News Releases
Senate Democrats Elect Leadership Team for 2013-14 Session
Harrisburg, November 14, 2012 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today elected leaders for the upcoming 2013-14 legislative session, with Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) reelected for a second term as Democratic Leader.
Honoring Our Veterans
Today we come together to honor our veterans -- those who have served, those still serving on our behalf at home and abroad and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Our veterans have helped to define who we are as a nation and what we stand for in the name of...
Costa Comments on Corbett Plan to Privatize Lottery Management
Harrisburg, November 9, 2012 – Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) regarding Gov. Corbett’s lottery privatization plan: “The Pennsylvania Lottery is an efficiently and effectively run agency that funds critical services that benefit...
Hurricane Sandy Afternoon Update
Harrisburg - October 30, 2012 - (4:30 p.m.) In an afternoon conference call briefing, Robert Powelson, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and Glenn M. Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, outlined new developments...
Hurricane Sandy Update
Absentee ballot deadline extended in Pennsylvania as state recovers from this massive storm. Harrisburg — October 30, 2012 – (9:20 a.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett provided additional details on how Pennsylvania is dealing with Hurricane Sandy earlier today at a briefing held...
Hurricane Sandy Impact, Important Contact Numbers, Information
October 29, 2012 — (6 p.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett held briefing to update the status of Hurricane Sandy and its impact on Pennsylvania. The governor said that the storm had 90 mile per hour winds and was making landfall in New Jersey and expected to move west. The storm...
Study Details Arts Contribution to Economy and Job Creation, Costa Says
HARRISBURG – October 16, 2012 – Calling the arts “an essential part of the fabric of Pennsylvania,” state Sen. Jay Costa said today that investing in arts is prudent because there is a discernible job creation and economic return. “The arts represent a significant...
Costa Releases Statement on Passing of Sen. Arlen Specter
Harrisburg - October 14, 2012 - State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) the state Senate's Democratic Leader, issued the following statement on the death of Sen. Arlen Specter: "Whether it was on the local, state or national political scene, Senator Specter helped shape...
Sen. Costa Releases Statement on Voter ID Ruling
HARRISBURG, October 2, 2012 - - Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement in reaction to today's decision by Commonwealth Court on the controversial voter ID law: "In my view, the court's decision is the correct one in...
Statement from Sen. Jay Costa on Supreme Court Voter ID Decision
Harrisburg – September 18, 2012 -- Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement on the decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to vacate the Commonwealth Court's ruling on the state’s controversial voter ID law. The...
Sen. Jay Costa Issues Statement on Voter ID and Reapportionment Cases before the Court
Harrisburg – September 13, 2012 -- State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), the Senate Democratic leader, issued a statement concerning two issues that were before the state Supreme Court today. The Court heard arguments today on the voter ID law that will require all...
Costa: Open a College Savings Account in September and Save Money
HARRISBURG, September 10, 2012 – State Sen. Jay Costa said families can save $50 by enrolling online in the college savings program operated by the state treasurer’s office in September. “From now through the end of September, the PA 529 GSP plan is offering free...
Costa Reacts to Commonwealth Court Decision on Voter ID Law
Harrisburg, August 15, 2012 – State Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement in reaction to Commonwealth Court’s refusal to grant an injunction to halt the implementation of the voter ID law. The case is expected to be...
Costa Says HEMAP Restart is Excellent News for Families, Communities, Municipalities
HARRISBURG, August 13, 2012 – Pennsylvania’s Homeowners’ Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) is once again accepting applications now that the state has received its portion of the national settlement with mortgage servicers, state Sen. Jay Costa,...
Costa Legislation Merged with Other Measures, Signed into Law
Harrisburg – July 24, 2012 – Two pieces of legislation dealing with criminal sentencing and changes to Pennsylvania’s tax law authored by state Sen. Jay Costa were merged into other legislation, passed by the General Assembly and signed into law. “I am pleased that...
Costa Appoints Respected Pittsburgh Attorney to PA Independent Regulatory Review Board
Harrisburg – July 19, 2012 – A noted Pittsburgh attorney who is regularly recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer has been appointed to a three-year term on the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) by Senate Democratic Leader state Sen. Jay Costa...
Senate Democrats File Reapportionment Plan Appeal
Harrisburg, July 6, 2012 - State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said that the Senate Democratic appeal of the Legislative Reapportionment Commission Final Plan was filed with the Supreme Court today. (View Sen. Costa's Statement) Costa, on behalf of his caucus, is...
Costa Says Special Election Should Not Be Called Because of High Cost and Limited Time
Harrisburg – July 2, 2012 – Senate Democratic Leader, Sen. Jay Costa sent a letter today to Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley asking that he not call a special election in the 37th Senate District to replace Sen. John Pippy (R-Allegheny) who resigned over the weekend. Costa...
Senate Advances Sentencing Reform and Tax Exemption Initiatives Authored by Costa
Harrisburg, June 30, 2012 - Two measures introduced by Sen. Costa have been rolled into related legislation that has cleared the Senate. Costa's SB 519 was amended as provisions of the sweeping sentencing reform bill SB 100. The provisions of the bill now included as...
Budget Plan Significant Departure from Corbett Approach Costa Says
Harrisburg - June 29, 2012 - The state Senate passed a revised $27.65 billion state budget today that includes a number of initiatives authored by Senate Democrats and $775 million more for key line items above Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget, state Sen. Jay Costa...
Sen. Costa Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Affordable Care Act
HARRISBURG, June 28, 2012 — Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling to uphold the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: “The Supreme Court made the correct decision. The reform provides access...
Democrats: Corrections Reform Bill Solid, Includes Democratic Priorities
HARRISBURG, June 15, 2012 — Senate Democrats today said that a prison reform measure swiftly moving through the legislature with bipartisan support is a solid step toward improving the corrections system and includes a number of ideas promoted by their caucus. Senate...
State Senate Hearing Focuses on Funding Public Schools
Monroeville, June 14, 2012 — Education experts, labor leaders, area school administrators and school board members today laid out disastrous financial problems at a state Senate hearing on the impact of state public school funding cuts. Held at Sen. Jim Brewster’s...
Sen. Costa Statement on the Legislative Reapportionment Commission Adoption of a Final Legislative Reapportionment Plan
HARRISBURG, June 8, 2012 — Democratic Leader Jay Costa offered the following statement on the Legislative Reapportionment Commission’s adoption of a final legislative reapportionment plan: “The reapportionment process has been long and taken many twists and turns....
Legislation Seeks to Protect Lottery Fund, Costa says
HARRISBURG - June 4, 2012 - State Sen. Jay Costa, the Senate's Democratic Leader, unveiled legislation that would institute protections for programs serving seniors if Gov. Tom Corbett decides to proceed with privatizing the management of the state lottery. [hdvideo...
Democratic Leaders Seek Details on Shell Agreement
HARRISBURG, June 4, 2012 – Top Senate Democrats today asked Gov. Tom Corbett to release details of the deal that will bring a petrochemical cracker plant to Western Pennsylvania. In light of recent reports asserting that the deal with Shell Chemical was sealed with...
Senate Democrats Unveil Infrastructure Investment Plan in Luzerne County
WILKES-BARRE, June 1, 2012 - - Northeastern Pennsylvania state Sens. John Yudichak and John Blake today welcomed Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Vince Hughes (D-Philadelphia) to the site of a stalled...
Costa Welcomes Hines Ward to the State Capitol
Sen. Costa welcomed former Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward to the Senate of Pennsylvania.
Costa Legislation to Alter Improvement District Voting
HARRISBURG – May 14, 2012 – Under a bill to be introduced by state Sen. Jay Costa, the practice of Neighborhood Improvement Districts counting unreturned ballots as “yes” votes in district elections would be discontinued. A Neighborhood Improvement District is a...
Weiss Appointed to Audit Commission on Costa’s Recommendation
Harrisburg – May 8, 2012 – A nationally known public sector legal authority with vast experience in municipal, education and tax law has been appointed to the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission on the recommendation of state Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). Costa, the...