News Releases
Senate Unanimously Approves Reforming Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority
Harrisburg – June 28, 2016 – Legislation establishing accountability and transparency at the Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) received unanimous support in the Senate today, said Senators Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) and...
Senate Democrats Call for More Funding for Human Relations Commission
June 22, 2016 - State Senate Democratic Whip Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) today said that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) has been devastated by recurring state budget cuts and that the state spending plan now under consideration...
Senate Democrats Outline Legislation to Combat Opioid and Heroin Crisis
Harrisburg, May 18, 2016 – With drug overdose deaths reaching epidemic levels, Senate Democrats unveiled legislation today to address the opioid addiction crisis from prevention through recovery. “Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate and there is no easy...
Democratic Senators, Community Leaders Call for State Tax Reform
HARRISBURG, May 11, 2016 – At a news conference held at the state capitol today, State Senator Art Haywood joined Senate Democratic colleagues and community leaders calling for tax reform to protect middle and low-income Pennsylvanians. At the event, Haywood...
State Senate Hearing in Erie Focuses on Gas Drilling in the Lake Erie Watershed
Erie – May 5, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Sean Wiley, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing today on problems related to gas drilling in the Lake Erie watershed. “We need to make responsible and measured decisions about where we can...
State Senate Hearing in Pittsburgh Focuses on Opiate Addiction Treatment
Pittsburgh - April 7, 2016 - At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on ways to improve access to treatment for people suffering from addiction to opiates, such as heroin, opium and...
Costa, Fontana Call For Removal of ICA Director, Criminal Investigation
Harrisburg, April 5, 2016 - State Sen. Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Caucus Chairman Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) called today for the removal of Pittsburgh Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) Executive Director Henry V. Sciortino and...
Senate Democrats Say Wolf’s Budget Focused on Education, Deficit Reduction
Harrisburg – Feb. 9, 2016 – Facing an unfinished 2015-16 budget with the need to reconcile a 2016-17 spending plan that has a looming $2 billion deficit, Gov. Tom Wolf was forced to focus his second state budget proposal on education and deficit reduction, according...
Senate Democrats React to Budget Line-Item Veto
Harrisburg – Dec. 29, 2015 – Senate Democrats provided the following reaction to Gov. Tom Wolf’s line-item veto of a Republican budget plan. The governor released six months of emergency funding for schools and human service programs, or $23.39 billion of the House...
Senate Approves General Fund Budget
Harrisburg – Dec. 7, 2015 –The Senate approved a $30.5 billion General Fund budget that provides for a historic increase in school funding, the restoration of job creation and human service program funds, and long-term fiscal stability without a broad-based tax...
Costa, Bartolotta Highway Worker Safety Legislation Heading to Governor for Signature
Harrisburg, Nov. 18, 2015 – Legislation geared toward preventing distracted and aggressive driving in work zones is heading to Gov. Tom Wolf for signature after unanimous concurrence by the Senate this week, according to the bill’s sponsors, Senate Democratic Leader...
Costa Comments of Announcement of State Budget Framework
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...
State Senate Roundtable in Pittsburgh Focuses on Integrating Arts into Math and Science Curricula
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...
Senate Highway Worker Safety Legislation Clears House Committee
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...
Scarnati Announces Special Committee on Senate Address
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...
Senate Democrats Ask Treasurer to Withhold Payment to Charters
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...
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...
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.”
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...
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....