

Killion’s domestic violence bills earn bipartisan votes in Senate

March 21, 2018

Harrisburg >> The Pennsylvania Senate this week passed several major domestic violence bills, including landmark legislation sponsored by Sens. Tom Killion, R-9, and Tom McGarrigle, R-26. The bills, which provide additional protections for victims of domestic...

Senate OKs bill to toughen gun laws in domestic abuse cases

March 21, 2018

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a bill to force people with a domestic violence ruling against them to more quickly forfeit their firearms, a bill that includes last-minute changes negotiated by...

Domestic violence prevention bills continue Senate advance

March 20, 2018

A bipartisan group of senators Tuesday announced their hopes for an upcoming vote on a package of seven bills that address domestic violence in Pennsylvania. “Now I’m sure each member would have liked to get more here or there in this bill, but this is what we can...

Domestic violence victims would receive greater protection under Senate package of bills

March 20, 2018

The Senate is expected on Wednesday to vote on a package of bi-partisan backed bills to strengthen protection of victims of domestic violence including a bill that gives more teeth to Pennsylvania’s protection-from-abuse system. The legislation sponsored by Sen....

Group pushes bills to protect crime victims

March 20, 2018

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A bipartisan group of senators stood in front of the Capitol steps on Tuesday, demanding action to protect victims of domestic abuse. A package of seven bills is being pushed. Sen. Camera Bartolotta plans to introduce Tierne’s Law that would...

Shortage of staff among top complaints of nursing home care

February 24, 2018

PHILADELPHIA – A third of the complaints fielded by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging each year are related to staffing, the state’s ombudsman said during a two-hour hearing Friday on the quality of nursing home care. “There’s only one...

Problems continue with state investigation of nursing home complaints, report says

February 22, 2018

Despite years of pressure from advocates for the elderly and others, the Pennsylvania Department of Health continues to do a poor job of investigating complaints about nursing home care and fails to properly assess the significance of harm to patients, according to a...

Sen. Hughes, NAACP express concerns over new district map

February 22, 2018

State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-7) has expressed serious concerns about the state Supreme Court’s new congressional map and he’s not alone. The NAACP and Common Cause of Pennsylvania have threatened to challenge the new map, drawings that Hughes bluntly said is a loss...

Pennsylvania lawmakers: What would impact be of Gov. Wolf’s proposed gas severance tax?

February 21, 2018

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said in his state budget address that a severance tax on natural gas drilling would be a great way to fill Pennsylvania’s coffers without having a dire effect on the finances of residents. But members of the state’s Senate Appropriations...

Wolf optimistic that his budget proposal will sail through the Legislature

February 6, 2018

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf unveiled an election-year budget Tuesday of nearly $33 billion that would boost funding for public schools, hike the minimum wage, expand the fight against opioid addiction and slap a new tax on natural gas drillers. “We have finally...

Concern mounts over weak status of state finances

February 2, 2018

Weakened financial stability and growing deficits erode the essential services that government provides to people and Pennsylvania is mired in many years of financial mismanagement by the state legislature, according to state Sen. Art Haywood (D-4). Haywood counted...

Philadelphia’s State Senators Join Call for Release of School Environmental Data

October 23, 2017

The drumbeat is building for the District to release detailed environmental data about every school. All seven of Philadelphia’s state senators have joined several members of the City Council and the Healthy Schools coalition in calling for the information to be made...

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