Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

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...

State Rep. Marty Causer will no longer head the House Game and Fisheries Committee in the new Legislative session that starts tomorrow. House Speaker-Designate Mike Turzai made the announcement regarding committee chairs just a few moments ago, and Causer will now head the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. State Rep. Keith Gillespie of York County will now head the Game and Fisheries Committee. State Rep. Matt Baker will head up the Health Committee. “Agriculture is our state’s top industry, and that’s because our farms and agribusinesses are operated by some of the hardest-working people in the Commonwealth,” said Causer. “I look forward to working together to ensure the industry continues to thrive in every way, from the smallest family farm to the largest processing operations.” Causer grew up on a dairy farm in McKean County and represents a region rich in crop and livestock farming, as well as timbering and maple syrup production. Pennsylvania is the largest prod...

Gov. Tom Corbett has signed into law legislation authorizing increased state oversight of natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania. State Representative Matt Baker says the new law will allow Pennsylvania for the first time to regulate and conduct oversight of pipelines. "This is very important given the fact that the Marcellus Shale industry has taken off. This will also allow the Public Utility Commission to draw down more federal funding to hire additional pipeline safety inspectors. So the more pipeline safety inspectors we have out in the field, the better we think it'll be for all consumers in Pennsylvania," Baker said. Baker said he’s pleased that the governor and General Assembly recognized the need for quick action on the legislation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission today approved its plan to redraw state House and Senate district boundaries according to population shifts identified in the 2010 U.S. Census, Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint) said. Under the plan, Causer’s 67th Legislative District would see the following changes: All of Cameron County would become part of the 75th Legislative District served by Rep. Matt Gabler. In Potter County, the Borough of Galeton along with Pike and West Branch townships would become part of 68th Legislative District served by Rep. Matt Baker. In Warren County, Sheffield Township would become part of the 67th District. The township was represented by Rep. Kathy Rapp. All of McKean County would become part of the 67th District. The following communities are being added: the townships of Hamilton, Hamlin, Lafayette and Wetmore, and the boroughs of Kane and Mt. Jewett. “It is my honor and privilege to represent our area in the state House and ...

Pennsylvania's new legislative boundaries have been drawn, and finalized, using the latest Census information. House Republican Leader Mike Turzai says five House seats were moved to reflect population shifts, not for political purposes. “The map that’s been drawn for the state House is a strong one from a constitutional and statutory perspective. We always were looking for fairness and our number one task is to make sure that the map reflected the population changes in the Commonwealth and it does that," Turzai said in a news release. "And it also is designed to make sure that as close as possible that it's one person one vote, and we’ve adhered to that time honored legal principle." The districts of state representatives Marty Causer, Kathy Rapp, Matt Gabler and Matt Baker, as well as Senator Joe Scarnati, all change with the new boundaries. Causer will now have all of McKean County and parts of Potter and Warren (Mead and Sheffield townships and the borough of...

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission will hold a public hearing at 3 o’clock this afternoon to adopt a final plan for redistricting the General Assembly. The five-member panel includes the floor leaders from both chambers and an appointed chairman, Stephen McEwen, a senior Superior Court judge who is the panel's third Republican member. As it stands, State Representative Marty Causer would serve the portion of McKean County currently served by Representative Kathy Rapp, giving him all of McKean. He would lose Galeton Borough in Potter County, which would go to Representative Matt Baker. He would also not have Cameron County, which would go to Representative Matt Gabler. Causer would also have part of Warren County. Part of Clinton County would be added to Senator Joe Scarnati’s 25th District. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission has approved a preliminary plan, but it will be under review for 30 days. If the new map is approved the districts of representatives Marty Causer, Kathy Rapp and Matt Gabler would all change. Causer would take over Rapp’s portion of McKean County and lose Cameron County, which would go to Gabler. Causer’s district would also include Mead and Sheffield townships and the Borough of Clarendon in Warren County. His district would not include part of Potter County: Abbott, Hecktor, Pike, Stewardson and West Branch townships, and the Borough of Galeton. That section of the county would go to Rep. Matt Baker. State Senator Joe Scarnati’s district would include parts of Clinton County and more of Clearfield County, but would not include the City of Warren, which would go to Senator Mary Jo White. Scarnati’s administrative assistant Anne Albright in Warren said she doesn’t know yet what will happen with that office. You can find all the information ab...

State Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) and State Representative Matt Baker (R-68) announced that $500,000 in state grants have been released by the Corbett Administration for the construction of a hydraulic stimulation fluid manufacturing facility in Blossburg, Tioga County. The funding is being made available through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, which is intended to assist in the immediate creation of quality, family-sustaining jobs. The administration of the grant is being overseen by the Tioga County Development Corporation and is part of a $12 million project to recycle frack water. The plant will use a process that will convert flow back water from natural gas drilling fracking operations into a usable Hydraulic Stimulation Fluid. “This additional funding will provide dozens of new jobs to residents of this area, as part of the growing Marcellus Shale industry, Scarnati said. “Not only will new jobs be created, but the facility will help to promote clean water and prot...

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati expressed extreme gratitude to Representative Matt Baker for his efforts to amend the language currently in Senate Bill 9 into an illegal workers bill in the House of Representatives. The amendment failed mostly down party lines with a few Republican Representatives also voting “no.” Senate Bill 9 and the language in Representative Baker’s amendment would prohibit illegal aliens living in Pennsylvania from receiving public benefits, such as Medicaid, welfare, or in-state tuition. “I am grateful to Representative Baker for attempting to place this common sense language into a House Bill,” Scarnati stated. “Clearly, Representative Baker recognizes that Pennsylvania citizens should not have to sacrifice their hard-earned dollars for individuals living in this country illegally.” Scarnati also mentioned that Senate Bill 9 has overwhelmingly been passed in the Senate the past two legislative sessions. “Without question, we have too many illega...

The state House Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing Wednesday on making medical marijuana legal in Pennsylvania. Representative Mark Cohen of Philadelphia is the sponsor of the bill, and estimates that medical marijuana could bring in $25 million a year in tax revenues. Cohen says it's time that Pennsylvania provides relief for people who suffer from chronic pain that can be relieved by medical marijuana according to some studies. State Representative Matt Baker of Tioga County has some concerns about the issue, including the benefits of using the drug. "Despite anecdotal claims, smoked marijuana has not been found to be safe or effective treating any medical condition, primarily because its alleged therapeutic utility has yet to be sufficiently demonstrated in well-controlled clinical trials," Baker said. In a letter to the committee, Attorney General Tom Corbett said he opposes the bill, saying that even the limited legalization of marijuana could compoun...