Harrisburg – Nov. 10, 2015 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today that he was pleased that a framework for the 2015-16 state General Fund budget has been crafted and that significant progress has been made toward a comprehensive agreement.
Costa joined Gov. Tom Wolf, House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) and Republican leaders of both the House and Senate at a news briefing outside the governor’s office today to announce the budget framework.
Costa’s statement follows:
“While there is more work ahead, I am pleased that a budget framework is in place that may put us in position to consider a comprehensive budget agreement in the near future. What we announced with the governor today was an outline of a plan that leaders of both parties can take to their members once details are finalized.
“The hope is that the process can be concluded shortly and that a full general budget plus historic agreements on key issues will be before the General Assembly within the next couple weeks.
“Today’s announcement was a positive development. Clearly, there is momentum and both Democrat and Republican leaders are working with the governor to reach consensus on the details of a spending plan that addresses key priorities.”
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Pittsburgh – November 5, 2015 – At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a roundtable discussion in Pittsburgh on integrating arts education into science and technology curricula.
“Mixing arts into science and math instruction adds balance and inspires a creative approach that has produced significant scientific and technological advances over the years,” Costa said. “I hope we can find ways to strengthen science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pursuits by integrating arts instruction.”
Senator Lisa M. Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee, added, “Artistic and creative thinking have gone hand and hand with many of the greatest technological advances in human history. Arts add creativity, balance and a very human purpose and passion to technological pursuits.”
The lawmakers noted that the arts can be used as a diverse multi-disciplinary learning tool, and provides greater access to the STEM fields for all types of learners.
State Secretary of Labor and Industry Kathy Manderino emphasized that the Wolf Administration’s focus on “sustainable workforce development doesn’t start after education. It starts with education.”
Dr. Michael Self, Dean of Academic Affairs at the Community College of Allegheny County, added that discussions about integrating arts are “critical toward providing students additional pathways from education to a good job.” He also urged that schools work more toward educating students and parents about the value of arts as an educational component.
Shaun Tomaszewski, who serves as STEAM coordinator for the Pittsburgh Public Schools, told the panel of lawmakers that educators and administrators need to overcome “practical hurdles” such as integrating arts principles into science and math instruction, but also work on issues such as accrediting courses, meshing the instruction with curriculum and graduation requirements and certifying STEAM teachers as the program expands into more high schools.
Boscola said employers, such as the University of Pittsburgh’s Medical Center, are hiring more and more artistic people with backgrounds in visual communication and design to work with clinicians and software experts on innovative and broad-based solutions.
Pointing to a Georgetown study showing that 65 percent of those with Bachelors’ degrees in STEM fields earn more than Master’s degrees in non-STEM occupations, Costa said he understands why more and more students are pursuing science and high-tech degrees. However, he added that integrating an arts component could strengthen and diversify capability and add a creative approach to solving problems.
Boscola added that exposure to the arts “strengthens a student’s creativity, broadens their horizons, and instills the ability and courage to think out of the box. Our educational leaders should never lose sight of the indelible link between artistic expression and scientific advancement.”
Joining Costa and Boscola for today’s roundtable discussion at the IBEW training facility were Sens. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), John Blake (D-Lackawanna), and Sean Wiley (D-Erie).
The following also took part in the discussion:
- Kathy Manderino, Secretary of the state Department of Labor and Industry
- Dr. David Pankratz, Research & Policy Director, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
- Alan Johnson, Superintendent, Woodland Hills School District
- Alison Kline, Principal, Woodland Hills Intermediate Center
- Dr. Michael Self, Dean of Academic Affairs, Community College of Allegheny County
- Ms. Theresa Bryant, Vice President of Workforce Development, Community College of Allegheny County
- Jessica Trybus, CEO, SimCoach Games, and Special Faculty at the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) of CMU
- Paul Reinert, Training Director, IBEW Local Union No. 5 Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee
- Shaun Tomaszewski, Coordinator of STEAM Education, Pittsburgh Public Schools
- Alex Halper, Director, Government Affairs, PA Chamber of Business and Industry
- Ramera Powell, 8th grade student, Woodland Hills Academy
- Venneasha Davis, teacher, Woodland Hills Academy
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Bill Heads to Full House Chamber for Vote
Harrisburg – October 27, 2015 – Legislation aimed at strengthening penalties and increasing fines for distracted and aggressive driving was approved by the House Transportation Committee today, according to the bill’s sponsors, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-43) and Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46).
The legislation, Senate Bill 887, which passed the Senate in June, toughens penalties for drivers who endanger or kill a highway worker or first responder in a construction zone. The bill also broadens the scope of those considered “highway workers” to include emergency personnel, local government and municipal workers, members of the Pennsylvania State Police, law enforcement, contractors or utility company workers.
“Today’s vote by the House committee was another important step in protecting our highway workers and first responders. A vote for this bill is a vote in favor in saving lives,” Costa said. “There isn’t a text, an email or a phone call that is more important than the lives of those working in construction zones. Slow down, pay attention and you’ll save a life.
Under the bill, violators could face fines and penalties exceeding $1,000 for irresponsible driving in work zones. More serious offenses involving injuries to highway workers or emergency responders could result in a fine of up to $5,000 and a six-month suspension of the violator’s driver’s license. Drivers causing the death of a worker would pay a fine of up to $10,000 and surrender their license for one year.
“The consequences of distracted and aggressive driving in work zones can be catastrophic and the penalties in this legislation are intended to be a deterrent,” Bartolotta said. “Construction workers on road and bridge projects risk being involved in an accident every day and it is the General Assembly’s responsibility to ensure adequate precautions are established to ensure safety of these work zones.”
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that approximately 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 workers are injured every year in highway and street construction accidents.
The bill cleared the committee with a unanimous vote and will now be considered by the full House of Representatives.
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October 23, 2015 − Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) today announced his intention to establish a bi-partisan Special Committee to pursue possible Senate action against Attorney General Kane, pursuant to Article 6, Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
Scarnati explained that the “Special Committee on Senate Address” will be established under Rule 5(a)(2) of the Senate Rules. It will be comprised of three Republican members and three Democrat members, with the President Pro Tempore serving as an ex-officio member. Appointment of members to the Special Committee will be made next week by the Senate President Pro Tempore, in consultation with the Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa.
Article 6, Section 7 of the Pennsylvania Constitution states the following:
Article 6
- 7. Removal of civil officers. (in pertinent part)
All civil officers elected by the people, except the Governor, the
Lieutenant Governor, members of the General Assembly and judges
of the courts of record, shall be removed by the Governor for
reasonable cause, after due notice and full hearing, on the
address of two-thirds of the Senate.
“After considerable consultation with Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, other members of the Senate and the Governor’s office, it is my view that this step is warranted,” Senator Scarnati stated. “The Committee will be tasked with examining Ms. Kane’s ability to perform the functions of her position with an indefinitely suspended law license, as well as possible other areas that may impact her performance.”
Preliminary Responsibilities and Duties of the Special Committee on Senate Address:
- Within 30 days following the appointment of Committee members, the Committee will issue a written report to the full Senate with preliminary findings of the Committee, as well as an outline of procedures that the Committee will utilize should they elect to move forward.
- Within the same period of time, the Committee will be tasked with determining if there is sufficient evidence that warrants notice and a hearing as required under the PA Constitution before the Special Committee on Senate Address.
Members of the bi-partisan committee will be announced and read across the desk in the Senate on Monday, October 26, 2015.
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Harrisburg – Oct, 20, 2015 – State Senate Democrats today called on the Pennsylvania state treasurer to “stop payment” on a scheduled disbursement of property tax revenue headed to charter schools. They have sent a letter to state Treasurer Tim Reese formally asking for the withholding of the money.
“Charter schools are seeking gaming tax relief funds based on one legal interpretation, while public schools and many public officials have a different view of the law,” state Sen. Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today. “The treasurer should not release one dime until there is legal clarity and outstanding issues have been resolved.”
Charter schools contend that they are due disbursement from funds generated from gaming revenues. Typically, when a state budget is adopted, charter school funding is deducted from basic education subsidies.
Due to the budget impasse the normal funding stream is not available. The charters say that the law stipulates that since those funds are not available, the funds are then deducted from other state payments. The state is expected to make a $45 million payout to charter schools on Oct. 22, with 312 school districts diverting funds to charter schools.
“All of our schools, including traditional public schools and charters, need to be appropriately funded by the commonwealth,” Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said. “However, we cannot provide special assistance to charter schools while many other school districts are suffering.
“I urge the state treasurer to hold off making payments to charter schools until the budget impasse has been resolved and all schools have funding in place.”
Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) called for the suspension of the payment to charter schools late last week. Brewster said “public schools are facing incredible difficulties because of the lack of a state budget.
“Now, the funding they are getting outside of the basic subsidy is being hijacked and that is wrong.”
Brewster pointed to the situation involving two of his school districts in the Monongahela Valley as examples of inequity. He said that while McKeesport is due $1.2 million in reimbursements, they will only receive $41,000 after charter school funds are deducted. He said that Clairton will have to send its entire $230,000 reimbursement to charters and receive nothing.
“Since so many of our schools are hurting due to the budget impasse, we need to answer important legal questions regarding these funds before they are distributed later,” Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester), Democratic chair of the Senate Education Committee, said. “The bottom line is that both public and charter schools are in need of these supplemental gaming funds – funds that do not go through the normal budget process.”
In the letter to the treasurer, Senate Democrats said they do not believe that gaming fund reimbursements constitute “state payments” and that the state law dealing with disbursement of funds never contemplated a budget impasse.
They say that the statute involving the generation of faming funds and property tax relief define the use of funds disbursed from the property tax relief fund. Senate Democrats say that there is no discretion to shift funds earmarked for tax relief to pay operational costs at charter schools.
“Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act and the Taxpayer Relief Act must be read together in order to establish the General Assembly’s intent for the use of the money in the Property Tax Relief Fund,” the letter says.
Costa said that under the Fiscal Code the state treasurer has the authority to withhold payments from the state treasury.
“No payment can be made without the state treasurer’s warrant and approval,” Costa said. “This is a clear case when the law is murky and public schools are being treated inequitably by laws that did not anticipate a long budget impasse.”
Brewster, who met with the secretary of education and budget secretary yesterday about the issue, said he is very concerned about the short-term financial health of school districts if the funds are diverted.
“Many school districts across the state will bear the burden if these funds are released and they are not compensated,” Brewster said. “Given the outstanding legal issues, the responsible course of action is to stop payment until the conflicting interpretations of the law are reconciled.”
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Harrisburg – Sept. 18, 2015 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today condemned the proposed four-month $11.22 billion Republican stopgap budget as a “political ploy” designed to thwart negotiations on a comprehensive budget agreement.
“The Senate Republican stopgap budget plan is a political ploy that drags down efforts to construct a long-term, comprehensive budget agreement that includes real dollars for education, human services, deficit reduction and property tax cuts,” Costa said. “Stopgap budgets are only used when you are not up to the task of negotiating a full budget.
“We keep wasting time on budget tricks and veto-override maneuvers instead of bargaining sessions that would ultimately result in a comprehensive spending plan.”
The stopgap budget passed the Senate today on a partisan, party-line vote and now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration. Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto it.
The Republican stopgap is a slimmed down version of the Republican budget that was vetoed by the governor June 30.
Costa said the Republican plan does not include a reasonable Marcellus Shale extraction tax or property tax relief, which are supported by a strong majority of Pennsylvanians and remain among Senate Democratic priorities.
“The plan is essentially one-third of what was before the Senate earlier this year,” Costa said. “That was a bad budget that was balanced on tricks and faulty revenues that would keep Pennsylvania treading water.
Costa said that negotiators can do better but are hobbled by Republican intransigence. He said that the governor has offered significant compromises on two issues that Republicans say must meet their demands – pensions and liquor privatization – before any consideration of the General Fund budget will be considered.
“It is incredibly frustrating to negotiate when Republicans apparently see no value in agreeing to a long-term plan that includes real investments in education, human services, job creation, property tax relief and a shale extraction tax while addressing the $1.3 billion deficit,” Costa said. “The Republican tactics and budget ploys raise real questions about whether they are interested in any comprehensive agreement.”
Pennsylvania does not have an approved General Fund spending plan. The budget was supposed to be approved by June 30.
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