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HARRISBURG – Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) was sworn in to his seventh term of office on Tuesday at the state Capitol. His priorities for the 2015-16 legislative session include fighting back against overregulation of the state’s conventional oil and gas industry; ensuring fair compensation for state-owned lands in the region; and adopting an on-time, fiscally responsible budget. “These priorities each play a vital role in the future economic health of our region,” Causer said. “Rural Pennsylvania faces unique challenges that are often not understood by members in the urban and suburban regions of the state. I take very seriously my responsibility to ensure the voice of rural Pennsylvania, and specifically the voice of McKean, Potter and Cameron counties, is heard. “One of the biggest challenges facing our region is the outright attack by regulators on our conventional oil and gas producers. I have been fighting, and will continue to fight, to ensure the survival o...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Ground was broken this morning for the new visitor center at Kinzua Bridge State Park, and Senator Joe Scarnati says the center is an important cog in the machine that’s putting this part of the state back together. He said to say the northwest region of the state has suffered economically recently would be an understatement. “It’s been a tough time,” Scarnati said, “but it’s all of these great attractions that is only going to enhance” the area by bringing in more visitors, more business for local shopkeepers, and the opportunity for more jobs. “This state park is a crown jewel in our state park system,” he said. Scarnati also said having a year round visitor center was the right way to go. During the ceremony before the groundbreaking, several people talked about their memories of the bridge before a tornado toppled part of it in 2003. State Rep. Kathy Rapp said her grandfather used to take her to the bridge when she was a little g...

U.S. Representative Glenn 'GT' Thompson (PA-5) issued the following statement in celebration of Independence Day: "On Independence Day we honor a group of early revolutionaries, including our Founding Fathers, for pledging their lives and fortunes in the name of liberty. We also give praise to the generations of Americans who have made our country what it is today and most especially the countless men and women of our military who sacrifice on our nation’s behalf. Today as we celebrate with picnics, parades and fireworks, let’s always give thanks for the cherished blessings bestowed upon us by our forefathers. My wife, Penny, and I wish all Americans a happy and safe July 4th.” Thompson will attend the annual 4th of July Parade in Warren (along with State Rep. Kathy Rapp), the Lawrence Park Township Independence Day Parade in Erie, and the Central Pennsylvania 4th Fest in Centre County. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) wants to protect the Allegheny National Forest and ensure the National Forest Service adequately manages our cherished woodlands before continuing to acquire additional property. Sen. Toomey joined Sen. John Thune and a group of seven senators in appealing to the Chairman and top Republican on the committee that designates funding for the National Forest Service that “Congress should ensure that the Forest Service prioritize limited resources to adequately manage the lands for which it is currently responsible, rather continue to acquire additional property.” “Our Allegheny National Forest is the gem of northwest Pennsylvania and a treasure all Americans can enjoy,” said Sen. Toomey. “The ANF, like other national forests, must be cared for and proactively managed to improve forest health before the government seeks to acquire more land with taxpayer dollars.” Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, whose district includes most of the ...

HARRISBURG – Recognizing the significant differences between shallow well drilling and drilling in the Marcellus Shale, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today approved legislation that would require the state to adopt separate regulations for the two distinct activities. House Bill 2350, sponsored by Reps. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) and Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk), would direct the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) to separate both existing and proposed regulations for the drilling, alteration, operation and plugging of unconventional gas wells and conventional oil and gas wells in the Commonwealth. “When it comes to regulations, it’s very important to recognize the vast differences between conventional drilling and drilling in the Marcellus Shale,” Causer said. “Conventional wells are shallow and have significantly smaller well pads. Their overall impact on the surrounding environment is far less than that of deep, Marcellus...

HARRISBURG — On Wednesday, Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) was joined by several local tow truck company operators during a joint House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and Judiciary Committee hearing to examine the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Emergency Towing pilot program that began operating throughout portions of western Pennsylvania last fall. The program currently requires troopers to contact AutoReturn, a California-based service provider under contract by the state to dispatch participating towing companies to clear vehicles from accident scenes. The goal of the pilot program is to increase the safety of travelers and emergency crews and allow for travel lanes to more quickly re-open following an accident. Throughout Wednesday’s hearing, which lasted nearly five hours, Rapp extensively questioned several high-ranking members of the state police and AutoReturn CEO John Wicker, who all share direct oversight of the pilot program’s implem...

State Rep. Marty Causer presents State Rep. Kathy Rapp with a plaque recognizing her years of service to McKean County. Because of legislative redistricting Rapp will no longer be representing the four townships in McKean County she had been. WESB photo

HARRISBURG – Working to ensure the survival of the state’s conventional oil and gas industries, Reps. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), Kathy Rapp (R-Warren) and Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) will soon introduce legislation requiring separate regulations for conventional and unconventional drilling operations. “Conventional drilling is, without question, far different than drilling in the Marcellus Shale, and it simply makes no sense to apply the same standards to these operations,” Causer said. “Regulations being proposed because of Marcellus drilling could easily put the state’s smaller producers out of business, and that would be devastating to our rural areas where these businesses provide good, family-sustaining jobs.” Rapp agreed. “The bureaucrats who write these regulations have demonstrated a serious lack of understanding about how shallow well drilling differs from drilling in the Marcellus, and that could have dire consequences for our local producers and the thousands ...

HARRISBURG – A House Education Committee public hearing Tuesday on proposed legislation to bring community college programs to rural Pennsylvania identified both support for and concerns with the concept, said Reps. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) and Kathy Rapp (R-Warren). House Bill 1701 seeks to create a rural community college pilot program serving an 11-county region of northwest and northcentral Pennsylvania. “Two things became very clear during today’s hearing,” Causer said. “One, every single person who testified recognized the need for additional education and training opportunities in our region. And two, some in the education establishment see my proposal as one that infringes on their turf and their funding. “That’s unfortunate, because the discussion really should be about our students in rural Pennsylvania and ensuring accessibility to affordable education and training programs,” he added. “This is about providing the students of rural Pennsylvania with the...

Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) is inviting area residents to join him at one of two town hall meetings scheduled for the end of February. The first is a joint meeting with Rep. Kathy Rapp and will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Kane Senior Center, 100 Fraley St., Kane. The second will be held on Friday, Feb. 28, at 8 a.m. at the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital Wellness Center, 1001 East Second St., Coudersport. “I encourage people to come out to the meeting to talk about any questions or concerns they may have about state government,” Causer said. “I will also provide an update on the state budget and other issues on the agenda at the state Capitol.” Causer noted several communities in western McKean County that are currently part of the 65th Legislative District served by Rapp will, as a result of the legislative redistricting process, become part of the 67th district he now represents. The change becomes effective on Dec. 1, 2014. Redistricting takes ...

HARRISBURG (News Release) — After casting her fourth "no" vote in less than a week, Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) issued the following statement regarding Thursday evening’s final passage of a transportation funding plan that contains a $2.3 billion increase in gas taxes and fees on Pennsylvania drivers: “There is no excuse to impose an additional $2.3 billion gas tax and fee increase on Pennsylvania motorists when we already spend close to $7 billion annually on transportation. My constituents view this transportation plan which is now awaiting the governor’s signature as more money they are going to have pay to fuel and maintain their vehicles to subsidize mass transit for Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. “Any additional revenue that comes out of this transportation funding plan comes at the full expense and burden of Pennsylvania motorists. While I agree with the governor that funding and maintaining our infrastructure is a core function of governm...

Dozens of grassroots organizers and concerned citizens joined in a rally in the state Capitol today to urge passage of legislation calling for the public display of the official national motto “In God We Trust.” Rep. Kathy Rapp said the legislation calling for the public posting of the motto in school buildings throughout the Commonwealth serves as an educational aid to remind students about the underlying values held by the nation’s founders. “In God We Trust” was officially adopted as the national motto in 1956, and appeared on US currency as early as 1864. What do you think? Let us know in the comment section -- Keep it clean! (Note: All comments have to be approved by the moderator before they show up, so there's no need to re-post if you don't see your comment right away.) The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

WARREN – This coming November, Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) will host a ceremony honoring the men and women of the United States military who served in the U.S armed forces from 1990 (the time of the Persian Gulf War which ushered in the era of modern warfare) through the present (including the ongoing War Against Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan). To ensure as many veterans as possible receive recognition, Rapp is asking all local military veterans who served in any of these conflicts, their friends or their family members from the 65th Legislative District to contact her Warren office. “Beginning with World War II, over the past several years we have done an excellent job recognizing the heroic sacrifices of our veterans who served in each of the 20th century’s major military conflicts,” said Rapp, who serves on the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. “My objective in hosting this event is to complete this ever-expanding circle of hono...

WARREN — Resolutions sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) and Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Warren/Butler/Clarion/Erie/Venango) commemorating the life and achievements of Charles Warren Stone on the 170th anniversary of his birth unanimously passed both the state House and Senate on Monday. Born on June 29, 1843, Stone was elected to serve the people of Warren County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1869. “From his humble beginnings as a school principal and local attorney to proudly representing the citizens of Warren County at some of the highest levels of elected office, Charles Warren Stone personified what it means to be a lifetime public servant who was truly dedicated to bettering his community, his Commonwealth and his country,” said Rapp. “The purpose of my resolution is to make sure his tremendous legacy is never forgotten.” In 1876, Stone was elected to the Senate of this Commonwealth where he served as chair of the Judiciary General Com...

HARRISBURG — Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) voted in support of a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study of all aspects of Pennsylvania’s mental health system and associated laws. The Pennsylvania House unanimously adopted House Resolution 226 on Tuesday. “Conducting this study is long overdue, especially considering that Pennsylvania’s current Mental Health Procedures Act which governs the state’s regulations and procedures relating to the mental health treatment of inmates is more than 35 years old,” said Rapp. “With such antiquated and inadequate regulations, it is little wonder that our state and county correctional facilities are extremely overcrowded and the state is incarcerating tens of thousands inmates with a mental health diagnosis. I will continue to work in a bipartisan manner with my legislative colleagues, Pennsylvania Public Welfare Secretary Beverly Mackereth and Corrections Secretary John Wetzel to protect Penns...

HARRISBURG—Sponsored by Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean), legislation directing the PA Department of Health to establish the Early Childhood Vision Care Education Program (House Bill 477) unanimously passed the state House today. “The purpose of this legislation is to encourage all Pennsylvania citizens to make themselves, their families and their communities aware that early recognition of childhood eye disorders and diseases results in more effective treatment that can be both sight-saving and even life-saving,” said Rapp. “For example, if left untreated, retinoblastoma is almost always fatal, but with early detection and appropriate treatment, the overall survival rate increases to 95 percent.” The National Institute of Health reports that many vision problems develop before children reach school age. Fewer than 15 percent of all preschool children receive an eye exam and fewer than 22 percent of preschool children receive some type of vision screening. The most ...

Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) sent a letter to Acting Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare Secretary Beverly Mackereth today to request her cooperation in caring for the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens by increasing the total patient capacity at Warren State Hospital. “The state has set a bed cap of 196 for Warren State Hospital,” said Rapp. “With total bed usage at the hospital continuing to move closer to maximum capacity, there is widespread concern throughout our communities that many people are needlessly languishing on a waiting list, or if left untreated, incarcerated in our overcrowded prison system, while the hospital has the capacity to serve more individuals.” According to Rapp’s letter, the Department of Public Welfare’s December 2010 decision to close the forensic unit at Warren State Hospital has created a financial burden on county budgets, and specifically, the county criminal justice system. This decision has also created a financia...

Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives return to Harrisburg on Monday, Jan. 14, to continue the organization process for the 2013-14 legislative session. Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana) will announce the composition of each of the House’s 23 standing committees and brief meetings will then be held off the floor for each committee to organize. Committees are the foundation of legislative activity in the House. All bills introduced by lawmakers must first be referred to the appropriate committee and vetted before being sent to the full House for consideration. Committees conduct meetings and public hearings to discuss issues and specific legislation in order to develop the best policies for the Commonwealth. Members have begun circulating memos seeking co-sponsors for proposed legislation. Continuing the commitment to open government, all co-sponsorship memos are being posted publicly for the first time. They can be viewed under the “session” tab a...

Two of State Rep. Marty Causer's kids, Matthew and Mallory, joined him on the House floor Tuesday for the chamber's swearing in ceremony. (In the background, right, is State Rep. Kathy Rapp.)Below are state reps. Matt Gabler and Carl Walker Metzgar (R-Somerset).