HARRISBURG, March 26, 2018 − Top Democrats in the House and Senate embraced Gov. Tom Wolf’s pledge of support for their ongoing efforts to reform the way political campaigns are paid for in Pennsylvania.
“Our democratic form of government is designed to be deliberative and to allow many different points of view to be heard. But the influence of big money has tainted the process so much that most people today don’t believe their government truly works for them,” House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody said.
“Elections in Pennsylvania should be decided on the merits of a candidate and their platform, not by the depths of their pockets,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “Votes cannot and should not be bought; that’s why we need finance reform.”
Costa and Dermody have spoken to Wolf about campaign finance reform and both said the governor’s commitment to reducing the unfair influence of special interests is sincere.
The two Democratic leaders introduced twin campaign finance reform bills last year in the Senate (S.B. 11) and House (H.B. 1332) aimed at better reporting of donations and limiting the size of political campaign contributions. Neither measure has received a hearing in committees controlled by the current Republican majorities.
Currently, Pennsylvania is one of a small number of states that have no legal limits on contribution amounts by individuals or political action committees.
“Our government is gridlocked in many ways by the flood of money and influence from special interests that often seek only to block sensible ideas that have wide popular support. We need to level the playing field so the people who write laws for our state listen and respond more to the people of Pennsylvania, not just the special interests,” Dermody said.
“Democracy works best when it’s inclusive and representative of the entire electorate, not just of those wealthy enough to fund a campaign,” said Senator Costa. “My bill and Representative Dermody’s bill to limit political contributions will make campaigns fairer and more accessible to middle-class Pennsylvanians, ensuring their voices are heard.”
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CONTACT: Bill Patton
House Democratic Leader’s Office
Phone: 717-787-3566
Email: bpatton@pahouse.net |
Harrisburg, Pa. − February 13, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa fully supports Governor Wolf’s decision to reject the maps presented to him last week by just two Republican members.
“A proposal that makes districts slightly more compact but no more fair or representative fails to meet the requirements set forth by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court,” said Senator Costa. “This is unfortunately yet another gerrymandered overreach that cannot be used. I’m glad that Governor Wolf agrees and has rejected the proposal.”
Governor Wolf’s administration hired an expert to review the proposed map by the Republican leadership, and found it “extremely, and unnecessarily, partisan.”
Professor Dunchin, the statistical expert, found that there was no more than a .1 percent chance that any plan drafted to comply with the state Supreme Court’s order could have been as favorable to Republicans as they one they shared with the Governor last Friday night.
“We could have had an open, bipartisan process and debate in the creation of a new map through legislation,” said Senator Costa. “Unfortunately, that was not what the Republican leaders wanted and now we will use our limited time before the February 15th deadline to find another solution.”
The original decision in this case by the state Supreme Court indicated that if the legislature failed to produce a plan that the Governor agreed to, that it would initiate its own map creation and distribute a completed product by Monday, February 19.
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Pittsburgh – February 12, 2018 − After 14 years of financial recovery, Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and local officials today signed Pittsburgh’s official release from this status.
“This has been a long road for the City, but I commend the Mayor, City Council, and the members of this community that spearheaded the efforts that led to recovery,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Many cities fall into Act 47 status and never meet the conditions of recovery, but that’s not Pittsburgh’s story. This is a strong city that continually fights its way back from hardship; from the loss of the steel industry to its recent financial distress. Pittsburgh has never given up, and today’s news proves it again.”
Act 47 status is bestowed on cities facing incredible financial and structural burdens, and allows the state to offer assistance through the recovery process. A recovery coordinator is assigned, and a plan is set that dictates terms of recovery. Once those terms are met, DCED and the legislature begin the dissolution process.
DCED has determined that Pittsburgh met its conditions, outlined here:
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- Operational deficits were eliminated as evidenced by audited financial statements. The City has achieved operating surpluses nine out of the last twelve years.
- Debt has been retired, reduced, or reissued in a manner that has adequately refinanced all outstanding principle and interest.
- Pittsburgh has negotiated and resolved all claims or judgements that would have placed the municipality imminent jeopardy of default.
- Reasonably projected revenues of the municipality are sufficient to fund ongoing necessary expenditures, including pensions and debt obligations.
“The Administration has taken the steps that it needs to for Pittsburgh’s recovery to be official, and I have introduced Senate Bill 1047 which would dissolve the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority,” said Senator Costa. “The ICA is no longer needed, and must be removed by legislative action; I’m proud to introduce the bill and be a part of this exciting final step in Pittsburgh’s recovery.”
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Download Senate Bill 1047 →
Senate Democrats have been in the forefront of efforts to address exposure to lead
Harrisburg – Sept. 1, 2017 – State Sen. Vincent J. Hughes and Senate Democrats applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s support of universal testing of children under the age of 2 to determine their risk of lead poisoning.
The governor has urged the state Department of Health to work collaboratively with the General Assembly and community partners on crafting legislation to compel testing of children under the age of 2 for lead exposure.
Hughes (D-Philadelphia), along with several Senate Democrats, including Sens. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) Judy Schwank (D-Berks), John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) and Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia) have been leaders in the effort to combat lead poisoning.
Senate Democrats have offered a comprehensive legislative package to help children, day care centers and home buyers deal with the threat of lead poisoning. Senate Resolution 33, which called for a task force to study lead exposure, was approved by the Senate in early June.
“The governor’s call for universal lead testing of children under the age of 2 is a huge step forward,” Hughes said. “Finding out the depth of the problem will enable us to better design a more effective strategy to deal with lead and help prevent problems associated with lead.”
According to the Department of Health, 28 percent of children in Pennsylvania under 2 years of age were tested for lead in 2015. Several years ago, lead seeping into Flint, Michigan’s public water system caused a devastating health crisis and spurred governments to examine the levels of lead exposure. Eighteen Pennsylvania cities tested higher than Flint for elevated blood lead levels.
Senate Democrats first introduced a comprehensive package of measures dealing with lead in 2016 following the Flint crisis. The legislative package included five bills that would establish a task force to study the issue and account for the age of the state’s housing stock, pipelines and school buildings; require school buildings to be tested for lead; require the licensing of lead testing centers; require property sales agreements to include an option for water testing for lead; and create a “Superfund for Lead Abatement” that would help pay lead remediation costs.
“We can do better and protect children and families from lead poisoning,” Hughes said. “The governor’s support is key to our success in addressing lead in our communities, homes and schools.
“My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are ready to move aggressively on legislation that gets to the root cause of the problem.”
Information about the incidence of lead exposure would enable families to access available services, Hughes said.
In December 2016, Hughes announced that $125,000 in state grant dollars were available to help Philadelphia deal with lead issues.
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Harrisburg – June 15, 2017 – State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) today signaled his intent to introduce a resolution urging Governor Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro to file suit against the pharmaceutical industry for deceptive and unfair marketing practices.
Costa’s resolution requests that any funds recovered from the lawsuits be placed in a reserve account to be used for drug, alcohol and mental health treatment.
“People are dying at alarming rates from addiction and all roads point back to the pharmaceutical industry,” Costa said. “We’ve been calling on the industry to work with us to be part of the solution in combating the opioid crisis and our requests have gone unanswered.
“If they won’t act to save lives, we’ll force their hand.”
In a co-sponsor memo issued today, Costa said that the commonwealth and local communities are suffering from the opioid epidemic. Costa said that the epidemic has been caused in large part by opioid manufacturers that have engaged in nationwide marketing campaigns encouraging overprescribing and misleading both prescribers and the public about the highly-addictive nature and dangerous side effects of the drugs.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in 2016 4,642 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania were reported with heroin or at least one other opiate or opioid present in 85 percent of cases.
Costa expressed his concern about the enormous drain the epidemic has caused on state and local community budgets and resources while continuing to battle this crisis.
“It isn’t enough to say you care about those fighting addiction and their families – you have to be willing to do something about it,” Costa said. “We’ve held forums, walked facility hallways with doctors and heard from first responders and virtually all of the folks on the front lines of this epidemic.
“We’ve seen the evidence of the epidemic first-hand. If seeing those things doesn’t change you or move you to action, I don’t know what will. But sadly, marketing tactics work, bringing in billions of dollars annually for big pharma. I question when it became ok to put a price on a human life.
“This issue isn’t going to fix itself – we need action and voices around the table that are committed to saving lives.”
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