Newsroom
Senator Costa supports Community College Completion Challenge Week
Senator Costa Comments on the Resolution Supporting CCAC
Senator Costa Floor Remarks on Paycheck Protection Legislation
Senator Costa Voices his Support to Increasing the Minimum Wage
Senator Costa on Arts & Education Week in PA
Sen. Costa Floor Remarks on Stop-Gap Budget
Costa Condemns Republican Stopgap Budget
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...
Senator Costa Joins Gov. Wolf with a Budget Update
Senator Costa Floor Remarks on Remembrance of Sen. Leonard Bodack
Costa Derides Republican Budget; Says Plan Doesn’t Add Up or Make Sense
Harrisburg – June 30, 2015 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today said that the $30.1 billion Republican budget approved by the Senate today “doesn’t add up and doesn’t make any sense.”
Sen. Costa Introduces Property Tax Relief Plan
Senate Democrats: Eliminate Property Taxes for 2 Million Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg – June 24, 2015 – A new property tax plan that would eliminate school property taxes for 2 million homeowners, reduce property taxes by $ 1,990 for another 1.2 million homesteads and provide a $ 500 rent rebate for more than 800,000 Pennsylvanians was unveiled today by Senate Democrats.
Senate Democrats Hail New Basic Education Funding Formula
Harrisburg, June 18, 2015 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Sens. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) and Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin/Perry) who serve as members of the Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) today hailed the new proposed statewide education funding formula as a responsible, predicable and equitable approach that would improve education for all students.
Costa Applauds Passage of Emergency Communications Bill
Harrisburg – June 16, 2015—Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement applauding the Senate’s passage of legislation renewing and improving the statewide 911 emergency communications system. The measure, House Bill 911,...
Costa Applauds the Elimination of Background Check Fees for Volunteers
Harrisburg, June 10, 2015 − State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today applauded Governor Tom Wolf's decision to eliminate the cost of the child abuse clearances and criminal background checks for volunteers. In 2014, the General Assembly passed a package of bills...
Costa Appalled by Republican Rejection of Nominee to Lead State Police
Harrisburg – June 8, 2015 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said it is appalling that Senate Republicans opposed the nomination of Col. Marcus Brown to serve as commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police and voted against a nominee who is...
Senator Costa and Democrats Press for Shale Tax to Fund $1 Billion Education Investment
Democrats Press for Shale Tax to Fund $1 Billion Education Investment
Harrisburg – June 2, 2015 – Legislative Democrats gathered in the state Capitol for a news conference today to highlight the broad and deep support in the General Assembly for legislation that would create a new $1 billion natural gas extraction tax for education....
Costa Congratulates Sen. Smith on Appointment as incoming President of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Harrisburg, May 27, 2015 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement congratulating Sen. Matt Smith (D-Allegheny/Washington) on his appointment to serve as incoming President of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. Sen. Smith’s...
Costa Statement Concerning Matt Simon, ICA Member, former President of Point Park
Harrisburg – May 22, 2015 -- State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) expressed his thoughts on the death of J. Matthew Simon of Point Breeze. Simon served as President of Point Park College from 1986 to 1995 and as a member of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority...
Op-ed: New, Tough Campaign Finance Law Needed to Thwart Outside Money Influence
On the ballot this year are three critical seats on the state Supreme Court, one seat each on the Superior and Commonwealth courts as well as county row offices and municipal posts which influence how citizens are judged or represented. These races are of statewide interest and local importance.
Costa: Republican Pension Plan Falls Woefully Short on Legal, Fairness Tests
Harrisburg – May 13, 2015 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said that the Senate Republican pension reform plan that passed the Senate today (Senate Bill 1) is illegal because it impacts benefits of current employees, is woefully short-sighted, and...
Senate Democrats Call for PERC to Create Fair, Open, Transparent Process to Consider Pension Legislation
Harrisburg – May 13, 2015 – A leading group of Senate Democrats today wrote to the Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC) to express grave concerns about the process surrounding Senate Bill 1, a massive overhaul of the pension system for public employees. PERC...
Costa Supports Passage of Medical Marijuana Legislation
Harrisburg – May 12, 2015 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today that he strongly supports legislation that legalizes the use of cannabis extracts to address certain medical conditions, including seizures, cancer, diabetes and chronic pain....
Senator Costa Comments on Proposed Work Zone Safety Legislation
Legislation to Protect Construction Zone Workers Detailed
Harrisburg – May 12, 2015 – After a recent series of accidents in construction zones, a bipartisan group of senators and state officials detailed legislation today that’s designed to protect workers in the zones. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was...
Senator Costa Voices his Support to Increasing the Minimum Wage
Senator Costa Speaks at the Family Center Network Rally Held at the State Capitol
Senator Costa Remarks at a Capitol Press Conference on Autism Awareness Month
Legislators: UPMC Using Seniors as Pawns in Fight vs. Highmark
HARRISBURG, April 9, 2015 – A bipartisan group of state legislators from western Pennsylvania released the following statement today in response to the announcement that UPMC does not intend to renew the Medicare Advantage contract with Highmark customers: "UPMC has...