HARRISBURG, March 26, 2018 − Top Democrats in the House and Senate embraced Gov. Tom Wolf’s pledge of support for their ongoing efforts to reform the way political campaigns are paid for in Pennsylvania.
“Our democratic form of government is designed to be deliberative and to allow many different points of view to be heard. But the influence of big money has tainted the process so much that most people today don’t believe their government truly works for them,” House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody said.
“Elections in Pennsylvania should be decided on the merits of a candidate and their platform, not by the depths of their pockets,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “Votes cannot and should not be bought; that’s why we need finance reform.”
Costa and Dermody have spoken to Wolf about campaign finance reform and both said the governor’s commitment to reducing the unfair influence of special interests is sincere.
The two Democratic leaders introduced twin campaign finance reform bills last year in the Senate (S.B. 11) and House (H.B. 1332) aimed at better reporting of donations and limiting the size of political campaign contributions. Neither measure has received a hearing in committees controlled by the current Republican majorities.
Currently, Pennsylvania is one of a small number of states that have no legal limits on contribution amounts by individuals or political action committees.
“Our government is gridlocked in many ways by the flood of money and influence from special interests that often seek only to block sensible ideas that have wide popular support. We need to level the playing field so the people who write laws for our state listen and respond more to the people of Pennsylvania, not just the special interests,” Dermody said.
“Democracy works best when it’s inclusive and representative of the entire electorate, not just of those wealthy enough to fund a campaign,” said Senator Costa. “My bill and Representative Dermody’s bill to limit political contributions will make campaigns fairer and more accessible to middle-class Pennsylvanians, ensuring their voices are heard.”
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CONTACT: Bill Patton
House Democratic Leader’s Office
Phone: 717-787-3566
Email: bpatton@pahouse.net |
Harrisburg – March 21, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on the domestic violence package that passed today in the senate:
Earlier today, the Senate moved to prevent domestic violence and protect its victims.
Among these bills are provisions that would expedite the surrender of an abuser’s firearms; make it easier to extend a PFA once an abuser is released from jail; and allow judges to use a risk assessment tool when setting bail in a case of domestic violence.
The bipartisan package of bills expands beyond the criminal justice system, into the day-to-day lives of domestic violence victims. Today’s measures would allow domestic violence victims residing in public housing to be relocated to another unit; and another would improve the process for removing an abuser from a shared telephone plan.
In addition, the Senate previously passed Alina’s Law, which would allow judges to require electronic monitoring of an abuser under a PFA.
I sincerely believe the bills we’ve been working on can drastically improve the lives of those are suffering from domestic violence, and I hope to see their speedy passage in the House.
The full package of domestic violence bills includes:
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SB 196 (Hughes) – Amends Title 23 to allow a judge to require electronic monitoring of a person under a PFA. To be referred to as “Alina’s Law” in memory of the Pitt student murdered by her boyfriend last year.
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SB 313 (Boscola) – Amends Title 23 to allow for the transfers of a wireless telephone number to a domestic violence victim.
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SB 449 (Bartolotta) – Amends Title 18 to allow for risk assessment tools to be used by district magistrates in determining the level of danger that an offender poses.
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SB 500 (Vulakovich) – Amends Title 23 to require law enforcement personnel to accompany a domestic violence victim to their home when serving a PFA.
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SB 501 (Killion) – Amends Titles 18 and 23 to require the surrender of firearm when a PFA is imposed, limits third party safekeeping as an option in domestic violence cases, and significantly reducing the time period for a gun to be surrender from 60 days to 48 hours in criminal domestic violence situations.
- Current law only requires the surrender of a firearm used to threaten a victim if there is a court order. This only happens in 14% of current PFA cases. The bill will require the mandatory surrender of all firearms by a domestic violence offender.
- Changes current law that allows family and friends to hold surrendered weapons during the period of a PFA to only allowing law enforcement, licensed gun dealers, and attorneys.
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SB 502 (McGarrigle) – Amends Title 23 to allow for the automatic extension of a PFA by 90 days from the time a person is released from jail.
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SB 919 (Haywood) – Amends the Housing Authorities Law to allow for a victim of domestic violence to request and be assured of relocation within public housing facilities.
Harrisburg – March 19, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on today’s decision from the federal court on redistricting:
I applaud the federal court for denying the Republican challenge to the new map. The map provided by the state Supreme Court are fair, reasonable and constitutional – unlike the 2011 unconstitutional gerrymander we had before.
On a practical note, we are nearly through the entire period of petition signing and there are already candidates filed in most of the districts outlined by the state Supreme Court. To undo that work by the candidates and Department of State would throw this entire year of elections into disarray.
The decision today protects free and fair elections.
Pittsburgh, PA – March 12, 2018 – On Thursday, March 22, Senator Jay Costa, Jr. will host and moderate a roundtable discussion at the Carnegie Library in Oakland.
The event is titled “A Conversation on Women in Government, Advocacy, and the Private Sector” and will feature panelists from each of those fields answering questions on the policies, challenges and opportunities that impact women in the workplace and in elected office.
Questions can be submitted ahead of time to Senator Costa’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SenatorCosta or Twitter, www.twitter.com/senatorcosta , or through the contact form on his website, www.senatorcosta.com
DATE: Thursday, March 22, 2018
TIME: 6:30-8PM
WHERE: Carnegie Library in Oakland
4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
WHO:
- Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr.
- Jennie Sweet-Cushman, Assistant Director of PA Center for Women and Politics and Chatham University
- Heather Arnet, CEO of the Women & Girls Foundation
- Representative from Highmark
Media is strongly encouraged to attend!
PITTSBURGH, PA – February 27, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today announced that the Borough of Verona will receive a $200,000 grant from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to install Automated Red-Light Enforcement (ARLE). Verona will use the funds on a new traffic signal at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard and Wildwood Avenue.
“Automated enforcement at red lights can drastically improve the safety of an intersection, and state support is so critical to having them installed in our local municipalities” said Senator Costa. “They’ve been proven successful in reducing accidents and improving traffic flow around the state, and I’m glad that my district will get one through this grant.”
Pennsylvania’s ARLE program aims to improve safety at signalized intersections by providing automated enforcement at locations where data shows red-light running has been an issue. Projects were selected by an eight-member committee based on criteria such as benefits and effectiveness, cost, local and regional impact, and cost sharing.
Allegheny County will also get several others this year:
- Coraopolis Borough – $165,000 to upgrade the traffic signal at the intersection of Route 51 (4th Avenue) and Mulberry Street by improving signal visibility and pedestrian safety.
- McCandless Township – $135,000 to install new LED pedestrian signal indications, push buttons, and emergency vehicle pre-emption at seven intersections throughout the township.
- Springdale Borough – $192,000 to upgrade the traffic signal at the intersection of Route 1001 (Pittsburgh Street) and Butler Street by improving traffic signal supports, installing LED modules, improving pedestrian facilities, and upgrading controller and detection systems.
- Verona Borough – $200,000 to installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Allegheny River Boulevard and Wildwood Avenue.
The law specifies that projects improving safety, enhancing mobility and reducing congestion can be considered for funding. Municipalities submitted more than 143 applications, totaling over $34 million in requests.
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Harrisburg – February 22, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement divesting state funds from companies that produce assault weapons:
“Following the recent and tragic school shooting in Parkland, I was mortified to learn that the Florida teachers’ retirement fund invests in the manufacturers of assault weapons. Assault weapons are incongruous with the values of our state and its schools – and I’m working to ensure that Pennsylvania makes no similar investments.
Money is the universal language, and it’s time that we send a message to those who profit from the creation and sale of assault weapons.
The first step I’ve taken is a letter to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS), the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS), and the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System (PMRS) asking for a thorough review of all of their investments to conclude whether any such investments have been made.
I hope this review finds that public dollars have not been used to fund weapon manufacturers, but either way, I will be introducing legislation to bar such investments moving forward. I am currently drafting a bill that would amend the existing Protecting Pennsylvania’s Investment Act (Act 44 of 2010) by adding a new investment prohibition – companies that manufacture assault weapons and large capacity ammunition feeding devices.”
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