Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 29, 2018 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today announced the addition of an official Pennsylvania Historical Marker in Pittsburgh: film director Lois Weber.
Lois Weber was the first American woman film director and a pioneer in early film making.
In the era of silent films, she mastered superimposition, double exposures, and split screens to convey thoughts and ideas rather than words on title cards. She also used the nude female figure in the 1915 film Hypocrites and took on progressive and provocative topics, inciting both censorship and artistic praise.
“Lois Weber was a trailblazer for women and all filmmakers in the early 20th century,” said Senator Costa. “She is a worthy addition to this exclusive list.”
Her historical marker will be placed at 1230 Federal Street in Pittsburgh, in front of the new Carnegie Free Library Allegheny. She was born three blocks south of the spot and her childhood home was one block east.
The new markers, selected from 51 applications, will be added to the nearly 2,300 familiar blue-with-gold-lettering signs along roads and streets throughout Pennsylvania.
Since 1946 PHMC’s historical markers have chronicled the people, places and events that have affected the lives of Pennsylvanians over the centuries. The signs feature subjects such as Native Americans and settlers, government and politics, athletes, entertainers, artists, struggles for freedom and equality, factories and businesses and a multitude of noteworthy topics.
Nominations for historical markers may be submitted by any individual or organization and are evaluated by a panel of independent experts from throughout the state and approved by the agency’s commissioners.
More information on the Historical Marker Program, including application information, is available online at www.PAHistoricalMarkers.com.
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.”
###
CONTACT: Bill Patton
House Democratic Leader’s Office
Phone: 717-787-3566
Email: bpatton@pahouse.net |
Munhall, PA – March 21, 2018 – Senator Jay Costa and Treasurer Joe Torsella are hosting a financial services event for working families tomorrow in Pittsburgh. They will have experts on hand to teach attendees about Earned Income Tax Credit, apply for Low Income Heating Assistance Program grants, search for unclaimed property in their name, and open a PA 529 account to save money for their children’s higher education expenses.
This event is free to attend, and the consultation services will be provided without any charge.
WHEN: Thursday, March 22 from 10 am to 2 pm
WHERE: Carnegie Library – Homestead
510 East 10th Avenue
Munhall, Pa 15120
Media is welcome to attend at any point throughout the day. Senator Costa & Treasurer Torsella will be available for interviews in the first hour of the event.
Harrisburg – March 21, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on the domestic violence package that passed today in the senate:
Earlier today, the Senate moved to prevent domestic violence and protect its victims.
Among these bills are provisions that would expedite the surrender of an abuser’s firearms; make it easier to extend a PFA once an abuser is released from jail; and allow judges to use a risk assessment tool when setting bail in a case of domestic violence.
The bipartisan package of bills expands beyond the criminal justice system, into the day-to-day lives of domestic violence victims. Today’s measures would allow domestic violence victims residing in public housing to be relocated to another unit; and another would improve the process for removing an abuser from a shared telephone plan.
In addition, the Senate previously passed Alina’s Law, which would allow judges to require electronic monitoring of an abuser under a PFA.
I sincerely believe the bills we’ve been working on can drastically improve the lives of those are suffering from domestic violence, and I hope to see their speedy passage in the House.
The full package of domestic violence bills includes:
-
SB 196 (Hughes) – Amends Title 23 to allow a judge to require electronic monitoring of a person under a PFA. To be referred to as “Alina’s Law” in memory of the Pitt student murdered by her boyfriend last year.
-
SB 313 (Boscola) – Amends Title 23 to allow for the transfers of a wireless telephone number to a domestic violence victim.
-
SB 449 (Bartolotta) – Amends Title 18 to allow for risk assessment tools to be used by district magistrates in determining the level of danger that an offender poses.
-
SB 500 (Vulakovich) – Amends Title 23 to require law enforcement personnel to accompany a domestic violence victim to their home when serving a PFA.
-
SB 501 (Killion) – Amends Titles 18 and 23 to require the surrender of firearm when a PFA is imposed, limits third party safekeeping as an option in domestic violence cases, and significantly reducing the time period for a gun to be surrender from 60 days to 48 hours in criminal domestic violence situations.
- Current law only requires the surrender of a firearm used to threaten a victim if there is a court order. This only happens in 14% of current PFA cases. The bill will require the mandatory surrender of all firearms by a domestic violence offender.
- Changes current law that allows family and friends to hold surrendered weapons during the period of a PFA to only allowing law enforcement, licensed gun dealers, and attorneys.
-
SB 502 (McGarrigle) – Amends Title 23 to allow for the automatic extension of a PFA by 90 days from the time a person is released from jail.
-
SB 919 (Haywood) – Amends the Housing Authorities Law to allow for a victim of domestic violence to request and be assured of relocation within public housing facilities.
Harrisburg – March 19, 2018 – State Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) released the following statement on today’s decision from the federal court on redistricting:
I applaud the federal court for denying the Republican challenge to the new map. The map provided by the state Supreme Court are fair, reasonable and constitutional – unlike the 2011 unconstitutional gerrymander we had before.
On a practical note, we are nearly through the entire period of petition signing and there are already candidates filed in most of the districts outlined by the state Supreme Court. To undo that work by the candidates and Department of State would throw this entire year of elections into disarray.
The decision today protects free and fair elections.
