April 2, 2015
Harrisburg – April 2, 2015 – The deadline to apply for help through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been extended to May 1, according to state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland.)
“The home heating program is valuable and useful and I am pleased that the deadline to apply has been extended,” Brewster said. “The program helps those in need handle their home heating bills.”
Residents of Pennsylvania have to income-qualify to receive help. For example, to be eligible a family of four must have income of $35,775 or below. Additional funding is available for crisis situations.
The program deadline was originally set for Friday, but Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration decided to extend the federally-funded program due to the severity of the winter, Brewster said.
Individuals can determine their income eligibility and learn more about the program by contacting the local assistance office or by calling the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095, Monday through Friday or through www.dhs.state.pa.us/foradults/heatingassistanceliheap
Brewster said that his district office staff is prepared to help local residents fill out the applications. His offices are located in McKeesport, Monroeville and New Kensington. Contact information for the offices is available at www.senatorbrewster.com
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Joyce
Phone: 412 380-2242
Email: tjoyce@pasenate.com
February 27, 2015
Harrisburg – Feb. 27, 2014 – Senate Democrats outlined their liquor modernization plan today, a day after the House of Representatives passed an ill-conceived privatization plan.
“No banker would back it and no business would implement it,” Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) sponsor of the Senate Democratic proposal said today about the House plan (House Bill 466). “The plan that passed the House takes the wrong approach at precisely the wrong time — it makes zero business sense and there are better alternatives.
“Under valuing a profitable asset and selling it off at fire-sale prices is no way to proceed.”
Brewster was vice-president of operations at Mellon Bank and has decades of experience in private business.
He said the modernization plan produced by Senate Democrats, introduced as Senate Bill 15, has the potential to produce an extra $150 million annually. The state’s liquor system generated $320 million in liquor taxes, $124 million in sales taxes and $80 million in net profits last year on more than $2.24 billion in sales.
The lawmaker said the Senate Democratic modernization plan would:
- Remove the cap on the number of stores that can operate on Sunday and extend the permitted hours of operation from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
- Improve opportunities to partner with grocery stores to increase the number of stores-within-a-store;
- Offer customer-service programs to improve customer experiences in stores;
- Sell lottery tickets within wine & spirits stores;
- Require final determinations on store lease arrangements within 90 days;
- Join with other states on purchasing arrangements to help secure the very best price;
- Fashion demand reforms such as allowing beer distributors to sell smaller quantities than cases, and permits for direct wine shipments to homes.
“We have a valued asset in our wine-and-spirits stores and they can be a tremendous resource for our taxpayers for years to come if we modernize and adapt,” Brewster said. “The last thing we should do is sell off an asset for a below-market price in an attempt to serve an ideological impulse.
“The Senate Democratic plan would improve convenience, create better access, provide service and delivery options while preserving thousands of jobs.”
The House-passed privatization plan, which involves selling 1,200 licenses, has been sold as a way of plugging the $2.3 billion budget hole created by the Republicans and former Gov. Tom Corbett. However, according to a Republican fiscal analysis, the plan will only raise a small portion of $2.3 billion in one-time revenue in 2015-16.
The House privatization plan passed 114-87. Gov. Tom Wolf has indicated his opposition to the plan.
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February 11, 2015
Harrisburg – Feb. 11, 2014 – Gov. Tom Wolf’s plan to use the proceeds from a new 5 percent gas severance tax to fund education is being applauded by state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“Using shale tax revenues to rebuild education following the severe cuts made by the Corbett administration is the right thing to do,” Brewster said. “These cuts have impacted our schools and burdened our taxpayers and new resources are desperately needed.
“The proposed 5 percent tax will not harm the industry and connecting it to education will help close the funding gap that has developed as a result of short-sighted policy and an ineffective shale impact fee.”
Brewster said that Corbett cut $1 billion from education during his tenure. The senator said that the entire education community has suffered as a result.
In mid-December, Brewster announced his plan to use severance tax revenue to make investments in education. Brewster’s “Extraction for Education” plan parallels Wolf’s proposed “Pennsylvania Education Reinvestment Act” in several ways, including the call for a 5 percent shale tax levy, the retention of impact fee payments to communities under the umbrella of the tax ceiling and the direct tie to education.
Brewster introduced his plan this session as Senate Bill 395. He said he expects consideration of a severance tax plan to be a part of budget negotiations this year.
“I am pleased that the governor has announced a reasonable shale extraction tax and that he plans to use the proceeds of the tax to support education,” Brewster said.
According to the governor’s office, the new levy will generate in excess of $1 billion by the end of 2017. The plan is modeled after the tax structure now in place in neighboring West Virginia.
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February 2, 2015
Harrisburg – February 2, 2015 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) will serve another year as secretary of the board of the Port Authority of Allegheny County.
“There are many challenges that we face in public transportation and many hurdles that have to be overcome,” Brewster said. “I am confident that by working together we can rebuild and restructure our public transit system to meet the needs of the citizens of Allegheny County.”
Brewster is a veteran of the board and serves on the Financial Audit Committee. He is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee and was a strong advocate of the $2.3 billion transportation finance law (Act 89) that has bolstered funding for road, bridge and mass transit systems.
“The Port Authority board works well together in trying to address transportation needs,” Brewster said. “The board members are all dedicated and committed to making our transportation network better.”
Brewster said that board is working on a number of initiatives such as smart card technology and real-time vehicle tracking.
The Port Authority has 2,600 workers and serves more than 200,000 riders on a daily basis.
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December 17, 2014
Harrisburg – Dec. 17, 2014 – To better manage the cost of higher education and cut tax liability this year, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today reminded students and parents that contributions to an approved college savings plan by Dec. 31 are tax deductable.
“The high cost of a college education is a real challenge for students and parents,” Brewster said. “A 529 plan helps families manage costs and provides a means to reduce tax obligations.”
Brewster noted that state Treasurer Rob McCord’s office is offering free enrollment in the PA Guaranteed Savings Plan and the PA 529 Investment Plan.
“There are a great many resources available to help students, parents and families deal with the high cost of college,” Brewster said. “Establishing a PA 529 plan and making contributions is an excellent way for families to both save for college and lower tax bills at the same time.”
The treasurer reported that there are now nearly 200,000 accounts with more than $3.3 billion in assets that are being managed by his office.
Taxpayers can deduct up to $14,000 per beneficiary in PA 529 contributions from Pennsylvania taxable income on their state tax returns for 2014. Married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $28,000 per beneficiary if each spouse has taxable income of at least the amount deducted.
The PA 529 College Savings Program is offering free enrollment ($50 savings) for all new PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) accounts opened by Dec. 31.
Brewster said that if students, parents, guardians or others need more information or want to enroll, they can visit www.PA529.com. To take advantage of the $50 savings, use enrollment code Brewster when prompted.
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December 5, 2014
McKeesport, December 5, 2014 – Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) today announced a $ 95,000 state grant for the City of Arnold to implement a five year financial management plan and operation strategy.
“These funds will help officials from Arnold establish a sound financial strategy moving forward,” Brewster said. “I am hopeful this will lead to a number of helpful efficiencies, improved management practices and long range cost savings.”
As former mayor of nearby McKeesport, Brewster said capitalizing on proven planning strategies, workable contingency planning and capitalizing on a host of other best practice financial and management tools can have an extensive impact on a community’s viability.
Brewster said he will continue to work with city leaders to obtain state funds to support efforts aimed at improving Arnold’s infrastructure and economic standing.
The grant is being administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Early Intervention Program.
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October 10, 2013
McKeesport – October 10, 2013 – State Sen. Jim Brewster said today that he was pleased to support plans introduced in the Senate that would freeze property taxes for seniors.
Brewster (D-Allegheny) said that he has co-sponsored Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi’s (R-Delaware) plan in addition to Sen. Lisa Boscola’s (D-Northampton) proposal – Senate Bill 484 – that freeze taxes for seniors. He said that he expects tax freeze legislation to be reviewed by the Senate in the near future.
“It is clear that we need to move forward with tax relief for all property taxpayers, but we can start with freezing taxes for seniors,” Brewster said. “There is so much pressure on seniors now and they need immediate help.”
Pileggi’s plan, introduced as Senate Bill 299, would freeze property taxes following the establishment of a base payment. Any person aged 65 years of age or older who has paid their taxes and had a homestead exemption for the previous five years would be eligible for the freeze. Qualifying seniors would not have to pay more taxes in excess of the base payment.
“As co-sponsor of both Sen. Pileggi and Boscola’s plans, I am strongly supportive of any effort that reduces the tax burden faced by seniors,” Brewster said. “We also need to move quickly to enact a comprehensive reform that meets the needs of all property taxpayers.”
Brewster said he has sponsored legislation by Sen. David Argall (R-Carbon/Schuylkill/Berks) called the Property Tax Independence Act (Senate Bill 76) that would totally eliminate school property taxes and replace that levy with a combination of personal income and sales taxes. This plan provides a two-year phase in tax elimination period and sales taxes would generate about two-thirds of revenue necessary to replace property taxes.
The lawmaker said that there is renewed energy in the General Assembly to act on property-tax relief legislation. He said that analysts from the state’s Independent Fiscal Office are slated to appear at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Tuesday, October 15 to discuss the Senate and House (House Bill 76) plans that eliminate property taxes.
“The bottom line is that we need to act soon to address the hardship experienced by seniors and other property taxpayers resulting from high property tax bills,” Brewster said. “Doing nothing is not an option.”
Brewster is the former mayor of McKeesport and now serves as Democratic chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.
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August 7, 2013
Harrisburg, August 7, 2013 – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently awarded a Recycling Performance Grant to New Kensington in Westmoreland County, said state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“This not only promotes better practices for the environment,” Brewster said. “It also encourages economic growth by expanding the city’s recycling industry.”
The grant of more than $7,800 will provide the community with the incentive to recover more waste through recycling.
“In 2010, New Kensington recycled nearly 1,300 tons of recycled material,” Brewster said. “I’m pleased the city gets the opportunity to expand the recycling program even further.”
This grant is in addition to the usual funds distributed by the Department of Environmental Protection to municipalities to establish and maintain recycling programs.
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September 11, 2012
McKeesport, September 11, 2012 – State Sen. Jim Brewster today said families can save $50 by enrolling online in the college savings program operated by the state treasurer’s office this month.
“Through the end of September, the PA 529 GSP plan is offering free enrollment for those who open a new account online this month — saving families the $50 enrollment fee,” Brewster said. “The program is a good way to help families afford the cost of a college education.”
To open or contribute to an account, visit www.PA529.com or call 1-800-440-4000. Constituents may use the code “Brewster” when they enroll online in the PA 529 GSP to waive the $50 enrollment fee.
Have questions about saving for college?
Get answers from Treasury experts.
Monday, October 22, 2012 – 7:00pm – 7:30pm
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Sign up for a free webinar.
— Learn about the tax benefits of 529 plans.
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The contributions made to PA 529 plans are tax deductible and when they are used for qualified education expenses are state and federal tax exempt.
“The PA 529 plan is a key financial tool that helps families plan ahead and manage college costs,” Brewster said. “It is worth adding that grandparents and friends can also contribute to a student’s education.”
Brewster, a longtime advocate of higher education funding, said investing in a PA 529 account is smart and forward-thinking. PA 529 contributions grow at the rate of tuition inflation. He said that if a family saves enough for a semester at a state system university today, there will be enough to pay for another semester at the school in the future – regardless of tuition increases in the future.
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March 23, 2012
McKeesport, March 23, 2012 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that more than $60,000 in state grant money is soon headed to his district through two separate awards.
Monroeville is set to receive a grant of $15,498 from the Recycling Performance Grant Program (Act 101) and Trafford Borough will be the recipient of $45,000 in grant monies from the Community Conservation Partnership Program (CCPP).
“It is imperative that local communities gain access to key state resources because the state budget is very tight and funds are scarce,” Brewster said. “These state dollars enable local municipalities to continue valuable programs and complete important local projects without burdening local taxpayers.”
Brewster said the funds for Trafford Borough will be used to develop an outdoor skate park facility at the BY Park. The project includes equipment, asphalt surfacing, fencing, benches and other improvements.
“The grant from CCPP that will help pay for the project in Trafford will augment other work that has already been done to rehabilitate BY Park and make it an even more valuable community asset,” Brewster said. “The park is heavily used and enjoyed by people of all ages and this project will add another park amenity that will be welcomed.”
The funds for Monroeville serve as an incentive to increase the amount of recycled materials that are recovered. The state grant is based on the population of Monroeville and the amount of recycled product. It is in addition to other funding streams allotted to maintain the recycling program.
The McKeesport lawmaker said that Act 101 is a comprehensive recycling law that has been very useful “as a means to reduce the amount of solid waste in landfills. The program also helps recover recyclable materials.”
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