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Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Glenn 'GT' Thompson (PA-5) today released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of H.R. 3, a measure approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project. The legislation passed the House by 266 to 153. "Today, the House passed legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline with broad bipartisan support. This is an energy and infrastructure project that over its lifespan will inject billions into the U.S. economy,” stated Rep. Thompson. “Despite bipartisan support, the President has announced his intention to veto this common sense proposal.” “It’s been 2,303 days and counting since the Keystone XL pipeline was first submitted to the State Department for approval. Since then, the project has been found it to be environmentally sound and a certified job creator, including contracts for Pennsylvania based firms. It is time for President Obama to set aside politics and act in the best interest of the country by allowing thi...

President Barack Obama next month will award the Medal of Honor to two Vietnam soldiers and a Union Army lieutenant for his heroics during the historic Pickett's Charge assault at the Battle of Gettysburg, the White House announced Tuesday. Read more here . Photo from Wikipedia The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany and 8 other New York counties have been approved for a federal major disaster declaration following severe storms and flooding in May that caused serious damage. Governor Andrew Cuomo says he’s pleased that President Obama has responded to his request, and that the declaration will bring much needed federal financial aid to communities that saw some of the worst flooding they’ve seen in decades. More than 6,500 homes and businesses were without power and more than 130 families experience significant property damage during the storms that started May 12. A state of emergency was declared the Village of Gowanda. FEMA’s preliminary damage estimate shows that the state and counties spent more than $28 million in response and recovery efforts. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Bellefonte – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today released the following statement regarding President Obama's decision to seek congressional authorization for the use of force against Syria. "I commend the President for suggesting that he will seek congressional approval for any military actions against Syria. While the reports of chemical weapons usage are deeply troubling and there has been a profound loss of civilian lives, many questions remain unanswered. I am pleased the United Nations placed an investigative team on the ground to collect additional evidence. Despite the President’s conclusion that the United States should take military action against the Assad Regime, I believe it remains very unclear as to what goals America’s intervention would achieve. I look forward to hearing more from the White House and to having a robust debate in the House." The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard, today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s plan to reduce gun violence: “The President has proposed a broad set of recommendations, which I plan to review carefully. There are no easy solutions when it comes to preventing violence, but we have an obligation to take every effort possible to better protect our communities, especially our children. “I believe there are areas of policy that can be improved upon, especially indentifying gaps in our mental health system, better detection of mental illness, and enhanced communication and coordination among community organizations, law enforcement agencies, and offices of public safety. I also believe that school safety and the broader issue of child safety should remain a focus at all levels of government and society as we move forward. “While the nation has enacted many responsible limits on firearms, including long-established re...

President Barack Obama has announced a $500 million package of executive actions and legislative proposals aimed at reducing gun violence. For details, and continuing coverage, go to NBCNews.com The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

After saying they were going to protest during President Obama’s visit to Newtown, Connecticut, on Sunday, members of the Westboro Baptist Church found that the hacker group “Anonymous” targeted their website and stole private information on many of the group’s members. The controversial Westboro group based in Topeka, Kansas, protests at military funerals and events following high profile tragedies claiming God is punishing the United States. Anonymous says they will not allow Westboro to corrupt the minds of America with their seeds of hatred, and will render them obsolete and destroy them. Several members of the Westboro Baptist Church were in Bradford for the memorial service for Master Sergeant Thom Maholic. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news , world news , and news about the economy

President Obama will win re-election, NBC News projects. The call came after the president was named the projected winner in the crucial battleground state of Ohio, and won both Iowa and Oregon. This put Obama over the required 270 electoral votes.

Governor Tom Corbett says President Barack Obama expressed concern about outages, and that the full damage to Pennsylvania isn't yet known because the storm is still slowly making its way north up to New York. About 2,000 Pennsylvania National Guard members are working around the state Tuesday and power outages still stand at nearly 1.3 million. Despite the damage in Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth is sending emergency responders to New York and New Jersey -- including 35 ambulances, mass casualty bus and an urban search and rescue unit – which were the hardest hit by the storm. Pictured,Corbett speaks with President Obama and gives the latest update on Hurricane Sandy's impact in Pennsylvania. Photo provided by PA Internet Services

The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, who spent nearly three decades as a professional in a non-profit healthcare setting prior to being elected to Congress, today issued the following statement in response to the United States Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of certain provisions of President Obama’s 2010 health care reform law, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), namely the “individual mandate.” “Regardless of the court’s ruling on the constitutionality of the President’s so-called Affordable Care Act, the law remains just as fundamentally flawed and unaffordable as the day it was signed into law,” said Thompson. “Unfortunately, this decision further empowers the Administration to move forward with contentious provisions that will limit patient choice, cut programs that benefit senior populations, and place an additional tax burden upon small businesses, state governments and the American taxpayer.” Thompson voted to oppose the ACA when the bill pas...

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling on the health care law: Albany, NY -- "Thanks to the leadership of President Obama and his administration, particularly Secretary Sebelius, the Affordable Care Act will provide access to health care to millions of Americans nationwide and more than one million New Yorkers, and I am pleased the Supreme Court upheld this law. We will continue to move forward with implementing the health exchange that will lower coverage costs for New York's businesses and help ensure that uninsured New Yorkers have access to health care. We look forward to continuing to work together with the Obama administration to ensure accessible, quality care for all New Yorkers." The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Harrisburg – Governor Tom Corbett today said he was disappointed in the U.S.Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal healthcare law, known as Obamacare, but said he will work hard to limit the law’s negative impact on Pennsylvanians. Corbett, when he was attorney general, joined a dozen other states in challenging the federal healthcare reform law. When he became governor, Corbett continued that court challenge, along with 26 other states. “It appears that the Supreme Court agreed with the lawsuit brought by myself and 12 other Attorneys General finding Obamacare unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, however they did uphold the law under Congress’ taxing authority,’’ Corbett said. “Despite the President’s repeated assertions that this was not a tax, the Supreme Court today ruled that it is in fact a tax,’’ Corbett said. “Not only is it a tax, but it may turn out to be one of the largest tax increases in the history of our nation. It is a tax on our citizens ...

From CNN: Chief Justice John Roberts led the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision upholding President Obama’s sweeping health care law. The president is expected to speak later today on the ruling that supports the core legislative accomplishment of his administration. The court decided that the individual mandate that requires all Americans to have health insurance will stand and is considered a tax by the court, making it constitutional. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote about the individual mandate, citing the taxing clause: “It is reasonable to construe what Congress has done as increasing taxes on those who have a certain amount of income, but choose to go without insurance. Such legislation is within Congress’ power to tax." The court also ruled that the federal government may not remove Medicaid funding from states that refuse to take part. Voting to uphold the Affordable Care Act were R oberts and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. The di...

The state House returns to Harrisburg next week and, on Wednesday, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee will take up Representative Marty Causer’s bill that would require the Environmental Quality Board to establish procedures to remove flood-related hazards by people owning adjacent property, or municipalities where the flood-related hazards are located. The bill has statewide and bipartisan support. Tuesday, the House State Government Committee will consider Senator Joe Scarnati’s bill that would prohibit the enactment of any law that requires person buy health insurance coverage, and prohibits the imposition of any fines or penalties on a person who doesn’t buy it. The bill passed the Senate in March after a lengthy debate – part of which centered on whether it was proper to call the federal health care act “Obamacare.” On the same day Scarnati’s bill passed the Senate, the US Supreme Court concluded a marathon debate on healthcare issues, one of which is whether p...

President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, landing aboard Air Force One at Bagram Air Base under the cover of darkness. The president planned to join Afghan President Hamid Karzai to sign a new Strategic Forces Agreement, setting out a path for the U.S. troop drawdown in Afghanistan. The president will speak to the American people in a live televised address from Afghanistan tonight at 7:30 ET. Watch live breaking news coverage now MSNBC. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

US Supreme Court Ends Health Care Act Debate The state Senate today approved a measure by President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati that would amend the state Constitution to prohibit Pennsylvanians from being required to obtain health insurance coverage or from being penalized for not doing so. Scarnati said Senate Bill 10 would give voters an opportunity to say “yes” or “no” to a key part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. That law contains a controversial “individual mandate” provision forcing Americans to purchase health insurance by 2014 or face escalating financial penalties as high as 2.5 percent of their total household income. A recent USA Today/Gallup Poll found that 75 percent of voters, including a majority of democrats and liberals, believe the law is unconstitutional. Scarnati said while his bill was introduced in response to “Obamacare,” its main purpose is to address the issue of federal government overreach and intrusion on ...

From CNN: President Barack Obama waded into the growing national controversy of the killing of an unarmed black teenager in Florida, saying Trayvon Martin's death particularly resonated with him as an African-American parent. "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon," Obama said in brief remarks outside the White House. Obama said the nation should do some "soul-searching to figure out how something like this happens." "I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together, federal, state and local, to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened," Obama said. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Senate narrowly rejected a GOP-sponsored measure that would have bypassed the Obama administration's objections to the Keystone XL pipeline and allowed construction on the controversial project to begin. Fifty-six senators voted in favor of the amendment -- four short of the 60 required for approval. The proposed 1,700-mile long pipeline expansion, intended to carry crude oil from Canada's oil sands to the U.S. Gulf Coast, has become a political lightning rod. Supporters, including the oil industry, say it's a vital job creator that will lessen the country's dependence on oil imported from volatile regions. Opponents say the pipeline may leak, and that it will lock the United States into a particularly dirty form of crude that might ultimately end up being exported anyway. President Barack Obama rejected a bid in January to expedite the pipeline, arguing that a decision deadline imposed by Congress did not le ave sufficient time to conduct necessary reviews. Adminis...