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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Harrisburg – July 19, 2012 – A noted Pittsburgh attorney who is regularly recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer has been appointed to a three-year term on the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) by Senate Democratic Leader state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Forest Hills.)
Costa announced that he appointed Dennis A. Watson of the downtown firm Grogan Graffam, PC to serve on IRRC.
“Dennis Watson will be a terrific addition to IRRC and make a valued contribution to improving Pennsylvania government,” Costa said. “Dennis has a wealth of experience in a wide range of legal issues, is a seasoned litigator, dedicated professional and a person who is committed to public service.”
Costa forwarded Watson’s appointment to IRRC on July 16. IRRC is a state commission charged with the oversight and review of all proposed and existing rules promulgated by various state agencies, authorities, courts or municipal governmental.
“IRRC plays a key role in making sure that rules and regulations proposed by government are in the best interest of the public and that they are rational and reasonable,” Costa said. “With Dennis’ experience, he will quickly make his mark in ensuring that proposed rules hit the mark and have no unintended consequences.”
Watson currently serves as President of Grogan Graffam PC. He has been president since 1998 and has been a shareholder since 1983.
A former school director in the North Hills School District, Watson has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania and received his law degree, cum laude in 1977 from the University of Pittsburgh. Watson’s practice includes complex commercial, construction, maritime insurance and personal injury cases.
“Dennis has been recognized by his peers and state and federal courts for his legal work,” Costa said. “He is also committed to his community and has served on a number of boards in West View.”
Watson is a proctor in the Maritime Law Association, served as Special Master for Allegheny County and in the Western District of the U.S. District Court and has been a member of Pennsylvania’s Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution.
IRRC was created by Act 181 of 1982.
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Harrisburg, July 6, 2012 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said that the Senate Democratic appeal of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission Final Plan was filed with the Supreme Court today. (View Sen. Costa’s Statement)
Costa, on behalf of his caucus, is asking the court to review the map that was approved by the commission June 8 on a 4-1 vote, with Costa voting no. Costa (D-Allegheny) says the partisan map has far too many unnecessary county splits in violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution and that the commission failed to heed the guidance of the court’s opinion when it rejected the first gerrymandered map.
In January, the Supreme Court threw out the first version of the redistricting plan saying that the map contained far too many unnecessary splits. It remanded the plan back to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission for reconsideration.
Costa’s comments on the filing are as follows:
“The Senate Democrats filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court asking that the redistricting plan adopted in June by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission be overturned. The partisan map the commission approved contained far too many county splits, was drawn to explicitly help Republicans retain their Senate majority at the expense of citizens’ rights, and was adopted in violation of due process.
“During commission consideration of the final plan, I offered a specific amendment that would have significantly reduced the number of the county splits while holding the population deviation steady. Despite the value of reducing splits and hewing to Constitution, the commission rejected my amendment thus validating my position that the final map contained unnecessary splits and was flawed.
The final map does an injustice to Sen. Ferlo’s district without an opportunity for Sen. Ferlo’s constituency to comment and contains unnecessary splits in Beaver, Cumberland, Dauphin, Montgomery, Washington and Allegheny Counties, among others, that are for political reasons and not grounded in constitutional law. The plan should be reviewed closely and rejected because it puts us back to where we started – with a plan that is unconstitutional.”
→ Click here to view the appeals that have been filed.
