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In this update:
Survey on Second-Degree Murder
Second-degree murder is a horrific crime – these are homicides committed while the defendant was also committing another violent felony such as rape, arson, robbery, burglary or kidnapping. Those who commit such an act deserve a punishment that matches. In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that our current sentencing structure for second-degree murder (life without parole in every case) is unconstitutional. The justices gave the General Assembly 120 days to enact legislation correcting the situation. The Senate successfully passed strong bipartisan legislation to address this issue – twice. The Senate’s legislation is supported by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, Pennsylvania District Attorneys, the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, and the Pennsylvania State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police. Unfortunately, the leadership in the House of Representatives refused to allow a vote on this bipartisan legislation, instead passing a weak bill on a near party-line vote. That bill has several serious problems. It could allow more than half of all inmates, including those on death row, to qualify for release from prison under an overbroad, ill-defined “medical release” program that is riddled with loopholes. I want to know your thoughts on this very serious issue. Please click here to take my survey on second-degree murder. FREE Coffee and Conversation
Thursday, Aug. 20 I will be hosting a Coffee & Conversation in conjunction with the On My Grind Coffee Truck! The coffee is on me (no, I don’t bill taxpayers for the coffee). I hope to see you there! Click here to RSVP via Facebook. In the District
For 113 years, Goodwill Fire Company No. 1 of Spry has provided top notch fire service to York Township. This past weekend, I had the honor and privilege to join them as they merged with Southern Area Fire and Emergency Rescue (SAFER), so they may continue this tradition of excellence. Congratulations to all the men and women, past and present, who made this moment possible!
The weather may have cut our fun short, but any minute you spend at the Red Lion Street Fair is well worth it! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello before the rain!
Earlier this week, Rep. George Margetas hosted an open house at his district office, located at 2501 Catherine St., York, PA 17408. Our respective districts overlap in the communities of Spring Grove and New Salem boroughs, as well as Heidelberg, Jackson, North Codorus, and Paradise townships. It was nice to catch up with our new representative and citizens from across the 196th District. You can learn more about Rep. Margetas here and follow him on Facebook here. Empowering Parents with Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
Last year, Congress established a new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit to create new learning opportunities for students. I joined a bipartisan group of colleagues this week to announce legislation that would ensure Pennsylvania families can benefit from this new program. The program would allow taxpayers to earn up to $1,700 in tax credits for contributions to non-profit Scholarship Granting Organizations. These organizations could use the funds to provide scholarships for education-related services at private or public schools, including tuition, fees, academic tutoring, special education services, technology services and classroom supplies. For students and families to be eligible for scholarships, a state must opt in with either an order signed by its governor or a law passed by the state legislature by Jan. 1, 2027. If a state does not opt in, taxpayers in that state will still be eligible for the tax credit, but the money will fund scholarships in other states. Our legislation would ensure Pennsylvania students in both public and private schools would have access to these new resources. Learn more about this opportunity for Pennsylvania students and families here. Understanding Digital Threats to Children
Aug. 17 – Aug. 23 is “Social Media Safety and Parental Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania. This first-of-its-kind designation is designed to help parents, guardians and students better understand potential threats in the digital world, including cyberbullying, sextortion, AI-generated child sexual abuse material, grooming and other dangerous forms of abuse. Find a Back-to-School Checklist and more tips on social media safety at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. My legislative colleagues and I have worked to keep kids safe from dangers online. This includes laws criminalizing deepfakes, giving law enforcement tools to combat online abuse, creating the Task Force on Child Protection in the Digital Age and more. The Senate has also passed legislation (pending in the House of Representatives) providing safeguards for AI chatbots, prohibiting “nudification” apps and protecting young people against AI-generated child abuse materials. Reporting Suspected Benefits Fraud
You can help eliminate fraud in benefits programs such as cash assistance, food stamps, childcare, home energy assistance and medical assistance. Suspected fraud can be reported to the Office of the State Inspector General. A complaint should be completed only if an individual has been issued benefits that you believe the individual was not entitled to receive. Report suspected fraud to the State Inspector General here. Getting Potholes Filled
If you spot a pothole on a Pennsylvania road, you can report it through the PennDOT Customer Care Center. If you notice an urgent issue, please check the list of district engineering offices and contact the one for the county in which the issue is found. For immediate safety concerns, call 1‑800‑FIX‑ROAD (1-800-349-7623), and always call 9‑1‑1 for emergencies August Mobile Office Hours
Thursday, August 20 In addition to our monthly office hours, I will be hosting a Coffee & Conversation from 9 – 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the Penn Township Municipal Office. The coffee is on me (no, I don’t bill taxpayers for the coffee). I hope to see you there! Upcoming PennDOT Maintenance Projects
Most weeks, PennDOT provides me with its upcoming maintenance schedule. While my team and I aim to keep this information up to date, please note that the page may not always reflect the latest changes. For the most accurate details, I recommend checking back on Friday afternoons or over the weekend, as we usually receive updates from PennDOT on Fridays. You can view the full list here to see if any roadwork might impact you and your family. |
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