Harrisburg – September 18, 2012 — Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement on the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to vacate the Commonwealth Court’s ruling on the state’s controversial voter ID law.
The court sent the case back to the Commonwealth Court to ascertain if the law is being implemented correctly and whether voters reasonably have access to voter ID cards:
“In vacating the decision, the court left it to the Commonwealth Court to determine if the photo ID law is being implemented properly and whether there is liberal access to voter ID cards in compliance with the legislative intent of the law.
“The facts of the case haven’t changed. There was ample and overwhelming evidence presented during the Commonwealth Court’s hearing of this case to conclude that there are multiple obstacles that voters must navigate in order to gain a valid voter ID that permits them to cast a vote that will be counted on Election Day.
“This case is about voter suppression and the partisan attempt to influence the General Election. The right to vote and a citizen’s access to the ballot box must be guaranteed. Unquestionably, there continues to be problems with the current, expedited implementation of the law.
“Given the short time line for Commonwealth Court to consider the case and determine the status of the law, it appears that the only decision is on issuing the injunction.”
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Harrisburg – September 13, 2012 — State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), the Senate Democratic leader, issued a statement concerning two issues that were before the state Supreme Court today.
The Court heard arguments today on the voter ID law that will require all voters to show a valid photo ID when they cast their vote in the General Election in November, as well as the challenges to the 2012 legislative reapportionment plan.
“Two exceptionally important cases were before the state Supreme Court today. Both cases involve the ability of citizens to cast votes and be guaranteed fair elections so they have a voice in their government.
“The voter ID case involves the ability of all citizens to cast their vote on Election Day. There is no evidence of voter fraud and obstacles to voting should not be permitted. The requirement that voters have photo ID before their vote is counted will cause immediate harm for seniors, the poor, students and others.
“As a plaintiff in the legislative reapportionment case, I asked the court to throw out the partisan political plan that was approved by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission so that a new, fair, and constitutional map can be drafted. This is the second time that a flawed plan has been before the court. The plan has too many county splits and is too skewed politically to pass constitutional muster.
“I am confident that the court will carefully consider each of these cases and make appropriate rulings that protect the ability of citizens to vote and be represented fairly.”
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HARRISBURG, September 10, 2012 – State Sen. Jay Costa said families can save $50 by enrolling online in the college savings program operated by the state treasurer’s office in September.
“From now through the end of September, the PA 529 GSP plan is offering free enrollment for all new accounts that are opened online this month, saving families the $50 enrollment fee,” Costa said. “Using this program helps families cope with the high cost of a college education.”
To open or contribute to an account, visit www.PA529.com or call 1-800-440-4000. Constituents may use the code “Jay Costa” when they enroll online in the PA 529 GSP to waive the $50 enrollment fee.
The contributions made to PA 529 plans are tax deductible and when they are used for qualified education expenses are state and federal tax exempt.
“The PA 529 plan is a key financial tool that helps families manage college costs. It may also be used grandparents and friends to contribute to a student’s education,” Costa said.
Costa (D-Allegheny), a longtime advocate of funding for higher education during his tenure in the Senate, said that investing in a PA 529 account is smart and forward-thinking. PA 529 contributions grow at the rate of tuition inflation. The lawmaker said that if a family saves enough for a semester at a state system university today, there will be enough to pay for another semester at the school in the future – regardless of tuition increases in the future.
Costa serves as the Senate Democratic Leader and is a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Pittsburgh and the Community College of Allegheny County. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Duquesne University law school in Pittsburgh.
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Harrisburg, August 15, 2012 – State Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement in reaction to Commonwealth Court’s refusal to grant an injunction to halt the implementation of the voter ID law.
The case is expected to be appealed to the state Supreme Court. Senate Democrats filed an amicus brief in support of granting a preliminary injunction.
Testimony presented in court indicated that as many as three-quarters of a million Pennsylvanians may not have PennDot or other government issued photo IDs. Experts who studied the law said that as many as 14 percent of eligible voters may not possess photo ID.
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During Senate consideration, Republicans turned aside numerous Democratic amendments aimed at problems identified in the legislation. The amendments would have exempted seniors, students and others who would face obstacles to voting.
Sen. Costa statement on the court’s ruling is as follows:
“The decision of the court is highly disturbing and disconcerting. Without question, the goal of the voter ID law was to disenfranchise voters and suppress voting so that Republicans could gain the upper hand in this fall’s presidential election.
“This law was never about preventing voter fraud. The state’s attorneys stipulated that there was no evidence of fraud and witness after witness presented details about the obstacles that they face in trying to comply with the law.
“Taking away a citizen’s right to vote and participate in a democracy is a serious matter. No one who is eligible to vote should be prevented from casting their ballot.
“The right to vote deserves to be protected and participation should be secured not shredded. That is why I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will step in and restore a person’s right to vote by overturning the ruling of Commonwealth Court.”
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HARRISBURG, August 13, 2012 – Pennsylvania’s Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) is once again accepting applications now that the state has received its portion of the national settlement with mortgage servicers, state Sen. Jay Costa, (D-Allegheny) said today.
“The HEMAP program has helped thousands of Pennsylvania families in danger of foreclosure stay in their homes,” Costa said. “The program is so valuable for families struggling in tough economic times.
“Using dollars generated by the national settlement and implementing the multi-year funding plan the legislature crafted in the Homeowner Assistance Settlement Act (SB 1433, Act 70) ensures that HEMAP will continue to serve Pennsylvania for years to come.”
The governor announced on August 9 that Pennsylvania was in receipt of the $66.5 million of direct payment due as a part of the $25 billion settlement with the nation’s largest mortgage service providers. The federal-state settlement with five of the largest mortgage services in the United States is intended to address concerns about abuses in mortgage foreclosure and loan servicing.
Pennsylvania is slated to receive an estimated $266 million all told, with a significant portion of the funds going to consumers for loan modifications, direct relief, refinancing and cash payments to homeowners that lost their homes as a result of abusive practices
The HEMAP program was closed on July 1, 2011 when Gov. Tom Corbett eliminated funding for the program.
Costa said that in February Senate Democrats sent a letter to the Pennsylvania’s attorney general asking that funding from the settlement be set aside to fund HEMAP and provide relief to economically hard-hit families.
“HEMAP is a critical program whose funding should have never been cut,” Costa said. “Balancing a state spending plan on the backs of families struggling to stay in their homes in the middle of economically-trying times made no sense,” Costa said. “That’s why Senate Democrats fought so hard to try and find dollars to fund the program.”
Act 70 allocates up to $18 million from the Homeowners Assistance Settlement Fund to fund mortgage assistance measures, with 90% of the funding reserved for HEMAP and 10% reserved for funding consumer protection programs. An additional $6 million will be available to immediately address residual backlog. HEMAP will receive $12 million per year over a five year period from the settlement funds.
According to Costa, since 1983 HEMAP has provided loans to more than 46,000 families who were behind on their mortgages. In the years, 2008-2010 HEMAP helped more than 6100 families stay in their homes.
“We need to maintain and build communities and keep families in their homes,” Costa said. “Helping families remain in their neighborhoods helps our economy and provides stability for communities throughout Pennsylvania.”
More information can be obtained about HEMAP through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). PHFA can be reached by calling 1-800-342-2397 or online at www.phfa.org.
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Harrisburg – July 24, 2012 – Two pieces of legislation dealing with criminal sentencing and changes to Pennsylvania’s tax law authored by state Sen. Jay Costa were merged into other legislation, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law.
“I am pleased that the two pieces of legislation that I put together were included in broader legislative proposals and signed into law by the governor,” Costa (D-Allegheny) said.
Sen. Costa’s SB 519 was amended into a sweeping prison reform proposal that was enacted as Act 122. The provisions of the measure clarify the burglary statute as it relates to three-strike sentencing.
As a leading voice for changes in correction policy, Costa spoke repeatedly on the Senate floor about the need to adopt strong sentencing reforms as a way to reduce mounting corrections costs. The reforms included in Act 122 are expected to save taxpayers $251 million over the next five years.
“For many years I served on the state sentencing commission and as Democratic chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee so I know about the costs of incarceration and how taxpayers have to confront costs,” Costa said. “I’ve been a proponent of alternative sentencing measures and more cost-effective methods of dealing with non-violent offenders.
“My legislation clearly defines burglary and how this offense should be interpreted as a part of the sentencing process.”
Costa said the other piece of legislation was amended into the tax code. Costa’s proposal exempts the transfer of real estate between a step-parent and a step-child from realty transfer taxes. This measure was signed into law as Act 85.
“The inclusion of language from my legislation – SB 593 – in the tax code was the most efficient way of ensuring its passage this session,” he said.
Costa said that the sentencing reform was a key aspect of the budget and policy priorities outlined by Senate Democrats.
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