HARRISBURG — February 3, 2021 — Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) jointly responded to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2021-22 Budget Address with a statement Wednesday afternoon.
The senators expressed support for the broad goals and the priorities announced in the $37.84 billion proposal, adding that the proposal is a good starting point to finding long-term solutions to Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. Sens. Costa and Hughes praised the proposal’s emphasis on raising the minimum wage, increasing funding for basic education with greater focus on equity, as well as reducing taxes on low-and middle-income families.
“There are some laudable goals outlined here by our governor and many of the investments reflect requests we have seen from constituents across the state,” Sen. Costa said. “Our schools need increased funding, local governments need more assistance to handle COVID 19, and the workforce development programs proposed have the potential to get many Pennsylvanians back on the job. This is a good starting point, and we look forward to the budget hearing process and negotiations with our colleagues across the aisle and in the House to get a final budget that funds critical programs and meets our needs in this unique time.”
The proposed budget would maintain funding for human services and higher education, while also increasing funding for environmental initiatives, infrastructure repairs and improvements, and workforce development efforts across the commonwealth. Other areas of priority in the budget proposal include bolstering the commonwealth’s inventory essential health supplies and $8.5 million for four city and six county health departments to help fight and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The governor’s proposal to finally and immediately deal with the issue of equal funding of our K-12 schools, is welcome and deserves broad based support, especially since he makes sure that no student is penalized for this aggressive commitment to equity and adequacy,” Sen Hughes said. “His $1 billion commitment to clean and repair broken and toxic schools, along with his commitment to free and affordable college for Pennsylvania students are welcome policy goals that the Senate Democratic Caucus has long championed. And his desire to do all of this in a way that reduces taxes on low- and middle-income families is certainly the right way to go. This is a good direction, and we welcome the introduction of these significant policy goals as the first step in the upcoming budget and policy conversation.”
The senators believe it is critical the General Assembly develops solutions to the structural deficits the Commonwealth has faced for the past 10 years and failed to address because of a lack of cooperation from Republicans in the House and Senate. Additionally, it is still not clear what the state can expect from the federal government with regard to COVID relief packages.
The Senate Democratic caucus is most encouraged by investments in the following programs for the 2021-22 budget include:
Basic Education:
- Full funding of public schools through the Fair Funding Formula
- $1.35 billion increase to basic education funding
- $1 billion in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants to address school infrastructure needs in PA
- $200 million for special education
- Releases up to $36 million for additional scholarship to students under the Education Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Programs)
- $25 million for Pre-K Counts
- $11 million increase for Early intervention programs
- $5 million for the Head Start Supplemental Program
- Charter School reform for $229 million in savings to school districts
- Sets cyber charter tuition rates at $9,500 per student
- Push for $45,000 minimum salary per year for teachers
Higher Education:
- $199 million for free and affordable college through the Nellie Bly Tuition Program
- Level funding for higher education
Workforce Development:
- Proposes minimum wage increase to $12 per hour on July 1, 2021, with a path to $15 per hour
- Tax deductions for low- and middle-income families
- Provide $3 billion to workers and businesses to stabilize the economy and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic through the Back to Work PA plan
- Improves food security and supports farmers by investing $1 million in the Pennsylvania Agriculture Surplus System (PASS)
Human Services:
- Directs $87 million in federal funding to Child Care Works base rates and create a more stable business environment for child care facilities while improving equal access to child care services
- $8.3 million to help county and municipal health departments fight COVID-19
- 13.8 million to provide home and community-based services to 100 individuals with disabilities on waiting list and provide services through the Community Living Waiver to 732 individuals on waiting list
- Additional $1 million to fund legal services for low-income individuals and families, an issue the caucus has pushed for and will continue to fight for in future budgets
- $1.25 million for 20 Community Hospital Integration Projects Program (CHIPP) to help reduce state hospital populations
- $1 million to reduce the number of children and youth in out-of-home placements triggered by homelessness, housing instability, or inadequate housing
Budget hearings are set to begin in March. For more information on the 2021-21 Budget, visit PASenate.com/budget.
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Harrisburg, Pa. − February 1, 2021 − Pennsylvania Senate Democrats will introduce legislation to statutorily create a two-year window for survivors of sexual abuse to seek justice on claims that previously would have been time barred.
This legislative solution is intended to replace the constitutional amendment process, which has been inadvertently voided by the Department of State. To amend Pennsylvania’s constitution, a bill must pass in identical form in two consecutive legislative sessions. After each passage, the bill must be advertised and after the second passage, it goes to voters for their approval.
A constitutional amendment to open the two-year window for sexual abuse survivors passed in the previous session, but the Department of State failed to advertise it and thus the lengthy process would have to start over again.
The Senate Democrats do not believe that survivors should have to wait any longer for justice. Statutory windows to justice have been upheld constitutionally in other states, and the caucus believes that it is acceptable and necessary here in Pennsylvania.
“This is a disappointing setback in the process to create the window to justice,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “If we continue with the constitutional amendment process, it will be at least another 2 years until the window would be created and that’s simply too long. A legislative solution can create the window immediately, and I’m encouraging bipartisan and bicameral support for the bill that members of our caucus is going to introduce. Survivors need justice now.”
Senators Maria Collett, Katie Muth, Lindsey Williams, and Steve Santarsiero and Tim Kearney will be introducing the bill immediately and have been champions for survivors of sexual assault since they were each elected in 2018.
“To say I am disappointed by this setback is an understatement,” said Senator Collett. “I am devastated on behalf of the victims of childhood sex abuse in my district and across the Commonwealth who have shared with us their heartbreaking stories and entrusted us to bring them long-overdue justice and path to healing. The last thing these victims need is another delay, another slight that makes them feel like no one cares about their pain. Regardless of our politics, religion, age or gender, we all know that the institutions whose failures led to these victims’ trauma need to be held accountable. The legislation my colleagues and I are introducing will correct the mistake made by the Department of State and bring victims across Pennsylvania one step closer to justice.”
“Legislative action is long overdue and with this latest delay waiting another two years is simply unacceptable,” said Senator Muth. “The General Assembly needs to pass a statutory window as soon as possible and finally allow justice and healing for these victims.”
“The time for debating has long passed,” said Senator Santarsiero. “There is no need to amend our State Constitution. The General Assembly has the authority to pass the two-year window to give the victims of child sex abuse what they have long sought and what they so dearly deserve: justice.”
“Victims cannot wait any longer for justice,” said Senator Williams. “We need to pass a statutory window immediately.”
“We led the fight last session to reform Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, and we will not let up now,” said Senator Kearney. “The process of a constitutional amendment was unnecessary in the first place. Survivors have waited long enough for justice, and they shouldn’t have to wait another two years because of an administrative mistake. We must pass this bill now, because justice delayed is justice denied.”
On behalf of these survivors, the Senate Democrats ask for a swift passage of the new bill and the Governor’s commitment to make its passage a priority.
Read more about the legislation here.
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HARRISBURG – January 29, 2021 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus wrote U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urging an investigation into the “traitorous and seditious acts” against the U.S. Constitution by U.S. Rep. Scott Perry.
“This is not a request we make lightly, but the circumstances of Mr. Perry’s actions warrant this step,” the senators wrote in their letter to Speaker Pelosi. “We implore you to open an investigation into Mr. Perry and, if warranted, expel him from the United States House of Representatives.”
The New York Times broke the story that Perry had been instrumental in connecting an assistant U.S. attorney general with former President Donald Trump to contest 2020 Election results without any proof of fraud. Scores of Republicans across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the U.S. have made baseless claims to undermine the election, however the senators believe Perry’s attempt to abuse power are a step too far:
“Mr. Perry, along with many other federal, state and local Republicans, has pushed baseless and dangerous theories about a “stolen” or “fraudulent” election. Worse than simply pushing the claims of election fraud that led to the insurrection of January 6, 2021, are Mr. Perry’s actions to aid and abet an unelected official within the United States Justice Department to use the power of a federal agency to force a state to change their allotment of their Electoral simply because he does not like the outcome.”
Click here to read the full letter to Speaker Pelosi.
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Pittsburgh, Pa. – January 22, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa released the following statement regarding Governor Tom Wolf’s nomination of Alison Beam to be the new Acting Secretary of Health.
I wish Alison Beam the best as she takes on the position of acting Secretary of Health here in PA. She has big shoes to fill, but her strong background in health care program management and project rollout is going to be invaluable as we work to get vaccines to every Pennsylvanian in the coming weeks. Her broad-based experiences in health-related agencies in the Commonwealth will enable her to serve us all well in this new role. Previously, she has served in high level positions with Human Services, Drug & Alcohol Programs, Aging and Insurance, as well as the Office of Advocacy and Reform.
She did an excellent job introducing our statewide insurance exchange, Pennie, in its first year and I have no doubt she will create similar success with the COVID vaccine distribution.
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Harrisburg, Pa. – January 19, 2021 – Again this session, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa is seeking cosponsors for comprehensive campaign finance reform legislation.
“Pennsylvania is one of the most poorly regulated states as it relates to campaign finance laws,” said Senator Costa. “Now more than ever, we need to do more to restore faith in government and that can come from increased transparency and less money infecting our processes. I am hopeful that this year, the legislation will garner bipartisan support.”
Senator Costa will introduce a bill similar to what he has proposed in previous sessions to address comprehensive campaign finance reform, but with several additions based on feedback from constituents and recent media reports.
The bill will address independent expenditures by incorporated entities. The Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2010 has made independent expenditures a leading campaign finance issue in many states. The so-called “uncoordinated” and “independent” political expenditures now permitted by incorporated entities under this decision should be treated in a similar manner as PAC expenditures for reporting purposes. Connecticut and Maryland both have recently enacted legislation regarding this issue.
Senate Bill 11 will address corporate shareholder approval of political activity. The bill will require approval by the majority of shareholders when corporations make political contributions that exceed $10,000. Also included would be a provision requiring corporations to notify shareholders of any political/campaign activity.
The bill amends the Election Code to limit the expenditures of a candidate, political committee, political action committee, political party committee or other person;.the proposed limits are as follows, and are within the middle of limits imposed by other states.
Lastly, media reports have shown examples of the use of credit cards and gift cards by campaign committees. This expenditure method is clearly used to obscure how political action committee money is being used from public view. In many cases, the expenses may be crossing the line into personal use, but because it is difficult or impossible to see what the expense are, there is no accountability. To that end, the new legislation will require credit card statements to be filed with campaign finance reports, ban the purchase of gift cards with PAC money, and define “personal purpose.”
“The people deserve to be fully informed about a candidate’s financial backers,” Costa said. “My bill would restore the people’s confidence that their elections are not bought and paid for by corporate entities, neither domestic nor foreign.”
View More information on the bill →
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Harrisburg, Pa. − January 15, 2021 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today announced the slate of Democratic chairs and members for the Senate’s standing committees in the 2021-22 legislative session.
“Our caucus is diverse in every way – from demographics to professional background, and the senators are uniquely qualified to tackle the breadth of issues that come through our standing committees and onto the Senate floor,” said Senator Costa. “I’m proud to announce this slate of chairs and committee members, and look forward to their collective work in this session.”
The Democratic chairs will be (listed alphabetically by committee), members listed below in italics:
- Aging & Youth: Maria Collett (Chair)
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- John Sabatina, Nikil Saval, Judy Schwank
- Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Judy Schwank (Chair)
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- Amanda Cappelletti, Carolyn Comitta, Sharif Street
- Appropriations: Vincent Hughes (Chair)
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- Judy Schwank, Jay Costa (ex officio), John Blake, Art Haywood, Tim Kearney, Steve Santarsiero, Nikil Saval, Sharif Street
- Banking & Insurance: Sharif Street (Chair)
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- Lisa Boscola, Jim Brewster, Amanda Cappelletti, Tina Tartaglione
- Communications & Technology: John Kane (Chair)
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- John Sabatina, Nikil Saval, Anthony H. Williams
- Community, Economic & Recreational Development: Amanda Cappelletti (Chair)
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- Lisa Boscola, Maria Collett, Wayne Fontana, John Sabatina
- Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure: Lisa Boscola (Chair)
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- Carolyn Comitta, John Kane, Steve Santarsiero, Tina Tartaglione
- Education: Lindsey Williams (Chair)
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- John Blake, Jim Brewster, Tim Kearney
- Environmental Resources & Energy: Carolyn Comitta (Chair)
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- Lisa Boscola, Katie Muth, Steve Santarsiero
- Finance: John Blake (Chair)
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- Art Haywood, Vincent Hughes, Katie Muth
- Game & Fisheries: James Brewster (Chair)
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- Wayne Fontana, Judy Schwank, Lindsey Williams
- Health & Human Services: Art Haywood (Chair)
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- Amanda Cappelletti, Carolyn Comitta, Judy Schwank
- Intergovernmental Operations: Anthony Williams (Chair)
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- Jay Costa, Art Haywood, Steve Santarsiero
- Judiciary: Steve Santarsiero (Chair)
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- Amanda Cappelletti, Maria Collett, Art Haywood, John Sabatina
- Labor & Industry: Christine Tartaglione (Chair)
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- John Kane, Tim Kearney, Lindsey Williams
- Law & Justice: James Brewster (Chair)
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- Wayne Fontana, Tina Tartaglione, Anthony H. Williams
- Local Government: Tim Kearney (Chair)
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- Maria Collett, Nikil Saval, Sharif Street
- Rules & Executive Nominations: Jay Costa (Chair)
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- Maria Collett, Wayne Fontana, Vincent Hughes, Katie Muth, Anthony H. Williams
- State Government: Sharif Street (Chair)
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- John Blake, Katie Muth, Anthony H. Williams
- Transportation: John Sabatina, Jr. (Chair)
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- John Blake, Jim Brewster, John Kane, Tim Kearney
- Urban Affairs & Housing: Nikil Saval (Chair)
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- Lisa Boscola, Wayne Fontana, Lindsey Williams
- Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness: Katie Muth (Chair)
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- Carolyn Comitta, John Kane, Lindsey Williams
For more information on all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus and their work in the legislature and home districts, please visit pasenate.com
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