Costa fights to restore cuts made to University of Pittsburgh

HARRISBURG – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa continued to push Republican leadership to restore unreasonably deep budget cuts on Sunday night by introducing an amendment to restore state funding to the University of Pittsburgh to last year’s level without raising any taxes or fees.

Costa’s amendment to Senate Bill 1123 would have reinstated the nearly $32 million state funding cut proposed to the University of Pittsburgh in the Republican’s budget ‘agreement’ by looking at cost efficiencies within the Department of Corrections budget and federalizing inmate health care provided outside institutions.

“It is unconscionable that our Republican counterparts are inclined to leave hundreds of millions of dollars on the table while our middle class and our students are going to shoulder an unnecessary and potentially crippling financial burden in this budget,” Costa said.

“The University of Pittsburgh is regarded nationally as one of the finest higher education institutions and public research facilities in the country.  By taking away this state investment and forcing our state institutions to raise tuition, we are effectively crushing the higher aspirations of many Pennsylvania families who will now be unable to afford the cost of a college education.”

Costa’s amendment fell short by a party line vote of 30-20.

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Costa, Ferlo and Fontana announce grant for natural gas-powered refuse trucks

HARRISBURG – The City of Pittsburgh will be awarded a $500,000 grant to purchase four new refuse trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), state Sens. Jay Costa, Jim Ferlo and Wayne Fontana announced today.

The funds were awarded through the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies. No other project in the commonwealth was capable of combining an operational public-access CNG fueling facility with a natural gas-fueled public refuse fleet within ARRA’s time constraints.

“This is a pilot project, but the long-term goal is to replace the city’s entire fleet of refuse trucks to CNG as a fuel source,” Costa said. “There are 80 trucks operating in the city limits that could eventually be operating on natural gas.”

The DEP estimates that the conversion of just four trucks to CNG will reduce CO2 and other pollutants by over 200,000 lbs. per year. In addition to the reduction in air pollution, the project will significantly cut fuel expenses.

“This is a project that pays for itself over time,” said Ferlo. “Although CNG trucks cost more to purchase than a traditional truck, the annual fuel savings of $9,600 per vehicle would return the initial investment in less than four years.”

Fontana said the project would set a good example for other cities and large municipalities in Pennsylvania to follow. “With its strong commitment to green energy projects, Pittsburgh continues to make its mark as a city that innovates,” Fontana said. “This is another example of how our city is leading the way.”

The fueling station will be operational by July 2011 and is located within two blocks of the public works facility.

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Health care the focus of capitol news conference

HARRISBURG – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa joined Senate Democrats and medical professionals in a call to restore the potentially disastrous cuts proposed to Pennsylvania’s medical schools, bioscience investments and regional cancer centers.

The news conference put the spotlight on state investment versus state spending.  Senate Democrats argued that proven, successful investments and preventative cost-saving approaches, such as the Life Science Greenhouses (LSG) program and Pennsylvania’s life-saving Regional Cancer Centers, should be spared from the proverbial budget axe.

Through February 15th of this year, LSGs have been responsible for 3,175 new jobs, 2,763 jobs retained, 136 new companies supported and the creation of an estimated 20,006 indirect jobs through prudent early stage investment that has leveraged millions in private commitments to new and promising life science technologies and innovations.

“From an economic standpoint, we have to realize that modest investments in our state-related academic medical centers are multiplied several times over when you take into account the private and federal dollars which flow into Pennsylvania as a result of the success of these institutions,” Costa said. “We can’t lose sight of the big picture and make reductions now that will cost us in years to come.”

Another concern of Senate Democrats is the potentially crippling funding reductions proposed to the state’s medical schools, specifically the two-year old Commonwealth Medical College (TCMC) in Scranton.  State funding for TCMC was completely eliminated in both Gov. Corbett’s and the House Republicans’ budget proposals.

Penn Hills student receives scholarship from Sen. Costa

Student receives scholarship

Penn Hills senior Shane J. Healey received a scholarship sponsored by Sen. Costa as part of the Penn Hills Council of PTAs 2011 Senior Scholarship Night at Linton Middle School. Presenting the award is Sharon Price, assistant to Sen. Costa.

Costa Joins Local Officals to Honor the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords

HOMESTEAD — Sen. Costa joined local mayors, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Josh Gibson Foundation to unveil 18 new bridge signs honoring the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawford Negro League baseball teams.

The signs are mounted at various locations on the Homestead Grays Bridge and highlight seven players from each team.

 

“Some of the greatest players in the history of the game played for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords,” Costa said.

“This is a fitting tribute to what these great men accomplished on the baseball diamond and what they still mean to the communities in this area.”