Senator Phillips-Hill E-Newsletter

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In this update:

  • Latest podcast episode features update on state budget with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne
  • Digging into the state budget to get YOU answers on issues YOU share with me on government spending, transportation issues
  • Thank you to Cub Scout Pack 69 for the offer to discuss my role as a state senator
  • Additional 100,000 older adults eligible for prescription assistance
  • Applications being accepted for schools-to-work grants
  • York County Economics Club Breakfast features update on local real estate market
  • Student art competition raises awareness about ticks and Lyme disease
  • Upcoming PennDOT scheduled maintenance
  • Local job openings
  • On deck

Latest podcast episode features update on state budget with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne

 

My latest podcast episode features a quick conversation with the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, Sen. Pat Browne.

Sen. Browne gave a brief overview of Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal and what it will mean for the hardworking taxpayers across Pennsylvania. The episode runs 7 minutes and can be found on your favorite podcast platform.

Listen here.

Subscribe to my podcast here.

Digging into the state budget to get YOU answers on issues YOU share with me on government spending, transportation issues

Throughout the first of four weeks of public hearings on the governor’s proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, I took a lot of concerns you have shared with me and relayed those concerns to cabinet officials and two of our state’s three row officers.

Below are links to videos of the questions I asked and the answers I received on matters important to our community:

Independent Fiscal Office

Discussion on population and workforce trends of Pennsylvania, compared to other states

2/22/22 – Budget Hearing Q&A: IFO

Department of Revenue

Frustrations from a local resident who waited nine months to get a tax refund resolved

Concerns over responsiveness with most employees at the department working from home

2/22/22 – Budget Hearing Q&A: Revenue/Lottery

Treasury

Should the state spend one-time funds on recurring expenses, as the governor proposed in his budget?

2/23/22-Treasurer on the Budget

Cost to taxpayers to incentivize state employees receiving COVID-19 vaccine

2/23/22 - Budget Hearing Q&A: Treasury (Part 1)

Strengthening cybersecurity with sensitive state financial data

2/23/22 - Budget Hearing Q&A: Treasury (Part 2)

Auditor General

Bringing transparency and oversight to massive federal taxpayer dollars flowing into state

2/23/22 Budget Hearing Q&A: Auditor General

Department of Corrections

Asking about a no-bid contract on data collection that is already housed in the department

2/24/22 – Budget Hearing Q&A: Corrections/Probation & Parole

PennDOT

Getting answers on the Mt. Rose Interchange

2/24/22 – Budget Hearing Q&A: PennDOT

You can view photos from our public hearings here.

Thank you to Cub Scout Pack 69 for the offer to discuss my role as a state senator

 

I had a great conversation with Cub Scout Pack 69 about my duties as their state senator. We reviewed my role as a legislator, important issues I support and how I found my way into elected office.

Thank you to Cub Master Mike Swift and the entire pack for the opportunity!

Additional 100,000 older adults eligible for prescription assistance

Legislation approved by the General Assembly in December expanding income eligibility limits for the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs Enhancement Tier (PACENET) program is now in effect.

The new law allows an additional 100,000 older adults to now become eligible to sign up for the program with enrollment beginning this month. The law expands the PACENET income limits by $6,000:

  • Singles: from $27,500 to $33,500
  • Married: from $35,500 to $41,500

The PACENET and PACE programs are funded with revenue from the Pennsylvania Lottery and provide comprehensive reimbursement coverage for prescription medications to qualified older Pennsylvanians. The program serves older Pennsylvanians 65 years of age and older, many of whom require multiple medications for several chronic conditions.

You can read more about PACE/PACENET, the latest expansion and the application process here.

Applications being accepted for schools-to-work grants

State grants are available to foster partnerships between schools, employers, organizations, and associations that lead to career pathways for students. The application deadline is March 15.

Eligible applicants for the Schools-to-Work Program must be registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry as a pre-apprenticeship program or connected with a registered apprenticeship program. Other eligible applicants include an entity that has an established connection with a registered apprenticeship program.

Project proposals must create learning opportunities for participating students and should focus on the coordination of people and resources to help individuals on a continuous path to family-sustaining employment and career growth. The proposal must also focus on building pre-apprenticeship programs to fill current and anticipated labor market needs in the given geographical area. 

York County Economics Club Breakfast features update on local real estate market

 

This week, the York County Economic Alliance Economics Club breakfast featured a great presentation from local real estate leaders on the status of the housing and commercial real estate markets in York County and across the Commonwealth.

Thank you to the presenters, including: David L. Bode, managing partner, ROCK Commercial Real Estate; Jonathan Bowser, president & CEO, Steel Works Construction, and managing partner, Integrated Development Partners Holdings; Sam Stein, broker, REALTOR®, Inch & Co. Real Estate; and Shanna Terroso, CEO, REALTORS® Association of York & Adams Counties for the informative update! 

Student art competition raises awareness about ticks and Lyme disease 

As the number of Lyme disease cases in the state and across the nation continues to rise, students can use their artistic talents to raise awareness of the prevalence of ticks and the types of diseases they carry.

The Lyme Disease Art Contest is open to children in first through sixth grade. Entries must be received by March 11. Contest materials can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s website.

Finalists will be notified by mail and will be invited to an award ceremony in May.

There are reports of up to 10,000 Lyme disease cases per year in Pennsylvania and more are likely unreported. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a short course of antibiotics. However, if the infection is left untreated, it can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system.

Ticks that cause Lyme disease are found in every county and every green space, even in cities.

Upcoming PennDOT scheduled maintenance

PennDOT shared with me the upcoming maintenance project list for next week. You can view that below.  

 

Local job openings  

PA CareerLink shared with me its latest list of local job openings, which you can view below. You can also find job postings shared with the York County Economic Alliance here.

 

On deck 

Below is a schedule of next week’s public hearings on YOUR state budget. You can always tune in live on my Facebook Page.

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