News Releases
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...
Sen. Costa Statement on Highmark-UPMC Contract
HARRISBURG, May 2, 2012 — Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement on the agreement between Highmark and UPMC: “The extension of the contract between Highmark and UPMC is good news and it’s the right thing to do for all...
Senate Democratic Leaders React to the Independent Fiscal Office Report
HARRISBURG, May 1, 2012 –Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes offered the following comments regarding today’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) Revenue Estimate Report, which stated that the projected shortfall...
Costa Releases Statement on Reapportionment Commission Vote
HARRISBURG, April 12, 2012 –-Statement of Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), Senate Democratic Leader, on his vote against the Preliminary Reapportionment Plan that was approved by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission on a 4-1 vote:
“While the Preliminary Plan retains the Senate Democratic seats in Western Pennsylvania, the plan does not go far enough in addressing the requirements of the Supreme Court and, therefore, I could not support the plan.
Senate Hearing in Allegheny County Focuses on Workforce Trainling
OAKDALE, April 11, 2012 — The Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a roundtable discussion here on workforce development issues and challenges facing community colleges and trade schools.
Senate Democrats Outline Budget Priorities, Investment Strategy
Harrisburg – April 3, 2012 – At a news conference outside the doors of the Senate Chamber, state Senate Democrats unveiled a budget plan calling for more than $1 billion in new investments to help create jobs, fund education and repair the social safety net. The...
Meeting Room in Penn Hills Library Named for Local Couple
PENN HILLS, March 2, 2012 — A meeting room in the William E. Anderson Library of Penn Hills will now carry the names of Williard and Rita Spalding.
Pre-Kindergarten Scholarships Awarded to Local Families
GLENSHAW, March 21, 2012 — U. S. Steel and Bridge Educational Foundation announced EITC scholarship donations for pre-kindergarten programs today at St. Bonaventure Parish School in Glenshaw, PA.
Texting While Driving Ban Takes Effect in PA
HARRISBURG, March 7, 2012-- Pennsylvania takes an important step toward making its roadways safer for drivers when the ban on texting while driving goes into effect this week, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said today. “Distracted drivers are a significant risk on...
Voter ID Bill Diminishes Rights of Pennsylvanians
HARRISBURG, March 7, 2012 - - Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa today voted against another Republican led effort to take rights away from Pennsylvanians. After hours of floor remarks in opposition to the Republican Voter ID bill, the Senate passed House Bill 934 by...
Costa Seconds Scarnati Concerns: Don’t Move Primary, Hold Budget Deadline
HARRISBURG, February 15, 2012 -- State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement in reaction to public comments made by Senate President Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) regarding moving Pennsylvania’s primary election and the...
Costa Welcomes 8-year-old Advocate
Sen. Costa had the pleasure of spending time with 8-year-old Chloe Kondrich at his Forest Hills office to hear more about the importance of early Intervention and early childhood education.
Governor’s Budget Proposal Includes Cold and Painful Cuts
The governor’s budget address touched on the themes of compassion, reform, and responsibility. His words don’t reflect the cold and painful reality behind the numbers.
Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) on Supreme Court Opinion
“The Supreme Court said that the Reapportionment Commission has more work to do. And, we agree. The court has required a plan with fewer splits, more compact and contiguous districts, and, that while population deviation is a consideration, it is equal to other...
Democrats Lament Corbett’s Lack of Leadership on Transportation
Pittsburgh, January 31, 2012 – Noting the six months of inaction since Gov. Tom Corbett’s blue ribbon transportation commission released its final report, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today joined county and legislative leaders in Pittsburgh to...
Senate Democrats Say Budget Should Move PA Forward
Harrisburg – January 25, 2012 – Senate Democrats, led by Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes and others, today called on the governor to make job creation, tax fairness, education funding, shale and the restoration of funds for safety net programs budget priorities.
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Redistricting
Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Redistricting Maps
Senate Democrats Denounce Plan to Implement Asset Tests for SNAP
HARRISBURG, Jan. 24, 2012 — State Sen. Shirley Kitchen and fellow Senate Democratic Caucus members today strongly denounced the Corbett administration’s plan to establish asset tests to determine eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.
Sen. Costa Enjoys a Day at WPSBC
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 5, 2011 -- Sen. Costa dances with students and staff at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children’s 125th “birthday.” celebration. Learn more at wpsbc.org.
Democrats to Governor Corbett, GOP legislature: Where’s the leadership?
HARRISBURG, Dec. 20 – Democratic leaders from the state House and Senate joined together today to urge Governor Tom Corbett and leaders of the Republican-controlled legislature to end their extreme ideological crusade and to begin leading on the issues that matter to working, middle-class families.