Newsroom

Senate Democrats Deride Gov’s Budget as Election-Year Pandering

Harrisburg, February 4, 2014 – Senate Democratic leaders today called Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2014-15 budget proposal election-year pandering and woefully lacking on multiple levels. “The governor really needs to stop promising and start delivering for Pennsylvania.”...

Senate Democrats Press Corbett on Human Services Funding Failures

PITTSBURGH, January 30, 2014 – Flanked by people who have struggled due to state human services budget cuts, Senate Democrats today detailed their budget priorities and challenged Gov. Tom Corbett to produce a spending plan that is aligned with the needs of...

Costa Pleased that Court Strikes Voter ID Law

Harrisburg – Jan. 17, 2013 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following reaction to Commonwealth Court’s rejection of the controversial voter ID law. The law required all voters to produce approved photo identification prior to casting their...

Gov. Heeds Democratic Call to Drop Lottery Privatization Plan

Harrisburg – Dec. 30, 2013 – Gov. Tom Corbett’s decision to discontinue his attempt to privatize the state Lottery is good news for Pennsylvania taxpayers and it aligns with repeated Senate Democratic calls for him to drop the plan and stop wasting resources, Senate...

Sen. Costa Testifies at Healthy PA Hearing

The following are Sen. Costa's remarks at the Healthy PA hearing in Pittsburgh on Dec. 20: Thank you very much for providing me the opportunity to discuss Gov. Corbett’s Healthy PA plan. This is an important initiative and I am pleased to convey my thoughts about...

Child Protection Legislative Package Clears Senate, Costa Says

Harrisburg – December 12, 2013 – A legislative package designed to help prevent child abuse and increase protections for children has now cleared the Senate and is headed to the governor for approval, according to Senate Democratic Leader, Sen. Jay Costa...

Senate Democrats Announce Legislative Plan for Veterans

Harrisburg – November 19, 2013 – At a Capitol news conference today, Senate Democrats outlined a comprehensive package of legislation designed to help veterans and their families deal with issues as they return to civilian life from military service. According to...

General Assembly Launches New Website

HARRISBURG – A completely revamped version of the General Assembly’s website was launched this morning to give the public better access to a wide array of legislative information, including bill text and history, votes in the Senate and the House, committee meetings...

Senate Democrats’ Small Games Plan Now Backed by Governor

Harrisburg – October 24, 2013 – State Senate Democrats said today they were pleased that Gov. Tom Corbett has now signaled his approval of their plan to direct revenues generated from small games of chance in taverns to the Lottery Fund. The Democratic plan would bolster lottery programs and create a potential funding source for a property tax freeze benefitting seniors.

Senate Democrats Comment on Corbett Health Plan

Harrisburg, September 16, 2013 – Senate Democrats issued the following joint statement in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s announcement of his plan to reform the state’s Medicaid program. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Sen. Vincent J. Hughes...

Costa Disputes Corbett Administration on Philly Schools Deal

Harrisburg, August 13, 2013 – Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today issued a statement disputing the Corbett administration contention that state funding earmarked for the Philadelphia School District was contingent on additional concessions from...

Senate Democrats Again Call for Gov. to End Lottery Privatization Plan

Harrisburg – July 19, 2013 – Citing yesterday’s announcement by the Pennsylvania Lottery of record sales and revenues for the 2012-13 Fiscal Year, Senate Democrats released a letter that was sent to Gov. Tom Corbett today asking that he immediately end plans to privatize the Lottery.

Costa: State Funding Aids Homestead Development

Harrisburg – July 15, 2013 – More than $1.1 million in state tax credits that will help finance a multi-phased development in Homestead have been approved by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA), state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today. “This is...

Costa Applauds Medicaid Expansion Legislation as it Clears Senate

Harrisburg – June 30, 2013 – Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement after the Senate passed Medicaid expansion language as a part of the Welfare Code legislation: “The expansion of Medicaid is a win for Pennsylvania. It...

Costa Votes in Support of Budget Plan

Harrisburg – June 30, 2013 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said that while he has reservations about the budget plan that was approved in the Senate today, he was willing to support the $28.375 spending plan because it includes positive...

Senate Democrats Call for Quickening the Pace of Reform at PSU

HARRISBURG – June 26, 2013 – At a Capitol news conference, Sens. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) and Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin) called for a more rapid pace of reform of the governing structure at Penn State and said the...

Costa Comments on Sen. McIlhinney Liquor Plan

Harrisburg – June 18, 2013 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement on the liquor privatization plan offered by Sen. McIlhinney. “Senate Democrats are unified in support of modernization not privatization. “We believe that the system should...

Costa Comments on Senate Passage of Transportation Bill

Harrisburg – June 5, 2013 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of a signature transportation funding bill (Senate Bill 1). Once fully implemented, the measure would generate an additional $2.5 billion annually to...