Cutting bureaucracy to grow jobs, update on transportation projects, and more!

In this update:

Bicameral regulatory reform unveiled at York College
Latest podcast features an update on transportation projects throughout 28th District
Local support for school property tax elimination discussed with area realtors, builders
Beware of property tax scam mailing
Dog wardens canvassing York County
Spotted lanternfly permits required by the Dept. of Agriculture effective May 1
PA Higher Education Association deadline for grants fast approaching
Thanking members of Rose Fire Company No. 1 in New Freedom for their service to community
Ribbon cutting for Voith Hydro
Discussing the opioid epidemic with local leaders at the Byrnes Health Education Center
On deck

Bicameral regulatory reform unveiled at York College

Representative Kate Klunk (R-York) and I joined local senators and representatives as well as local and state business leaders at York College on Wednesday to outline bicameral efforts to reduce and reform the state’s regulatory process.

We outlined six major pieces of reform, including:

Comprehensive Regulatory Reform for Pennsylvania
Independent Office of the Repealer
Transparency in Permitting
Regulatory Compliance Officer
Economically Significant Regulation
Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act

The package of legislation focuses on four key pillars:

Cutting red tape
Empowering employees
Improving government accountability
Expanding the economy

We held the event at York College in front of the former York Narrow Fabrics Company, now the Kinsley Engineering Center. York Narrow manufactured the actual red tape used to bundle federal regulations in Washington DC. Following the event, we declared we are going to cut the red tape in Harrisburg.

Some interesting takeaways from the event include:

Approximately 81 percent of local businesses support promoting efficiency in regulations, according to Kevin Schreiber, President & CEO of the York County Economic Alliance.
By last count, Pennsylvania has over 153,000 regulations on its books, according Dr. James Broughel, an economist with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
According to Carl Marrara with the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association, searching for the term “water,” you will find 281 individual regulations; “gas” 189 regulations; “land” will result in 218 regulations and “manufacture” 316 unique regulations. This has created uncertainty for many manufacturers across the state from growing their business in Pennsylvania.
Layers and layers of regulations harshly affect small business owners. This prohibits small businesses from growing and focusing on their customers. Many regulations have little to do with safety and health, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ Rebecca Oyler, who said that the cost of compliance is the biggest burden for many small businesses throughout the state.

Our package of legislation will make our commonwealth more efficient and responsive when it comes to our regulatory burden.

You can watch my reaction to the event below.

You can watch my remarks below.

You can watch the entire event below.

You can view photos from the event on Instagram.

Latest podcast features an update on transportation projects throughout 28th District

Are you interested in finding out the latest on our county’s infrastructure projects? My latest podcast has you covered.

I recently sat down with PennDOT’s District 8 Executive Mike Keiser to get the most up-to-date information on several projects occurring throughout York County.

Our half-hour conversation touches on the latest on the Mt. Rose Interchange debacle, Exit 4/Shrewsbury Interchange and other projects.

You can listen to my latest podcast at www.SenatorKristin.com/podcast. You can also find instructions on how to subscribe to my podcast on your smartphone to ensure you never miss the latest updates.

My next podcast will be an interview to get the latest on efforts to eliminate school property taxes. Please make sure you subscribe to “Kristin’s Corner.”

Local support for school property tax elimination discussed with area realtors, builders

Thank you to the Realtors Association of York and Adams Counties and the York Builders Association for having me address your members at legislative breakfast earlier this week. We met to discuss the latest efforts on school property tax elimination, as well as some of the legislation that is circulating in both the Senate and House to address this issue.

Beware of property tax scam mailing

The County of York is warning local residents that if you receive the document pictured below, to throw it out since it is a scam. The assessment information is available on York County’s website.

Dog wardens canvassing York County

York County dog wardens will be canvassing during the month of May to ensure dog owners have the current licenses and rabies vaccinations for their dogs.

Violators can be cited with a maximum fine of $300 plus court-related costs.

For more information how to license your dog, please visit: https://www.doglicenses.us/PA/York/.

Spotted lanternfly permits required by the Dept. of Agriculture effective May 1

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is establishing quarantine zones for counties where spotted lanternfly has been confirmed. While York County is not in the zone, there is a possibility of being added to the list at a later date. As of today, counties to our east, starting with Lancaster County, are listed in the quarantine zone.

Beginning on May 1, businesses and organizations conducting business in the quarantine zone must have permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to move vehicles, equipment and goods in and out of the zone.

To find out more about this new permit, which is free of charge, please visit the Penn State Ag Extension’s website here.

PA Higher Education Association deadline for grants fast approaching

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Association is reminding students and families that the 2019-2020 PA State Grant application submission deadline in May 1.

The deadline applies to all renewal applications and first-time applicants who plan to enroll in a college, university or college transfer program at 2-year public or private colleges, with the exception of a community college.

To apply, please visit PHEAA’s website: https://www.pheaa.org/college-planning/fafsa/index.shtml.

Thanking members of Rose Fire Company No. 1 in New Freedom for their service to community

It was an honor to attend Rose Fire Company No. 1’s Banquet and Awards Ceremony and join Rep. Kate Klunk (R-York) in thanking all of the officers and members for their service and keeping the community safe!

Congratulations to the Top Ten Responders, as well as Firefighter of the Year Chris Boyer, EMS Provider of the Year Alex Taylor, and Life Member Erin Holloway!

Ribbon cutting for Voith Hydro

Earlier this week, I joined Congressman Scott Perry and other stakeholders to cut the ribbon on a new project at Voith Hydro for their Vertical Turning Lathe. We are delighted for their ongoing commitment to the community as they have been a staple for the last 135 years in York County. This new 200-ton Vertical Turning Lathe will ensure that York County will continue to help power the hydro industry across the entire continent.

Discussing the opioid epidemic with local leaders at the Byrnes Health Education Center

Thank you to the leaders of the Byrnes Health Education Center for hosting a robust and comprehensive discussion on Thursday regarding the efforts to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic plaguing too many of our communities.

I was joined by my colleagues in the state House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate for the roundtable discussion, where we outlined several efforts to curb opioid abuse, as well as addressing health challenges across York County.

Thank you to the Byrnes Center for hosting this important conversation and ways we can work together to address these key issues.

On deck

The Senate of Pennsylvania reconvenes for voting on Monday, April 29 at 1 p.m.

You can find out more about next week’s Senate session by visiting www.SenatorKristin.com/session.

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