Democratic leaders will serve on Redistricting Reform Commission

HARRISBURG, December 3, 2018 – The Democratic leaders of the House and Senate will both serve on the bipartisan Pennsylvania Redistricting Reform Commission formed by Gov. Tom Wolf and they intend to participate fully in the panel’s work.

Sen. Jay Costa and Rep. Frank Dermody look forward to helping in a comprehensive review of Pennsylvania’s redistricting process and offering recommendations later in 2019 to improve its integrity and fairness.

“The commission has no authority to change state law and will simply be offering ideas for the governor and legislature to consider using during the redistricting process,” Dermody said. “That’s a worthy purpose and we’re proud to join Governor Wolf’s appointees in undertaking a serious effort that will offer needed perspective.”

“A key part of the group’s effort will be getting citizens to engage in our work. For too long they have felt shut out of a meaningful role in redistricting,” Costa said. “The upcoming work of the commission will prioritize hearing what the public has to say.”

Wolf established the commission with an executive order last week and appointed 11 of the 15 members. The remaining four slots are for legislators chosen by the respective leaders of the four legislative caucuses.

Wolf also named David Thornburgh of the Committee of Seventy in Philadelphia to lead the commission and gave the group nine months to do its work and produce recommendations.

Costa and Dermody were puzzled by the initial hostile reaction of Republican leadership.

“This is an important assignment and it should be completed in a non-partisan spirit as the governor envisions,” Costa said.

“We hope our Republican colleagues will listen to the many people who are excited about this work and then decide to take part,” Dermody said.

CONTACT: Bill Patton
House Democratic Leader’s Office
Phone: 717-787-3566
Email: bpatton@pahouse.net

CONTACT: Brittany Crampsie
Senate Democratic Leader’s Office
Phone: (717) 712-3480
Email: brittany.crampsie@pasenate.com

Costa Endorses Report of Commission that Examined Fire and Emergency Services Issues

Harrisburg – November 28, 2018 – Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. (D-Allegheny) released the following statement regarding the adoption of the report from a select commission that examined issues impacting fire and emergency services. 

Costa served as a member of the SR 6 Commission and is Democratic chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

At a Nov. 28 meeting in Harrisburg, the Senate Resolution 6 Commission adopted its final report. The report included 27 recommendations aimed at providing additional support to our volunteer fire and emergency medical services throughout Pennsylvania.

Costa’s comments follow:

“I would like to personally thank all the members of the commission for their contributions and dedication.  Their hard work, combined with a determination to examine options and explore solutions, enabled this comprehensive report to be completed.  Senator (Randy) Vulakovich and his staff worked tirelessly and managed issues well for the last two years.

“I look forward to seeing all of the recommendations introduced in the upcoming legislative session and will work for their consideration and passage.”

The commission was comprised of a variety of individuals representing volunteer fire services, professional fire services, volunteer and professional emergency medical services, local government and state officials.

The central focus of the commission’s work was to address problems of recruiting and retaining volunteer emergency services personnel by providing an assortment of tools and innovations.  The commission also included several recommendations aimed at assisting career, professional fire and EMS departments.

Several of the recommendations:

  • Improve coordination of efforts between local governments and volunteer firefighting and emergency medical services regarding standards for cover and possible regionalization of efforts;
  • Utilize financial and non-financial incentives to recruit and retain first responders including Length of Service Award Payments (LOSAP) and other benefit programs;
  • Pursue ideas to improve volunteer fire fighter recruitment and retention by clarifying training requirements;
  • Enhance state support of municipal and volunteer firefighting and emergency medical services;
  • Ensure minimum fire and emergency services coverage through government partnerships;
  • Open eligibility for Volunteer Loan Assistance Program to all fire service providers including those departments in cities; 
  • Correct emergency services reimbursement rates to allow for competitive compensation;
  • Create state fire commission and expand the office of state fire commissioner;
  • Designate regional technical advisors to support community risk reduction efforts;
  • Provide incentives to permit trainees to attend fire and emergency services training.

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Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Re-Elects Full Leadership Team

HARRISBURG, PA − November 14, 2018  − The entire leadership team of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus was reelected today to serve its membership for the 2019-20 legislative session.

The Senate Democratic Caucus won five new seats in the 2018 midterm elections and will have 21 members in the coming session. The new and returning members elected this Caucus Leadership Team:

  • Leader – Jay Costa, Jr.
  • Whip – Anthony Hardy Williams
  • Appropriations Committee Chair – Vincent Hughes
  • Chair – Wayne D. Fontana
  • Secretary – Larry Farnese
  • Policy Committee Chair – Lisa Boscola
  • Administrator – John Blake
  • Vice Chair, Appropriations Committee – Judy Schwank

“It has been an honor to serve as the Leader of this caucus, and I am again honored that my colleagues have trusted me with this responsibility for another session,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “We have a dynamic, passionate caucus and I know this leadership team will serve them well. I look forward to swearing in our new and returning members this January, and then getting to work.”