Harrisburg, Nov. 12, 2014 – Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was re-elected to lead his caucus in the next legislative session.
Costa will be joined by a leadership team that will assist in devising policy solutions on key issues such as job creation, education investment, tax reform and repairs to the social safety net, he said.
“It is a great honor to be elected by my colleagues to lead our caucus for this session,” Costa said. “We have a great many challenges ahead of us but we have a wonderful opportunity to work with the new governor in crafting policy that helps all the citizens of Pennsylvania.
“Senate Democrats have a strong leadership team that will lead an energetic caucus.”
Costa, who will begin his third two-year stint as Democratic leader, will be assisted by Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) who was re-elected Democratic Whip. Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Phila.) was also re-elected as Democratic chair of the committee.
“I am honored and appreciative to serve my colleagues in this role and look forward to developing solutions that address key issues and solve problems for Pennsylvanians,” Williams said.
Hughes has served as Democratic Chair of the Appropriations Committee since the beginning of the 2011-12 session.
“I am thankful for the support of my colleagues and the faith they have placed in me as Appropriations Committee chairman,” Hughes said. “Governor Corbett left us with a dire economic situation in an environment that he created. I look forward to working with Governor-Elect Wolf, our caucus and all members of the senate to address issues facing families.”
Costa, Williams and Hughes will be accompanied by a number of Senate Democrats who were either elected to different leadership positions or will join the team for the first time.
Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) was elected caucus chairman succeeding Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Fayette) who retired at the end of this term.
“In my role as caucus chair, I will have input into how Senate Democrats manage information, provide analysis and respond to key issues,” Fontana said. Fontana previously served as Democratic Caucus Administrator.
Senator Lisa Boscola will remain the Senate Democratic Policy Committee chair.
“Our policy committee has been very active in support of Senate Democratic initiatives,” Boscola said. “I look forward to working hand in hand with the administration and my Senate Democratic colleagues in crafting realistic and responsible policy that will impact future generations.”
Sens. Larry Farnese (D-Philadelphia), John Yudichak (D-Luzerne) and John Blake (D-Lackawanna) will become members of leadership for the first time.
Farnese was elected Caucus Secretary and will manage gubernatorial appointments to various boards and agencies.
“It is a great honor to serve our caucus as a member of the leadership team,” Farnese said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues and becoming a strong voice in caucus deliberations.
“In my view, there is no reason that we cannot find common ground among disparate positions on critical issues.”
Yudichak will become Caucus Administrator, replacing Sen. Wayne Fontana.
“Senate Democrats can play a large role in being advocates for the new governor’s policies as we continue to pursue the adoption of many of the proposals that have been crafted by our caucus over the years,” Yudichak said. “A united leadership team working in concert with the new administration can change minds and provide a path forward for all citizens.”
Blake was appointed by the caucus as Democratic Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“In the next several years, Pennsylvania will have to manage extremely tight finances and dwindling resources,” Blake said. “We can use innovative approaches, new ideas and common sense to move us in a new direction.”
The leadership positions are effective Dec. 1.
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Harrisburg – Oct. 8, 2014 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) expressed his thoughts on the death of former Sen. Mike Waugh of York County. Senator Waugh served as a member of the General Assembly for more than 20 years.
“Today Pennsylvania is mourning the loss of a great public servant. Senator Mike Waugh was a distinguished and honorable man. He served the citizens of York County admirably both in the House and the Senate.
“Mike made his mark on agricultural, emergency services and building construction issues. He was a leader in each of these areas and his fine work will carry on.
“Mike was well-liked by everyone, was greatly respected and will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”
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Harrisburg – Sept. 24, 2014 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following the statement on the Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 1182, the Medical Cannabis Act.
Costa’s statement is as follows:
“Senate Bill 1182 opens the door to a new course of treatment for those suffering from serious medical conditions including seizure disorders and post traumatic stress disorder. This is a great step forward for Pennsylvania and creates a firm foundation to build on.
“This legislation is both reasonable and responsible and offers hope to those living with debilitating pain and life-threatening medical conditions. I have met with some of these families and listened to their stories. These individuals, particularly children and our veterans deserve the opportunity to have access to treatments that are proven to provide relief.
“The measure establishes a process that is tightly regulated from the beginning to the end and there are clear limitations on eligibility. Physicians must be consulted and it is up to the health care practitioner to determine whether a patient is qualified. Once the practitioner recommends the treatment, it must be approved by an independent board.
“I believe this measure is a balanced approach that will help people who are in dire need assistance while providing protection from abuse. I am hopeful that the state House of Representatives will act on this bill.”
The bill now moves to the Pa House of Representatives for consideration.
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Contact: Stacey Witalec
Telephone: 717 877-2997
Email: switalec@pasenate.com
Harrisburg – July 10, 2014 – Members of Senate Democratic Leadership issued the following statements concerning Gov. Tom Corbett’s line-item veto of funding for the General Assembly and his renewed call for lawmakers to consider pension reform:
Senate Democratic Leader, Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said:
“Governor Corbett’s action today clearly illustrates the Republican gridlock and dysfunction that has descended on state government. It is hard to fathom what Governor Corbett believes he can achieve. This is a Republican budget mess, crafted solely by Republicans and delivered to the citizens of Pennsylvania by a party that lacks leadership at the top.
“The line-item veto of a portion of the General Assembly’s funding does nothing to address the needs of Pennsylvania. His actions today will not help schools students, job seekers or the vulnerable in need of assistance. The budget, and his actions, are politically-driven and do not solve problems.”
Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said:
“The General Assembly is a co-equal branch of government and should not be held hostage to the ideological whims and political demands of a governor who is struggling to find his footing in an election year.
“His renewed call for the legislature to revisit a pension reform plan that could not navigate its way through the House, let alone the Senate, epitomizes a Republican Party that is bankrupt of ideas trying to push a pension plan that will bankrupt Pennsylvania’s taxpayers.”
Senate Democratic Whip, Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) said:
“The governor’s actions today, and his indecision and dawdling over the last ten days, reinforce the need for Pennsylvania to go in a new direction. There is no question that we need leadership now because we are going the wrong way under Governor Corbett.
“The budget that was passed is filled with gimmicks and accounting tricks, many of which the governor himself outlined. Renewing debate on a pension plan that is short-sighted and ill-constructed combined with a line-item veto of legislative funds will not force the General Assembly to buckle and act against the interest of the citizens of Pennsylvania.”
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Sham plan fails schools, job creation, and human services
Harrisburg – June 30, 2014 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, (D-Allegheny) slammed Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget for Fiscal Year 2014-15 as “remarkably shallow and incredibly insincere because it manages to underfund schools, job creation and human services while being balanced by unsustainable budget gimmicks, rosy revenue projections, accounting tricks and fund transfers.
“It is hard to put together a budget where everyone loses, but the governor has managed to do it this again this year,” Costa said. “This $29.1 billion spending plan is not a blueprint for the future, it is an election year parlor trick.
“The plan is misguided and inappropriate and policymakers need to quickly change course and go in a new direction.”
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The Democratic leader said that Pennsylvania school students, teachers and taxpayers are still reeling from the $1 billion in education cuts that Corbett authored in previous budgets. The result is that there has been a cumulative loss of nearly $3 billion in state resources. The slight adjustment in education funding in this year’s budget does little to make up lost ground, he noted.
Costa said this year’s budget didn’t have to be so harsh. He said that if the governor would have supported a severance tax, there would have been revenue available to meet needs this year and provide sustainable funding for years to come.
The Allegheny County lawmaker said the governor insisted there would be no shale extraction tax vote to fund education and other needs if his pension and liquor priorities weren’t addressed.
“Governor Corbett had an opportunity to lead by accepting a shale extraction tax that would have funded schools, job programs and human services,” Costa said. “Instead, he played political games with the energy tax and tried to push priorities that are ideologically based and politically motivated.
“The cut budget contains little hope and lots of pain for the citizens of Pennsylvania.”
Costa said that “there is no question that Pennsylvania needs to go a different way using a different approach and with different leadership.”
Senate Democrats attempted to amend the plan to add $275 million in education funding, $40 million for job creation programs and $28 million to restore human services that had been cut by Corbett in previous budgets. Those efforts were turned aside by the Republican majority.
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Calls on Corbett to Abandon Pension, Liquor, Revenue Linkage
Harrisburg – June 29, 2014 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today called on Gov. Tom Corbett to stop holding new dedicated funding for students, job creation, senior citizens and human services hostage in exchange for his pension and liquor reforms.
“It is not too late for the governor to abandon his politically motivated budget negotiating position that will result in a cut budget and hardship for citizens across Pennsylvania,” Costa said. “There is broad support in the General Assembly for a new severance tax for education, job creation and human services without linkage to ideological issues like pension reform and liquor privatization, which have no impact on this year’s budget.”
Costa said that despite the projected $1.5 billion plus budget deficit there are options available to the governor and legislative leaders to address key funding areas. He said that a new 5 percent shale extraction tax would generate in excess of $700 million and expanding Medicaid would create $400 million more.
“Expanding Medicaid doesn’t just help 500,000 individuals, including 23,000 veterans, gain access to health insurance, the savings and revenues that are generated have the potential to save the governor’s budget from becoming a fiasco,” Costa said.
Costa said that without new revenue, Republican Senate and House budget negotiators will have to cobble together a spending plan that uses budget cuts, accounting tricks and one-time transfers that will do long term harm. The governor’s own budget plan released in February used budget gimmicks.
“The governor’s bargaining position is a non-starter that threatens school funding increases, economic development investment and the ability to restore funds that were cut from his last three budgets,” Costa said. “If the governor does not relent and support new revenues such as the extraction tax and Medicaid expansion, there is going to be massive budget problems and fiscal pain that will be felt by taxpayers for years to come.”
“A good example of a cut budget was the spending plan offered by House Republicans which does little to help schools, slashes job-creating tax credits and fails to address key social service programs,” Costa said. “Students, teachers and taxpayers have suffered enough in trying to deal with the governor’s $1 billion cut and his last three budgets.”
The Pittsburgh-area lawmaker said there are even more revenues and savings options. He said that his caucus announced a detailed plan that would generate more than $1.1 billion in savings and revenues. Senate Democrats have also offered their own pension reform and liquor modernization plans.
“If the governor would just expand Medicaid and join us in supporting a 5 percent shale tax we could bolster saving and revenues by more than a billion dollars without impacting individual taxpayers,” Costa said.
Costa said that there is still time to do a budget correctly but that requires the governor and legislative Republicans to bring Senate and House Democrats on board.
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