Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Speaker of the State House Mike Turzai this afternoon participated in a roundtable discussion on DEP's proposed regulations for conventional oil and gas drillers. It was held in the Wick Chapel at Pitt-Bradford. In the evening, he was the keynote speaker for the McKean County GOP spring dinner. The roundtable discussion focused in large part on new drilling regulations being proposed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and how those regulations could devastate the industry. The lawmakers heard from representatives of Pennsylvania Independent Petroleum Producers (PIPP), Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA), Penn Grade Crude Coalition (PGCC) and American Refining Group (ARG). “I invited the speaker to come here because it was important that he hear from the conventional oil and gas producers who are on the front lines fighting to keep their businesses afloat – and their workers employed – in the face of overregulation by DEP,” Causer said. “This...

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...

HARRISBURG – The 111 members of the incoming Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus today once again elected Rep. Sam Smith (R-Punxsutawney) as their choice for speaker of the House and Rep. Mike Turzai as majority leader for the 2013-14 legislative session. Today’s caucus election comes seven days after Republicans increased their majority from 109 members going into Election Day, to 111 members and retaining control of the state House for the second session in a row. Smith’s and Turzai’s elections were part of today’s reorganization session of the Republican Caucus. The formal election for speaker will take place in the full House when the 2013-14 session begins on Jan. 1, 2013. Republicans hold a 111-92 majority in the state House. “We governed responsibly for the last two years and plan to keep moving in that direction,” Smith said. “We will continue to focus on the economy, private sector job-creation and restoring citizens’ confidence in state government.” “We ran o...

While the state House debate on privatizing liquor and wine sales has stalled, Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati is backing an alternative plan. The bill would create a special wine and liquor license to increase the number of retailers selling wine and spirits. It would also allow beer distributors to get an additional license authorizing them to sell six-packs or single bottles of beer. They now may sell only cases and kegs. The "proposal represents a significant step towards enhanced consumer choice and convenience, and I am looking forward to working with him on this proposal in the fall," Scarnati said. The House spent three hours debating Majority Leader Mike Turzai's privatization bill Monday night. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25), Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-66), Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9) and House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-28) announced today that the Senate and the House will not convene for a lame-duck session this year. "This will be the third consecutive legislative session in which the Senate does not convene for a lame-duck session," Senator Scarnati said. "This decision reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that members of the General Assembly are accountable to the public for the decisions we make." "This legislative session has seen a remarkable number of reform-related bills signed into law," Representative Turzai said. "New laws will create an online budget database, strengthen the Sunshine Law and reform the regulatory process. This announcement is another significant step forward in our commitment to change how Harrisburg operates." "Fewer than a dozen s...

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...

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett today announced a sweeping education reform package that would create an expansive voucher program for low-income families stuck in failing schools, ensure strict accountability standards for charter schools, and increase eligibility for the state’s highly-successful Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The American Federation for Children—the nation’s voice for school choice—praised the governor, State House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne, and Secretary of Education Ronald Tomalis for supporting a legislative package that is poised to significantly improve the educational futures of thousands of Keystone State students beginning as early as next year. Corbett’s plan—which he said he hopes to see passed into law this fall—would create an Opportunity Scholarship Program that would grant scholarships to low-income students living in the state’s lowest performing 5 percent of schools. Families with incomes up to 130...

HARRISBURG – Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-25) and Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-66) announced today that they have officially certified the four caucus floor leaders – Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-9), House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-28), Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-43), and House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody (D-33) – to serve on the 2011 Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC). The certification, required by Article II, Section 17(b), of the state constitution, was delivered this morning to Carol Aichele, Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth. The LRC is a five-member panel responsible for redrawing the boundaries for state Senate and state House districts. Article II, Section 17, of the state constitution names the four caucus floor leaders as members of the Commission. They are to choose a fifth member, who serves as chair of the LRC. The deadline for that selection is 45 days from today's certification, or April 4. In Januar...

By ANNE HOLLIDAY WESB/WBRR News Director Joe Scarnati says he’s enjoyed serving as lieutenant governor, but now he’s looking forward to spending more time in his senate district. Scarnati has been serving as senator, Senate President as well as Lt. Governor since the death of Catherine Baker Knoll in November of 2008. The current lieutenant governor’s term ends January 18, 2011, at 11:45 a.m. when Jim Cawley is sworn in. “It’s been a very difficult last several years,” Scarnati said of holding all three jobs, as well as dealing with difficult budget issues. “I hope to be back in somewhat of a routine to get around a lot more often (in the district) than I’ve been able to in the last two years.” “It’s been a pleasure serving as lieutenant governor,” he said, then added with a smile, “maybe not as lieutenant governor to Ed Rendell -- but it’s been a pleasure and an honor to serve the Commonwealth in that capacity. But I like being the state senator from the 25th District.” He does plan ...

As expected, two legislators from Western Pennsylvania have been chosen to lead the new Republican majority in the state House starting in January. Rep. Sam Smith of Jefferson County, who has been the minority leader for the past four years, was elected today by the GOP caucus to be the Speaker of the House. He will replace Keith McCall, who is retiring. The official full House vote is in January. The new majority leader will be Rep. Mike Turzai of Bradford Woods. He has been minority whip in the current session, which was controlled by Democrats. Joe Scarnati, also of Jefferson County, is expected to be re-elected by his colleagues as Senate President Pro Tempore when that chamber holds leadership elections next week.

HARRISBURG - House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) today unveiled legislation to privatize the wholesale and retail operations of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). This plan transitions Pennsylvania from a "control state," with the Commonwealth controlling both the wholesale and retail operations of the sale of wine and spirits, to a "franchise and license state," where the Commonwealth licenses persons to operate the wholesale and retail wine and spirits businesses. "Government should not be in the business of selling alcohol," Turzai said. "Pennsylvania has an antiquated system that results in higher prices and less selection for consumers. It is time to update the way wine and spirits are sold in this state. My legislation privatizes the wholesale and retail operations to bring greater competition which will lead to lower prices and better selection." Pennsylvania is currently the largest purchaser of wine and spirits in ...