Costa reelected Democratic Leader
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.
Today’s leadership elections were held nearly one week after Democrats gained three seats in last week’s General Election, strengthening the caucus to 23 members.
“I am grateful and honored by the support of my colleagues and humbled by the trust they have placed in me to lead them forward,” Costa said. “Our momentum has never been stronger and the caucus more unified in facing the challenges in front of us.
“As we welcome three new members and welcome back caucus members who are already serving Pennsylvania, we look forward to next session with renewed energy and optimism for the future.”
Prior to being elected Democratic Leader by his colleagues, Costa served as Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and previously served as Allegheny County Register of Wills (1992-96) and Deputy Sheriff (1984-89).
Other Democratic senators elected to leadership today were:
Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Phila./Delaware) was reelected Senate Democratic whip. Williams joined the Senate in 1998. He began his career in public service at the age of 31, first winning office as a state representative.
“As caucus members and Pennsylvania residents, we recognize the depth and breadth of the issues facing us during the next legislative session,” Williams said. “I look forward to having meaningful discussions with my colleagues and bringing members together as we work towards solutions that will move Pennsylvania forward.”
Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Phila./Montgomery) was again elected Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee chair. Hughes has served in the state legislature since 1987. He was elected to the Senate in 1994 and also previously served as Democratic Caucus chairman.
“We’ve worked hard over the last two years to make progress and deliver positive results amid a challenging political landscape,” Hughes said. “With increased strength in the caucus, we can continue to focus on job creation and finding solutions to education funding issues that will help Pennsylvania families and their children.”
Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Fayette/Somerset) was reelected caucus chairman. Kasunic was elected to the Senate in November 1994 but also served as a member of the state House of Representatives.
“Working with the members of the caucus we’ll continue to address the issues that are impacting the lives of families and business owners,” Kasunic said. “In the next session, Senate Democrats will remain focused on improving the lives of working Pennsylvanians and paving a solid, sustainable path for the next generation.”
Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) will again serve as Democratic Caucus secretary. She was elected to the Senate in 1994. Prior to her election to the Senate, the Philadelphia Democrat served as business representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.
“We’re energized moving into next session,” Tartaglione said. “With the gain of three additional members, our voice will be stronger as we work together on the programs and initiatives that will help grow jobs and increase training opportunities for working Pennsylvanians.”
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh/Monroe) was reelected to the leadership team as Democratic Policy Committee chair. Boscola was first elected to the state House in 1994. She was elected to the Senate in 1998.
Boscola’s Democratic Policy Committee has been very active during the last session, holding public hearings on a wide range of issues in many locales across Pennsylvania.
Boscola said that she is “looking forward to next session because we can continue concentrating our efforts on making Pennsylvania a place where families and businesses alike come to grow and thrive for years to come. “
Sen. Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) is also returning as a member of the Senate Democratic Leadership. Fontana will serve as Caucus administrator for the 2013-14 session.
Fontana was first elected to the Senate in a special election in May 2005 and was reelected to full terms in 2006 and 2010.
“We have a great many challenges that we must meet in the upcoming session and I am pleased to be in a leadership position with the caucus,” Fontana said. “We have to work hard to ensure that priorities such as job creation, education and environmental protection are addressed.
“We need to have focus and be prepared to move aggressively in solving problems and we can do that if we work hard and look for common ground.”
Sen. Jim Ferlo (D-Allegheny/Armstrong/Westmoreland) will also be returning as vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Ferlo was first elected to the Senate in 2002 and is a former Pittsburgh City Council member.
“I am happy to welcome three new members to the Senate Democratic Caucus and I congratulate my leadership team for their reelection for the next session,” Ferlo said.
The new session of the General Assembly begins in January.
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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 Pennsylvania seniors. The overall question is, why would the governor propose a privatization plan that potentially threatens to siphon off dollars intended to help seniors and pay them to a private contractor instead?”
“As our senior population continues to grow, we need to continue working to build up the network of programs and services to support them, not chip away at the system. Moving this plan forward in the manner as we’ve seen in the governor’s announcement today is more evidence of the kind of closed-door bargaining that continues to dictate policy in Harrisburg.”
“The people of Pennsylvania, especially our seniors, deserve an open and transparent process complete with legislative input and oversight on an issue that will directly affect the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
“The harsh reality is that moving into such a long-term contract as the governor has outlined would be the same as signing the mortgage to senior programs over to a private company for the next generation.”
“Just a few months ago, I introduced legislation – Senate Bill 1574 – that would put safeguards in place to ensure programs and services that have become a lifeline to many of our seniors were not jeopardized, while also protecting workers and guaranteed proper oversight.”
“There are too many question that need to be answered before any agreement is signed that could impact the lives of seniors forever.”
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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 economic boost and a job creation tool,” Costa said at a news conference held in the state Capitol by Citizens for the Arts. “I have supported the arts for many years as a member of the Council on the Arts and on the boards of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Civic Light Orchestra so I know how important the arts are to the quality of life and marketability of a region.”
The media event was called to detail the economic impact of the arts. The Arts and Economic Prosperity study by the Americans for the Arts drew a direct correlation between investment in the arts and job creation and economic growth.
According to the study, the arts generate $2.55 billion in total economic activity and $1.8 billion in household income to local residents and support more than 81,000 full-time equivalent jobs. The arts deliver $360 million in local and state government revenue.
The Democratic leader also announced that he is going to form a bipartisan, bicameral arts and culture caucus in the General Assembly that will support the arts through the budget process among other things.
“The arts community is an essential part of the fabric of Pennsylvania – both economically and culturally – and we will continue to find ways to support it in the General Assembly,” Costa said.
The Forest Hills lawmaker also said that involvement in the arts also has a measurable education component.
Costa cited statistics indicating that students who take four years of music and art score 102 points better on their college entrance exams. Students with four years of art and music averaged 40 points higher on the written portion of their SATs than students with half a year or less.
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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 history. His work and his accomplishments throughout his many years in public life have left a lasting footprint. He led a purposeful and meaningful life and contributed so much to making the lives of the citizens of Pennsylvania better.
“Senator Specter was involved in many significant moments in our history and his reassuring voice was often heard during our most difficult times. Senator Specter led a full life of good works, including his efforts as a part of the commission that investigated the assassination of President Kennedy through many legislative battles while a member of the Senate.
“From his early years as district attorney in Philadelphia through five terms in the United States Senate, Senator Specter was a problem solver who used his years of service to generate benefits for the state. With Senator Specter’s death, Pennsylvania lost a political giant and a friend.
“On behalf of the state Senate Democratic caucus, I want to express our condolences to Senator Specter’s wife, Joan, his sons and all his family and loved ones. He was a friend who stood tall and he will be fondly remembered for his work.”
Contact:
Hugh Baird
717-787-5166
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 blocking the voter ID law from taking effect this November. The court is trying to deal with an ill-conceived and short-sighted law.
“There has been so much controversy about this law, I still believe that some voters will not come out to vote fearing that they do not have the proper ID and therefore be disenfranchised.
“At the very least, the ruling means that voters will not be prevented from casting their votes and having them counted.
“Eligible voters should go and exercise their right to vote on Election Day and not worry about whether they have a photo ID. The whole controversy is a product of a short-sighted partisan political calculation. By not voting, partisanship wins so voters should not let that happen.”
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