February 3, 2024
PITTSBURGH − February 3, 2024 – The Senate Democratic Policy Committee traveled to Pittsburgh yesterday to host two events to highlight the successes of Pennsylvania’s groundbreaking Whole-Home Repairs Program. Less than a year after the distribution of funds, the Whole-Home Repairs program has already facilitated the repairs of hundreds of homes and changed thousands of lives, including many in Allegheny County.
“The Whole-Home Repairs Program is one of the best examples of how the government can directly support our constituents and meet one of their most important needs – safe housing,” state Senator Katie Muth (D-Chester/Montgomery/Berks), Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said. “Our events in Pittsburgh really highlighted not only the success of the program and the positive impact it has made in people’s lives – but also the unmet needs across the Commonwealth and the requests for funding that were not approved because of the lack of adequate, yearly funding for Whole-Home Repairs.”
The Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a public hearing at the Allegheny County Courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh on Friday to highlight the successes of the Whole-Home Repairs program across the Commonwealth.
“Through the Whole-Home Repairs Program, Pennsylvania is tackling many of the root causes of community instability by keeping people in their homes and keeping these homes safe and healthy,” Senator Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) said. “The need for this program is every bit as enormous as we anticipated. Whole-Home Repairs deserves continued investment because Pennsylvanians deserve investment.”
The Whole-Home Repairs Program was originally introduced in March 2022 as Senate Bill 1135 by Senator Saval and was signed into law in July 2022 as part of the state budget package with a $125-million appropriation to launch the statewide program. An additional $50 million was originally appropriated in the 2023-24 state budget, but the necessary implementation language was not included in the final code bills that passed the legislature in December 2023.
“There has been so much attention on the unhoused population of Allegheny County in the last few years, and rightfully so. But as we work to increase shelter capacity, bridge and transitional housing, we cannot lose site of the importance of keeping people in the homes they already have,” Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said. “We have to recognize that just because they’re housed today, if their home requires repairs that they can’t afford and becomes unlivable, those families may be unhoused tomorrow. That is what the Whole Home Repairs bill can do for families – keep them safe and housed.”
Demand for the program has far outpaced available resources. In Allegheny County, 96% of eligible applicants have been deferred because of a lack of sufficient funds. With similar reports from counties across Pennsylvania, additional state funding is urgently needed to continue the program.
“It is no secret that Pennsylvania is home to some of the oldest housing stock in the nation. Being a realtor, I understand that not fixing one main element of a house can escalate quickly and have a negative trickledown effect on other areas of a home to the point of making it even uninhabitable,” Senator Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) said. “The assistance provided for critical repairs on a house through the Whole Home Repairs Program can mean the difference between someone staying in their house and having to find somewhere else to live. As we have witnessed, the demand for the program has been staggering which illustrates the need to continue funding the Whole Home Repairs Program.”
The program provides funding for county-wide agencies to address habitability and safety concerns, provide measures to improve energy or water efficiency and make units accessible for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, the program provides funding to the counties for construction-related workforce development.
“The Whole Home Repairs Program allows families to safely remain in their homes, prevents blighted properties, puts people to work, and keeps communities together. This one program and its direct investment in people brings a return on investment for the entire community far beyond the lifechanging effects for individual families,” Senator Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny) added. “I support ongoing and expanded funding for Year Two and beyond of the Whole Home Repairs Program so that we can bring these impacts to more communities across Allegheny County and Pennsylvania.”
At the hearing, Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) noted that during his tenure as Mayor of McKeesport, they were forced to demolish over 5,000 homes – many of which could have been salvaged if a program like Whole-Home Repairs existed.
“The Whole-Home Repairs Program is a necessary program to help older communities reinvent themselves and maintain their communities,” Senator Brewster added.
Prior to the public hearing, members of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee and several other elected officials held a press conference outside of the home of Kelly Scatena, an Allegheny County homeowner whose house was repaired through the Whole-Home Repairs Program.
“Home should be the place where you feel safe, and now I have that for my family. We can relax in our house and not worry that it’s going to fall down,” Kelly Scatena said. “Now that I’ve gotten these repairs, I feel like I have a solid foot on the ground. I feel like I’m actually a homeowner because I’m here for good. This has been life changing.”
The Whole-Home Repairs Program in Allegheny County is run by Action Housing, a nonprofit housing agency based in Pittsburgh. Action Housing received over 4,300 unique, eligible applications for the Whole Home Repairs program since it began, but because of the lack of funding, they were only able to work on 200 total homes.
“The Allegheny County Whole-Home Repairs Program has been a success for families and builders throughout the region, but the limited funding means that we’ve only been able to serve about 4% of eligible applicants,” Dan Sullivan, Housing Stabilization Program Manager, Action Housing, said. “Without continued funding, thousands of residents will continue to live in homes that are unsafe for them and their families. We can change the status quo, but we need the investment to do it.”
At the press conference, U.S. Representative Summer Lee indicated that she is working in Congress to secure federal investments to support Whole-Home Repairs across the country.
“Just in my small neighborhood of North Braddock, we have over 400 blighted properties. Each time I walk by, I think of the people who – for lack of a few thousand dollars – lost their community. I think of the thousands in this region who are desperately in search of affordable housing. I think of how much generational wealth families have lost, and how that has impacted them in so many other ways,” Congresswoman Lee added. “Whole-Home Repairs could have helped them. The story is not just about the 200 families Action Housing could help, but also the 6,000 eligible applicants they could not help because the program ran out of federal funding. That’s why I’m in DC fighting to secure massive federal investment to continue Whole-Home Repairs in Pennsylvania and implement it nationwide.”
The state legislators are hopeful that funding for the Whole-Home Repairs program is highlighted in the Governor’s Budget Address set for Tuesday afternoon in Harrisburg.
“I am proud that this program has already generated positive outcomes for neighbors in my district and across the state. However, we have a lot more we can do to ensure that our homes are safe and sustainable,” state Rep. Jessica Benham (D-Allegheny) said. “That is why I will continue to strongly advocate for Whole-Home Repairs funding in Harrisburg. Our communities deserve it.”
Additional participants in the Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing included Rick Vilello, Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; Justin Livingston, Owner and Project Manager, JL Homebuilders; LuAnn Zak, Assistant Director, Indiana County Office of Planning and Development; and Chuck Weiss, Associate Executive Director for Housing, Community Action Lehigh Valley.
“I have been so proud to join my colleagues in the PA Senate Democratic Caucus as we fight for a safe, accessible, and affordable home for every Pennsylvanian,” Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said. “The Whole-Home Repairs program has been integral to delivering on this crucial goal, and I look forward to continuing to support our working families by ensuring their homes keep them warm, dry, and comfortable.”
All submitted testimony from the policy hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy. A recording of the press conference is available to watch on-demand at www.SenatorMuth.com/Video.
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Testimony
Panel 1: Allegheny County Analysis
- Dan Sullivan – Housing Stabilization Program Manager, Action Housing
- Kelly Scatena – Homeowner
- Justin Livingston – Owner & Project Manager, JL Homebuilders
Panel 2: Statewide Analysis
January 11, 2024
McKeesport – January 11, 2024 – State Senator Jim Brewster announced today that he would not seek re-election to another term in the state Senate.
“It has been an honor, privilege, and pleasure to serve the citizens of the 45th Senatorial District in the Mon Valley and Southwestern Pennsylvania in the state Senate, but it is time to explore other options and take on new challenges,” Brewster said.
“While I am concluding my service in the Senate at the end of 2024, I will continue to help the communities of the 45th district.”
Throughout his time in the Senate, Brewster has been a leader on issues impacting the Mon Valley and Western Pennsylvania. With his long tenure serving the Mon Valley he has been recognized as “dean” of the region’s legislative delegation.
“I am exceptionally proud of the work that my staff and I have done to solve problems for citizens throughout the area,” Brewster said. “The efforts have been rewarding and I hope they will have a lasting impact.
“I want to thank my wife Linda, my family, staff and friends for supporting me throughout four decades of public service.”
Many colleagues, officials and community leaders have weighed in on Brewster’s announcement to retire.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, longtime friend of Senator Brewster, commented on the senator’s role as a mentor as he advanced through school and eventually government.
“Over the years, I have had the great fortune to have a number of political mentors and public servants who have inspired me on my path toward public service, but Senator Brewster was there from the very beginning,” said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. “As I started to speak up about the issue of gun violence in my hometown of McKeesport, then-Mayor Brewster encouraged me to organize with other young people and take action. He made me feel like my voice mattered, even when I was a high school student and couldn’t yet cast a ballot. I have always valued his kindness and honesty, and I appreciate how hard he has worked for the people of McKeesport for nearly 30 years. I wish him well in his retirement and hope he gets to spend some well-deserved family time with his wife, daughters and grandchildren.”
Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa said that Brewster has been a good friend and an outstanding senator and leader who has made a difference.
“I want to wish my dear friend and colleague Jim Brewster a happy and well-deserved retirement from his lifelong career of public service,” said Senator Costa. “For nearly 30 years, Jim has been committed to making the community he loves safer, stronger, and better. No matter what seat he held, from city council to mayor to state senator, he has always been a strong advocate for McKeesport and Allegheny County at large. I am eternally grateful for his work on the Senate Law and Justice Committee, as well as his work in the transit and transportation space, ensuring our roads and bridges are equipped to get our working families from place to place. Jim is a man of deep integrity, passion, and excellence, and his legacy will be one of profound love of his hometown. It’s been an honor to serve alongside him, and I will forever cherish the time we spent in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus together.”
McKeesport Mayor Michael Cherepko said he is honored to have learned from and worked alongside Senator Brewster at various levels of government and community.
“Jim Brewster has upheld a lifelong commitment to McKeesport and the entire Mon Valley,” Cherepko said. “He is a hardworking, goal-oriented leader, who has always strived for the growth of our region. He does this with a kind heart and genuine concern for his neighbors and constituents. I’m proud to call him a mentor and a friend.”
LuEthel Nesbit, McKeesport City Council Vice President, also commented on Brewster’s announcement. “In all the decades that I have known Jim, I can say there is no such thing as retirement for a man like him,” Nesbit said. “He has devoted his life to working tirelessly to make sure his family, community and constituents receive the best government possible. Therefore, I will simply wish him good luck and much success on the next chapter of his life.”
Amanda Settelmaier, Executive Director of the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments (TCVCOG), said that Senator Brewster tackles problems head on.
“As a former Mayor, Senator Brewster truly understands the challenges our communities face – he has worked tirelessly to pass legislation and bring funding solutions back to his district,” Settelmaier said. “For example, Senator Brewster has been an important ally in the complicated battle against blight. I will miss working with him, and the quick wit and humor he often brought to our conversations.”
Longtime Forward Township Commissioner Dave Magiske called Brewster a leader who will be missed.
“In my 20-plus years in government, Senator Jim Brewster is the best legislator I have ever met,” Dave Magiske said. “He is what every PA resident deserves to have represent them.”
Brewster’s tenure in the Senate was marked by his involvement in solving difficult issues and being a part of landmark court decisions.
At two different times, Brewster appealed to the PA State Supreme Court on behalf of the constituents he represents. First, in 2012, a Republican-majority Court agreed with his argument that a partisan reapportionment plan to move the 45th District across the state to the Poconos would splinter the interests of the Mon Valley and leave his constituents without a voice in the state Senate.
“There was no question in my mind that our region would have suffered if the Senate district was moved under that proposed reapportionment,” Brewster said. “We would have lost our ability to leverage funding and influence legislation.”
Then again following the 2020 election, Brewster successfully appealed to the Supreme Court after his re-election was challenged by his opponent regarding the counting of mail-in ballots. Despite being certified by the state as the winner, Brewster’s seating for a third full term was delayed by his opponent’s attempts in court to not count all the ballots. The court cases held up Brewster’s swearing-in and the certification of the Presidential results in Pennsylvania. However, after a series of state and federal court decisions against efforts to cast aside legitimate ballots, Brewster prevailed in the case, ultimately protecting the votes of his constituents in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
“It was a historic ruling. I was clear that I wanted all the votes cast to be counted because that’s how democracy works,” Brewster said. “Politicians cherry-picking which votes should be counted is simply wrong.”
Beyond his involvement in historic court cases, Brewster has been instrumental in helping channel immense state resources to the region and the state. During his years of service, the senator was able to directly or indirectly secure almost $350 million in the 45th District for development, safety, transportation, education and more to 56 communities and 23 school districts.
“I have lived in the Mon Valley all my life and witnessed the economic devastation following the collapse of the steel industry in the 1980’s,” Brewster said. “Since then, by working together, we have been able to inject new funds, redevelop former brown fields and create excitement for business investment in the area.”
Throughout his time in the Senate, Brewster served as Democratic chair of two committees: Law & Justice and Game & Fisheries. He has also been a member of Education, Transportation, Banking and Insurance and other committees.
As committee Chair of the Game & Fisheries Committee, Brewster led the effort to establish Sunday hunting, reversing a decades-old “Blue Law”. He also shored up the financial underpinnings of the Game and Fish & Boat Commissions and sponsored the creation of the “Hunting Heritage License Plate,” with the proceeds from the sale used by the Game Commission to fund conservation initiatives.
“There is no question that the key to legislating is finding common ground where all sides can be satisfied that they’ve been heard and included in the finished product,” Brewster said. “I have been able to find middle-of-the road compromise as one of the most bi-partisan legislators in Harrisburg.”
Brewster said that he is enormously proud that he has an open and transparent relationship with local governments in the district. He said it is important that Harrisburg recognizes that if small problems encountered in communities are not addressed, they can become big, unwieldy, and costly.
“As a former mayor and councilman in an economically challenged city, I understand the importance of helping small cities, boroughs and townships,” Brewster said.
Among his many accomplishments, Senator Brewster said that he is proud of the millions of dollars that have been allocated to schools in Pennsylvania to keep children and teachers safe, a top priority for him during his time in the senate.
Brewster has been a member of the School Safety and Security Committee since its creation in 2018 and the original advocate for hardening schools while at the same time addressing core causes by making mental health assessments more prevalent and counseling more available. This committee has helped provide hundreds of millions in critical funding to protect school students, faculty, administration, and staff from threats.
In 2019 Brewster recommended the committee establish baseline standards of safety for every school in the Commonwealth. Specifically, he encouraged the committee members to establish physical baselines, including items such as door locks and cameras; mental health baselines, including school counselors and psychologists; and environmental baselines, including air quality monitors as well as lead and mold abatement.
“We have taken steps to prepare educators and students, and we have put the money in place to work with students and staff to make improvements in safety and security.”
In addition, Brewster is grateful to have been a part of the historic investments in public schools in Pennsylvania. The largest funding commitment to public education in history has included programs to address the state’s teacher shortage, funding for remediating toxic schools, funding for school-based mental health programs, updates for school safety and security and providing for more substitute teachers.
Brewster is also proud to have been an early leader in the move towards diversity in society. Over the course of four decades in the private and public sectors, he was a champion for more minority leadership. During his career with Mellon Bank throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, when women were not promoted as often into positions of power, Brewster is proud to have had two of the three executive vice president positions working with him held by women. And then during his career in public service, Brewster helped elect seven women as mayors of communities that he represents as well as several minorities and women to high-ranking positions in state government.
“When underrepresented groups are at the table, we see improvements in discussion and decision-making, and the organization is stronger,” Brewster said.
Still, Brewster said that there are important initiatives that he has committed to seeing through after his final term in the senate. The three-term senator said that he plans to stay involved and would continue to serve the community.
“I’m not really retiring from public service, I’m just going to attack problem solving from another direction,” Brewster said.
The senator has been a leading voice on addressing the drug epidemic in Pennsylvania and across the country, and his “Drug Prevention, Recovery, and Enforcement” plan to address addiction will remain a top priority.
The proposal, introduced over several legislative sessions, is a three-pronged effort designed to prevent abuse, spur recovery efforts enforce strict laws aimed at taking drug pushers, who use illegal firearms, off the street. In particular, the plan requires mandatory treatment for drug addicted offenders charged with minor offenses, imposes strict opioid prescription limits, and adds stiff penalties for those possessing large quantities of drugs and illegal guns.
Senator Brewster also said that seeing the Mon-Fayette Expressway completed will continue to be important to him. He has been a leading voice for the bipartisan effort to push for the completion of the final section of the roadway which has been planned for more than four decades.
“This is not just a transportation project,” Brewster said. “The expressway will stimulate economic development in the Mon Valley, improve connectivity and growth and help residents gain access to jobs.”
Sean Logan, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commissioner, credited Senator Brewster for being instrumental in restarting the Mon-Fayette Expressway to continue from Jefferson Hills to Monroeville.
“If it weren’t for Senator Brewster, the Mon-Fayette Expressway project would have ended in Jefferson Hills,” said Sean Logan. “His passion for transportation improvements will benefit Southwestern Pennsylvania for decades to come.”
Brewster was first elected to the Senate in a Special Election in 2010. He was re-elected three times. Prior to his service in the Senate, Brewster was Mayor of McKeesport beginning in 2004. He was elected to City Council in 1995 and served as its President.
Before embarking on his political career, Brewster graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Education. He spent three decades working in banking and was Vice-President of Operations for Mellon Bank. He was elected to the McKeesport School District Hall of Fame and the McKeesport Athletic Hall of Fame.
January 11, 2023
Allegheny County – January 11, 2023 – Today, State Democratic Senators from Allegheny County, including Senators Jay Costa, Jim Brewster, Wayne Fontana, and Lindsey Williams, announced over $21 million in Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) grants for community violence intervention and prevention for the region.
“All of us deserve to feel safe in the homes and neighborhoods we call home. I’m so proud that the PCCD is investing in community-based solutions that deliver safety and remove dangerous weapons from the hands of those who wish harm on those we love,” said Senator Costa. “I look forward to continuing work with leaders in Pittsburgh to keep one another safe and sound.”
PCCD awarded $88.6 million in Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) grants to 122 projects throughout the state, and approximately $12 million in Coordinated Community Violence Intervention (CCVI) Strategies Pilot grants to 5 projects to support targeted anti-violence efforts in Philadelphia, Allegheny County, Chester City, and York.
Senator Brewster, a member of PCCD’s School Safety and Security Committee, took part in approving the grants that were awarded today.
“As a member of the School Safety and Security Committee, I am pleased that we were able to meet this afternoon to approve the community safety awards included in this year’s historic budget,” said Senator Brewster. “One of my top priorities has been to secure our schools and neighborhoods, and these awards will help increase coordination and prevent violence across the Commonwealth.”
A total of 22 organizations and initiatives in Allegheny County were awarded funds to support efforts to reduce gun and group violence in communities.
“I’m pleased to see these much needed funds being distributed to proven programs that will help reduce violence in our communities. Many communities in the district I represent will benefit greatly from this funding,” said Senator Fontana.
“I’m glad to see these programs receive PCCD funding to help communities address the root causes of violence using evidence-based and trauma-informed solutions,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “These grants will go to projects that help students, families, and neighborhoods build safe schools and communities together.”
Allegheny County grant recipients include:
Coordinated CVI Strategies Pilot Grants Award Recipients
- Neighborhood Resilience Project, Allegheny County Convened Violence Prevention- $3,000,000
Violence Intervention and Prevention Competitive Grants Award Recipients
- Aaron Donald 99 Solutions Foundation, Community Defense Project- $80,015
- ACH Clear Pathways, ACH Clear Pathway’s R.E.A.C.H. Program Support- $450,000
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer, Rapid Employment & Development to Reduce Violence- $2,426,014
- Amachi Pittsburgh, Hear4U Mobile Outreach- $440,500
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, Inc., Woodland Hills Violence Prevention Program- $268,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania, Great Futures Solutions- $1,809,760
- Center for Victims, Competitive VIP Grant – Comprehensive Response- $2,500,000
- Community Empowerment Association, Inc., Violence Intervention Proposal (VIP)- $927,917
- Focus On Renewal Sto-Rox Neighborhood Corp., Families Foremost- $833,029
- Foundation of HOPE, HOPE Aftercare/MAD DADS Collaborative- $809,000
- Phase 4 Learning Center, Inc., P4:247 CommUNITY- $1,500,000
- Pittsburgh City, Pittsburgh Youth Violence Prevention in Schools- $2,499,909
- Pittsburgh Community Services Inc., PCSI’s Violence Intervention & Prevention Project-$750,000
- Ruth’s Way,Inc., The Achievement Consultation Program- $111,105
- The Pittsburgh Contingency, Inc. (South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace), South Pgh Coalition for Peace Outreach Program- $160,000
- The Pittsburgh Contingency, Inc. (Voices Against Violence), Voices Against Violence- $187,500
- University of Pittsburgh, Empowering Teens to Thrive- $1,240,722
- University of Pittsburgh (School of Medicine), Teen Outreach to Promote Safety (TOPS)- $704,285
- Wilkinsburg Sanctuary Project, Project for Peace Service Camp- $25,000
- Youth Enrichment Services, Inc., Youth Lead Peer Engagement Violence Prevention Hub- $650,000
- YouthPlaces, YouthPlaces Trauma-Informed Care Project- $410,534
More information about grant recipients and project details can be found under the Gun Violence tab on the http://www.pccd.pa.gov/ website.
June 3, 2022
MONROEVILLE, June 3, 2022 – State Senator Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, joined Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) to co-host a public hearing on state policies and the public health impacts of the development of the shale gas industry in Pennsylvania yesterday in Allegheny County.
“Pennsylvania is one of the largest gas producing states and therefore one of the biggest waste and pollution-producing states in our nation. The continued development of the fracked gas industry with regulators using discretionary enforcement, allowing reckless companies to put people in harms way all across our state, writing off the harm as the cost of doing business,” Muth said. “The stories we heard from impacted residents and research presented on the health impacts of the drilling industry make it abundantly clear that the Majority party in the House and Senate in Harrisburg must enact stronger regulations and close loopholes in the law so that the fracked gas industry is held to the same standards as other industries operating in our Commonwealth, and take urgent action to replace contaminated water supplies and ensure healthcare to every resident suffering from the harms they’ve been forced to endure for the sake of corporate profits.”
The Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing, hosted at CCAC’s Boyce Campus in Monroeville, featured three panels of testimony that included Pennsylvania residents impacted by the shale gas industry and public health and policy experts.
“Thanks to the experts who provided informative testimony about the policies surrounding Pennsylvania’s shale gas boom,” Brewster said. “While I am a supporter of the shale gas industry because it boosts our economy and creates family-sustaining jobs, I also believe that companies need to pay their fair share and follow the rules to protect the health and safety of residents.”
In April, the Environmental Health Project presented its latest white paper, Pennsylvania’s Shale Gas Boom: How Policy Decisions Failed to Protect Public Health and What We Can Do to Correct It, which demonstrated that public health considerations have not been central to the conversation in the development of the shale gas industry in Pennsylvania.
“The path that got us to where we are today involved downplaying existing public health research, presuming safety and vast economic benefits based on the word of industrial interests, and pushing the burden of proof to those who are often least equipped to advocate for themselves,” Alison L. Steele, Executive Director, EHP added. “It is within the government’s capability to create a better, stronger, more health-protective approach, starting today. We call on leaders in the Pennsylvania government to introduce policy and support decisions that protect the public’s health in the face of this emission-intensive extractive industry. There is much to be done.”
Participants in the hearing included Gillian Graber, Executive Director, Protect PT; Cathy Lodge, Washington County resident; Mackenzie White, Public Health Manager, EHP; Dr. Brian Schwartz, Professor of Environmental Health and Engineering, Epidemiology, and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University; Lisa Graves-Marcucci, Pennsylvania Coordinator, Community Outreach, Environmental Integrity Project; and Alison L. Steele, Executive Director, EHP.
“Pennsylvania residents are reporting serious health impacts from shale gas development. As a public health professional, I find these stories to be quite concerning,” Mackenzie White, Public Health Manager, EHP, said. “While not everyone can be a public health professional, legislators are in a position to represent their constituents—so many of whom have similar stories. We can still take actions to protect the health of Pennsylvanians and ensure a healthier future for all.”
Other members of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee that participated included Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, Senator Lindsey Williams, Senator Wayne Fontana, and Senator John Kane.
“Yesterday’s hearing emphasized that more work needs to be done to address the serious public health concerns surrounding natural gas extraction,” Costa said. “The economic, health and environmental factors surrounding the matter are not mutually exclusive and I know that we can balance those needs in an effective, responsible manner.”
All submitted testimony from the policy hearing and the full video is available at SenatorMuth.com/Policy
Agenda →
Testimony
Panel 1: Community Impact
Panel 2: Health Effects
Panel 3: Policy Solutions
Other Documents
July 21, 2021
Harrisburg – July 21, 2021 – At the request of Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), Sen. Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), & House Representative Austin Davis (D- Allegheny), the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hybrid in person and virtual public hearing to discuss the healthcare workforce crisis in Pennsylvania. The pandemic exposed the many problems with staffing in our healthcare systems that must be addressed.
“I am extremely grateful that the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, in partnership with the incredible health care workers of SEIU, are continuing the conversation about the immediate need to address the staffing crisis in Pennsylvania healthcare settings,” Sen. Costa said. “My family was incredibly thankful for the care that my mother received when she was in a nursing home setting, and that standard of care should be afforded to every Pennsylvanian. Safe staffing levels, union protections, and livable wages are essential to addressing this workforce crisis.”
Sen. Fontana continued, “The pandemic put the gaping holes in our current healthcare system on full display. The staff in our hospital systems, our nursing homes, and our home care aides worked tirelessly before this pandemic – and were lifelines during the pandemic. We must address the pay inequities that healthcare workers face and assure that these essential workers have the workplace protections that they deserve.”
As the pandemic put a strain on health care systems across the country, staff became increasingly scarce as quarantines and infection rates rose at an alarming pace. In November 2020, approximately nine months into the pandemic, staffing shortages existed in hospitals within at least 25 states. Many employees had to choose between working and caring for their children during pandemic-induced school closures. Additionally, the fear of contracting COVID-19 or passing it to family members, the surging influx of patients and the extended work hours plagued healthcare staff across-the-board. A survey conducted by Mental Health America from June to September demonstrated 93% of healthcare workers were stressed, 85% were experiencing anxiety, 77% were frustrated, 76% were burned out and 75% felt overwhelmed.
During the hearing, nurses and health care workers discussed historic challenges they faced during the pandemic and ongoing challenges that have existed in their profession long before COVID-19 became a public health crisis. Panelists and legislatures also pointed out the correlation between improved patient outcomes and good working conditions and pay. They highlighted the need for more data to prove the benefits of good working conditions that unions like SEIU fight for.
“There is no excuse for allowing healthcare professionals – who are giving lifesaving care – to work in substandard conditions where they are not making a living wage. Good jobs create strong communities, and these workers deserve the union security, workplace protections, and comparable wages for the professionals that they are and the work that they do,” Sen. Brewster said.
“Good union jobs are shown time and again to improve the lives of individuals and improve the communities where union families live. Fighting for union security, safe staffing levels, and livable wages that our healthcare workers deserve will not only create better outcomes for patients where these workers serve – it creates stronger and more prosperous communities as a whole,” Sen. Lindsey Williams said.
“Across the country, health disparities between white and Black people have been narrowing — but the opposite is true in Allegheny County. We know why: the over-concentration of the Black community in local service occupations and in particular, healthcare. Like the manufacturing industries that preceded it, healthcare relies on understaffing and cost-cutting at the frontlines to support high executive pay, expansion and profits. This model intensifies disparities and creates worker *and* community burnout and instability. These problems cannot be solved using current managerial strategies. Healthcare systems are the perfect example of why healthcare workers need a voice on the job. Our charitable healthcare dollars are funding an unsustainable business model, and it’s time for a change,” said Silas Russell, Vice President at SEIU Healthcare PA.
“I am incredibly grateful to hold this hearing today and to continue the conversation about the need for workplace protections and union security for our healthcare professionals. They truly were essential the past year and several months as we fought through the pandemic, but their work has been and will continue to be the keystone to ensuring high-quality patient care. The pay, benefits, protections, and respect through safe staffing levels or our healthcare workers should absolutely reflect the lifesaving work that they do,” Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said.
Below are all who participated in today’s hearing:
- Erin Williams, Respiratory Therapist, Allegheny General Hospital
- Christoria Hughes, Dietary, UPMC Presbyterian
- Kim Hitrik, Registered Nurse, West Penn Hospital
- Katrina Rechtenwald, Registered Nurse, Allegheny General Hospital
- Silas Russell, Vice President and Political Director, SEIU Healthcare PA
- Theresa Brown, PhD, RN, Nurse and author of the New York TimesBestseller The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients’ Lives
- Gabriel Winant, Author, The Next Shift: the Fall of Industry and the Rise of Healthcare in the Rust Belt
- Jeff Shook, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Law at University of Pittsburgh
Senators who attended this hearing in person and virtually included Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D- Allegheny), Sen. Katie Muth (D- Berks/Chester/Montgomery), Sen. Wayne Fontana (D- Allegheny), Sen. Jim Brewster (D- Allegheny/Westmoreland), Sen. Lindsey Williams (D- Allegheny), Sen. John Kane (D- Chester/Delaware), Sen. Tim Kearney (D- Chester/Delaware), Sen. Shariff Street (D- Philadelphia), and Sen. Maria Collett (D- Bucks/Montgomery). House Members in attendance included Rep. Austin Davis (D- Allegheny), Rep. Dan Miller (D- Allegheny), and Rep. Emily Kinkead (D- Allegheny).
The full recording of this roundtable, as well as the written testimony from participants, can be found at senatormuth.com/policy. A full recording of this hearing can also be found on the PA Senate Democratic Facebook page.
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June 21, 2021
Harrisburg, Pa. – June 21, 2021 − After Republicans failed to pass a clean, bipartisan bill to extend mixed drinks to go for restaurants and taverns, the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats are introducing legislation that will provide the opportunity for bars, taverns and restaurants to extend some of the emergency provisions of the disaster declaration.
Under leadership of the Senate Democrats, the General Assembly passed statutes that permitted restaurants to sell mixed drinks to go, sell alcohol outside in contiguous areas, expand off premise catering permits, and receive other waivers and discounts on fees, which we were under the protections of a disaster declaration.
When Republicans ended the disaster declaration with a concurrent resolution in early June, they did nothing to prepare for restaurants to continue these activities – despite knowing the hospitality industry would be harmed.
“The Senate Democratic Caucus is fighting to help the hospitality industry recover from the past year of hardship,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “And we’re hopeful that the Senate Republicans will join us – instead of capitalizing on the pain of the small business community.”
Instead of passing House Bill 1154, which enjoyed bipartisan support in the House and Senate, Senate Republicans added a political amendment to privatize our liquor system – with no hearings or expert testimony.
“Republicans continue to politicize the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic, and frankly I think Pennsylvanians are fed up of their talking points,” said Senator Wayne D. Fontana. “They campaigned hard to end the disaster declaration and misled folks on what that meant. Many restrictions were already ended, but their hasty and partisan end to the declaration is hurting small business owners.”
Members of the Senate Democratic Caucus will introduce amendments and a new bill to permanently enshrine the permissions granted under the COVID-19 disaster declaration, without tying this aid to partisan tricks.
The amendments will continue the following emergency permissions:
- Mixed drinks to go
- Ability to sell in contiguous areas outside of the licensed premises
- Increase in the wholesale discount from 10% to 15%
- Allow an unlimited number of off premise catering permits
- Waive safekeeping fees
- Ability for closing restaurants and taverns to sell their liquor inventory to other liquor licensees
“Since July of last year, I have been asking my Republican colleagues to support these measures,” said Senator Jim Brewster. “I keep hearing from restaurants and taverns in my district that they want these things to continue. They’re tired of excuses from Harrisburg; there’s no reason we can’t get this done for them.”
“The hospitality industry has been decimated over the past 15 months, and this immense hardship transcends all party lines and allegiances. Workers and small businesses are still reeling from the pandemic and need, and deserve, our support,” said Senator Nikil Saval. “These amendments will benefit people and communities throughout our Commonwealth that these businesses sustain, and simultaneously allow for the continued reimagining of how residents get to experience our streets and communal spaces.”
These amendments are in addition to the New Deal for Pennsylvania plan that the caucus put forth in May, which includes $2.47 billion in spending of the state’s allocation from the American Rescue Plan for people-focused recovery, including business assistance, job training and workforce development.
More information on the New Deal proposal can be found at pasenate.com/newdeal
Previously, the Senate Democrats fought for and secured $145 million in assistance for the hospitality industry in the form of grants in January of 2021, paid for with federal funding from the CARES Act.
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May 12, 2021
Harrisburg, Pa. – May 12, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats unveiled the “New Deal for PA” – a $6.15 billion investment of federal funds coming to the Commonwealth pursuant to the American Rescue Plan.
The New Deal for PA focuses on Jobs, Opportunity, and Equity with the following breakdown:
People — $2.470 billion
21st Century Child Care
Business Assistance
Education/Community Supports
Job Training/Workforce Development
Utility Assistance
Projects — $2.493 billion
Economic Development
Infrastructure
Public Health — $1.185 billion
Public Health Equity/Vaccine Confidence
Rewarding Frontline Worker Service
“These funds give us a unique opportunity to not only plug the holes created by the past year, but to also set us on a trajectory that will prevent such devastation from happening again – particularly as it relates to the disproportionate impact some communities faced,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “We have to move beyond calls to simply ‘reopen’ and focus instead on rebuilding and recovering. Our businesses, workers and families need programs and support systems to get to a new normal.”
By making targeted investments in people, projects, and public health, we can use this once-in-a-lifetime infusion of federal funds into PA to make positive, long-lasting improvements that will lay the foundation to create transformative change across the Commonwealth.
“This plan which creates jobs and opportunity, and prioritizes equity, is the result of a long, difficult year of listening and learning,” Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Hughes said. “Thousands of Pennsylvanians have taken time during the pandemic to tell us their stories, their challenges and their tragedies. We now have a historic opportunity to apply the lessons learned not just from the virus, but also from the decades of regressive public policy that left so many so vulnerable to it. In short, this plan puts PA’s people first.”
The New Deal for PA uses a data-driven approach to respond to what we learned during the pandemic.
The caucus looked at the current situation to determine where financial assistance is still necessary to help individuals, families, and small business recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic. Then, the caucus looked ahead and assessed how to best invest ARP funds to ensure that we come out of the pandemic better than we went in and build resiliency across the commonwealth in preparation for the next crisis.
Finally, the caucus compared its proposal with the U.S. Treasury guidance released on May 10, 2021, to ensure we are on solid footing in using the funds as we propose.
Federal guidance on allowable uses of the funds coming to Pennsylvania from the American Rescue Plan’s (“ARP”) State Fiscal Relief Fund was released on May 10, 2021. Pennsylvania will receive approximately $7.3 billion in flexible funding from the State Fiscal Relief Fund. Senate Democrats believe it is time to begin the conversation on investing these funds so we can allocate the monies with the FY 2021-2022 budget
The Senate Democrats’ proposal distributes $6.05 billion from the following sources:
State Fiscal Relief Fund — $4,797,500,000
Capital Projects Fund — $280,000,000
ESSER Fund — $505,000,000
Emergency Assistance for Nonpublic Schools — $150,000,000
Pandemic Response Fund — $25,000,000
Other Funds — $55,000,000
Local Matching Funds — $335,000,000
Counties and municipalities will receive approximately $6.1 billion from the American Rescue Plan’s Local Fiscal Relief Fund and school districts will receive approximately $4.5 billion from the ESSER Fund. If these local government units take advantage of these programs, state matching funds will average approximately $4 for every $1 of local funding.
The Senate Democratic Caucus plan targets investments to craft a just recovery so Pennsylvania can Build Back Better.
More information on the plan can be found at PASenate.com/NewDeal
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August 10, 2020
Statewide, Pa. – August 10, 2020 – The Pennsylvania CDFI Network and the PA State Senator Democrats today announced $96 million in grant awards under the COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business AssistanStatewide, Pa. – August 10, 2020 – The Pennsylvania CDFI Network and the PA State Senator Democrats today announced $96 million in grant awards under the COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program. The small businesses that have been approved for awards span all 67 Pennsylvania counties.ce program. The small businesses that have been approved for awards span all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
“These grants and the relief they will provide are testament to what we can do when we prioritize the right initiatives,” said Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery). “It is because of collaboration and a collective focus that today we were able to deliver help to the auto body shops, the barbershops, the beauticians, the pizza shop owners, the soul food establishments and other businesses across the commonwealth. And though we are gathering today virtually to recognize the positive impact these grants will have, it is critical to understand that there is still a great deal of need and must continue to direct resources and aid to our small business community to help it recover from the devastation of the pandemic.”
The program is part of $225 million in statewide relief championed by the senate democratic caucus in June to support small businesses economically impacted by the pandemic. The first application round drew a strong response with nearly 24,000 applications.
“We’ve seen the impact of this pandemic-fueled economic crisis on the small businesses in our communities and in the immense response to the program in the first round of applications,” said Daniel Betancourt, President & CEO of Community First Fund and Chair of the PA CDFI Network. “The PA CDFI Network is grateful for the partnership of Governor Wolf and the Pennsylvania Legislature as we move quickly to get these resources into the hands of those most impacted by the crisis.”
Of the close to 5,000 small businesses approved in the first round of funding, 50% are historically disadvantaged businesses that have traditionally experienced discrimination when seeking financial services and financial products. Over 2,400 of the businesses are also in communities targeted for business investment by state government programs like Main Street and Elm Street.
“I could not be more proud or more grateful for the great work of DCED and Pennsylvania’s CDFI Network in delivering substantive, fair, equitable, need-based assistance to our state’s main street and historically disadvantaged small businesses. Our program design and the accountability it provides to taxpayers and to our federal funders is a model for the nation,” Senator Blake (D-Lackawanna) said. “I appeal to the US Congress and to our colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Harrisburg to recognize the success of this program in assisting small businesses devastated by the pandemic and to invest further in the program so we can help even more of them.”
The program has targeted getting grants to small businesses with the greatest need and to be eligible to apply businesses had to have less than $1M in revenue and less than 25 employees. Grants ranged in size from $5,000 to $50,000 based on the revenue size of the business. More than 2,300 of the grantee business owners are low-moderate income.
“Our business community has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is in need of immediate assistance. The grant program is targeted to help small businesses manage costs, handle expenses, and stay in operation in this exceptionally difficult time,” said Senator Brewster (D-Allegheny). “Since COVID struck our state and debilitated our business community, I have been advocating for bridge grants and sought millions in aid for impacted businesses and workers. The small business assistance grants are one of the tools we can use to bolster business, maintain jobs and help workers at a time of immense distress.”
More than two thirds of the approved awardees are women-owned businesses and 16 percent located in rural communities. The businesses represent industries that have been especially hard hit by the pandemic including retail, food and hospitality, health and wellness, and personal care.
| Industry |
Applications Approved |
Amount (Millions) |
| Restaurants & Other Eating Places |
1,608 |
$25.80
|
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
202 |
$4.63
|
| Personal Care Services |
1,001 |
$24.52
|
| Other Amusement and Rec. Industries |
180 |
$3.46
|
| Totals |
2,991 |
$58.41
|
“For minority and women-owned businesses in Pennsylvania COVID-19 didn’t create a crisis, it laid bare the crisis our minority entrepreneurs have been facing for decades,” House Democratic Finance Committee Chairman Jake Wheatley Jr (D-Allegheny) said. “While I’m glad to see the positive impact of these grants and I urge all local community businesses to apply for the next round of grants, we need to expand investment in programs like this because it’s long past time for the legislature to address the systemic flaws that are leaving too many marginalized people behind.”
The second grant application window for the relief funds opened today, August 10, and will remain open for 15 business days closing at 11:59PM on August 28.
“Our small business owners need our help and support,” said state Rep. Carolyn Comitta, D-Chester. “After limited or even no sales due to the virus for almost five months, it would be unfair to let them suffer alone without any intervention. These grants give our small businesses hope and, I am here with my democratic colleagues to provide them whatever help they need to address this pandemic. Our business owners, their employees, and their families deserve our assistance.”
In order to get funds to businesses in need as quickly as possible, the second application window will be the final opportunity to apply for the program. Qualified applicants not awarded in the first round do not need to reapply and will be rolled into the next round for consideration.
Eligible small businesses can apply online at pabusinessgrants.com or through any one of the 17 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that are part of the Pennsylvania CDFI Network.
Summary_Round1
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About the PA CDFI Network
The PA CDFI Network is a coalition of 17 PA-based community development financial institutions that primarily provide financing options for small businesses. The members of the coalition are as follows:
The Progress Fund (Counties Served: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Somerset, Tioga, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland)
Bridgeway Capital (Counties Served: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Washington, Westmoreland)
Northside Community Development Fund (Counties Served: Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Lawrence, Washington)
Metro Action (Counties Served: Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming)
Rising Tide Community Loan Fund (Counties Served: Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Columbia, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton)
ASSETS (Counties Served: Berks, Juniata, Lancaster, Mifflin, Snyder, York)
Community First Fund (Counties Served: Adams, Berks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, York)
Reinvestment Fund (Counties Served: All Counties)
PIDC Community Capital (Counties Served: Philadelphia)
Impact Loan Fund (Counties Served: Montgomery, Montour, Northumberland, Philadelphia)
Beech Capital (Counties Served: Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Montgomery, Philadelphia, York)
West Philadelphia Financial Services Institution (Counties Served: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia)
Enterprise Center Capital (Counties Served: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia)
Neighborhood Progress Fund (Counties Served: Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia)
Entrepreneur Works (Counties Served: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia)
Women’s Opportunities Resource Center (Counties Served: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wyoming)
United Bank (Counties Served: Blair, Bucks, Cambria, Chester, Delaware, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Union)
The members of the Executive Committee of the network are:
- Daniel Betancourt, Community First Fund — Chair
- James Burnett, West Philadelphia Financial Services Institution — Vice Chair
- Lynne Cutler, Women’s Opportunities Resource Center (WORC) — Vice Chair
- Leslie Benoliel, Entrepreneur Works — Treasurer
- Mark Masterson, Northside Community Development Fund — Secretary
- Chris Hudock, Rising Tide Loan Fund — Assistant Treasurer
June 8, 2020
HARRISBURG – June 8, 2020 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus announced the direction of $225 million in federal CARES Act funding to aid small businesses across the commonwealth. This funding was authorized by the recently enacted COVID-19 Emergency Supplement to the General Appropriation Act of 2019 and was a centerpiece of the caucus’ PA CARES Plan.
The aid will be distributed as follows: $100 million is set to go to the Main Street Business Revitalization Program, $100 million to the Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Program, and $25 million for loan payment deferment and loss reserves for loans impacted by COVID-19. The aid will be directed by the Department of Community and Economic Development to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), which are intimately familiar with the needs of the most vulnerable small businesses in our communities.
“I want to thank Governor Wolf for engaging leadership in the General Assembly to inform the process of moving federal aid out to those who have been most harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I also want to thank the leadership of the Senate Democratic caucus who worked with our members to formulate a strategic plan for the deployment of nearly $4 billion in federal assistance,” said state Senator John Blake (D-Lackawanna). “The Main Street Business Revitalization program is a reflection of that cooperation and leadership and it will meet Pennsylvania’s small business owners where they are, on Main Street, after nearly three months of lost or no sales. It will enable small business owners throughout the commonwealth to meet their insurance payments, rents, health insurance premiums, local taxes and other expenses that they otherwise could not meet due to lost sales. Finally, I want to thank the 17 CDFIs throughout the state as well as DCED for their professionalism, agility, urgency and dedication to getting this federal funding to the small businesses who need it most as quickly as possible.”
Eligible businesses will apply through one of the CDFI Network partners and will have to have been operating on or before February 15, 2020, and must have paid taxes to state and federal governments. Qualifying main street and historically disadvantaged small businesses must have 25 or fewer employees and experienced losses as a result of Gov. Tom Wolf’s March 19 stay-at-home order. Organizations seeking grants from the historically disadvantaged small businesses program must also be 51 percent owned and managed by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
“The announcement of the Main Street and Historically Disadvantaged Business Revitalization Programs will provide welcomed relief for mom and pop businesses in neighborhoods across the commonwealth,” said State Senator Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery). “Since this pandemic began, we have heard the needs of the auto body shops, the barbershops, the beauticians, the pizza shop owners, the soul food establishments and other businesses in our communities. The needs of these businesses that were unable to get much needed help from other state and federal programs were a priority in our Senate Democratic Caucus’ April 29 PA CARES Program announcement. For months, my office has worked with a network of trusted community organizations that have a proven track record of working with our small CDFIs to find a solution to assist our neighborhood businesses. I believe these programs are that solution. There is still more work to be done, but these programs are a win for Pennsylvania and its small businesses.”
Businesses will be eligible for up to $50,000 in grants. Grants can be used to cover operating expenses during the shutdown and in the transition period to reopening, technical assistance and training, debt payment relief for CDFI borrowers and loan loss reserves.
“Our small businesses all across the state made sacrifices so that we could flatten the curve of COVID-19 and save lives,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Now as we begin to recover, our businesses will need and deserve assistance to reopen their doors, rehire their staff and serve our communities again. We thank them for their patience through this difficult time, and are ready to offer the programs, loans and assistance they need.”
Businesses will be required to submit proposals for review documenting sales losses, projected revenues, the duration of closure as a result of COVID-19, and relief receipts for other federal, state and local government aid. Eligible businesses will apply directly through a local CDFI.
“One of the goals of the pandemic-recovery stimulus plan that I offered in March, was to jump-start business operations and speed the economic recovery by making resources readily available to get more men and women back to work quicker,” Senator Brewster said. “Using federal CARE dollars to bolster business and smooth the back-to-work transition is critically important. The caucus CARES initiative includes one piece of the plan and will be especially useful to small businesses as they cover expenses and manage start-up costs. Plus, it will usher in help for small businesses who may not have been able to access other state or federal business assistance programs.”
Distributed funds will be monitored by DCED to track the total number of grants awarded under these programs including county, the number of jobs saved by the grants, the total amount of loan payment and deferment, administrative costs and more.
“Thank you to Governor Wolf and his administration for recognizing the need for our Main Street Business Revitalization Program and incorporating that proposal into the Commonwealth’s plan to support our small businesses, which represent nearly half of the private sector workforce in Pennsylvania – 2.5 million jobs,” said Senator Iovino (D-Allegheny/Washington). “Small businesses are the job creators in our communities, the revenue generators for our Commonwealth, and the cornerstone of vibrant main streets. As small business owners are struggling to hang on, this $225 million grant package is exactly the kind of lifeline that these economic drivers need to support our recovery.”
For more about the caucus’ comprehensive, people-focused COVID-19 recovery plan, visit pasenate.com/pacares.
April 8, 2020
Harrisburg, PA − April 8, 2020 − The Senate adjourned Tuesday afternoon after the House Republicans indicated they would not be taking up Senate Bill 841, legislation that would have enabled local municipalities to hold their meetings remotely, permitted e-notary use; lengthened the time period a property tax payer can receive an early payment discount and delay penalties for late payments to Dec. 31st; and allowed businesses to make delayed payments on EITC. Another important amendment offered by Senator Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny) allowed school districts to renegotiate contracts to ensure contracted school workers can get paid and continue to receive benefits.
The amended SB 841 passed the Senate with bipartisan support. While the Senate Democrats and Republicans chose to put partisan difference aside, the House Republicans were pushing to please special interests and big donors. Intending to use this crisis as leverage, Speaker Turzai and his caucus passed legislation to prematurely allow businesses to reopen during this public health crisis and create a partisan task force to interfere with the Governor’s disaster response, both of which unnecessarily risk lives and threaten to expend the emergency.
“While the Governor and Department of Health Secretary offer leadership on public safety in daily briefings and Democratic members of the PA House and Senate draft legislation to protect working people who are either out of work or employed on the front lines of essential businesses, Republicans are putting lives at risk and undermining the Governor and Secretary Levine’s best efforts to end this crisis,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Instead of taking the advice of our Health Secretary, they are trying to slow down our response and hasten the re-opening of non-essential businesses against the guidance of every public health entity in the country.”
The House Republicans were seeking even more egregious measures to provide civil immunity to big businesses, upend school districts ability to pay their teachers, and leave our corrections department employees at serious threat of the Coronavirus. Perhaps worst of all, the language does nothing to protect frontline workers, provide assistance to those that are out of work, or to help small businesses weather this crisis.
In an amendment to Senate Bill 327, House Republicans designed a task force with partisan appointees to usurp the Governor’s ability to rapidly respond to this quickly-evolving crisis. Their bill would require the Secretary of Health to leave PEMA, take hours away from public health crisis planning and defend her work in front of a redundant, political body.
The Senate Democratic Caucus will not support these bills. Alternatively, this caucus will be supporting legislation on the following issues:
- The American Working Family Relief Action Plan for front-line worker protections (Collett/L. Williams)
- Protecting workers during public health emergencies (Santarsiero)
- COVID-19 Food Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- COVID-19 Grocery Store Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- Payment of contract services in schools (Iovino)
- Childcare assistance (Schwank/L. Williams)
- Emergency expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act to provide paid sick leave (Farnese)
- Crisis grants for volunteer fire and EMS companies due to COVID-19 (Brewster)
- Require business interruption insurance to cover COVID-19 related business closures (Hughes)
- Eviction protection for all disaster emergencies (Farnese)
- Coronavirus disease and schools: allowing for online instruction (Dinniman)
- Creating a Common Wealth Fund to collect donations from individuals to provide for essential needs of those in need (AH Williams)
- Providing a presumption of eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefits for workers that get sick in the workplace (Tartaglione)
- Ensuring receipt of a stimulus check from the Federal government is not included in an individual’s income for purposes of qualifying for social safety nets (Schwank)
- Exempting stimulus checks from the Federal government from State and local taxation (Brewster)
- Collaborating with financial institutions to mandate mortgage loan forgiveness, assistance to homeowners that were laid off due to state emergencies (Farnese)
“While many working Pennsylvanians are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing lost hours or even complete unemployment, others who find themselves in more fortunate circumstances have expressed a desire to help their fellow citizens by either donating to a local charity or patronizing local businesses,” said Senator Anthony H. Williams. “By establishing the “Pennsylvania Common Wealth” restricted account, taxpayers could redirect all or a portion of their stimulus check to the state, which in turn would be authorized to direct those funds into programs which help the neediest Pennsylvanians – property tax & rent rebates, temporary assistance for needy families, CHIP or medical assistance.”
“Pennsylvania needs solutions that help protect its working people who have been hit the hardest by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Vincent Hughes said. “We in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus have put forth a number of policy proposals that would do just that, meanwhile House Republicans have chosen to ignore these needs and push an agenda that jeopardizes public health and puts additional pressure on working people by delaying immediate relief. Our mission should be helping people in this unprecedented time of need and we will remain vigilant in protecting hardworking folks across the commonwealth.”
“As public servants, our most important duty is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. This includes making difficult decisions in challenging times. We all want businesses to reopen, employees back on the job, students back in classrooms and some semblance of normal life to resume, but that cannot happen unless we first continue mitigation efforts and follow the advice of our scientists and experts,” said Senator Wayne D. Fontana. “Anything contrary can set back progress and cause further harm on our economy and most importantly, on human health. The bipartisan legislation the Senate approved provides some necessary guidance and relief to local governments, businesses, school employees and property taxpayers during this unprecedented situation. It is unconscionable that House Republicans blatantly disregarded that duty and have chosen not to act.”
“The spread of coronavirus has not quieted the voice of special interests in Harrisburg and that’s tragic,” said Senator Larry Farnese. “Mitigation through isolation is working and we have to recognize that sacrifice through legislation that actually helps front-line workers instead of just saying nice things on social media.”
“This crisis and the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires leadership, transparency and cooperation – not partisan politics,” said Senator John Blake. “While we’ve worked well with the Senate majority on real solutions that actually help people in this crisis, the House majority looks to undermine the executive authority of the Governor as well as the advice of medical and scientific experts regarding public health. I applaud the work being done by Governor Wolf and his administration to keep Pennsylvanians safe and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. I will continue to support important legislation to help our business community, front-line workers and medical professionals; and to protect our citizens, schools and local governments across this state. We need to remain vigilant in following the recommendations of the PA Department of Health and the federal CDC.”
“Issues that the Commonwealth was already facing have been exacerbated by this pandemic, and child care services and early learning programs are near the top of the list. Childcare centers are teetering on the brink of insolvency, which is why part of our legislative package addresses early childhood learning and safe, quality childcare. We will not be able to restart Pennsylvania’s economy without this key component,” Senator Judy Schwank said. “Additionally, it’s vital that the income requirements of state programs like PACENET and Property Tax and Rent Rebate are adjusted so that Pennsylvanians receiving federal aid are not penalized later.”
“The key to an effective response to the pandemic is to ensure that our citizens are protected, health risks are addressed, and our economy restarts quickly,” Senator Jim Brewster said. “That’s why I introduced a six-point stimulus plan that will help small business, protect workers and create jobs once we are clear from the threat posed by the pandemic. In addition, we need to make sure to address the immediate and long-term needs of first responders and all workers and businesses who are providing essential services during this time of extraordinary stress.”
“There is no segment of our Commonwealth that hasn’t been upended by this crisis. Everything is a priority. But in order to save livelihoods, we must first save lives,” said Senator Maria Collett. “As a nurse, I know firsthand the challenges our health care workers are up against and the urgency of passing legislation like the American Working Family Relief Action Plan for Front-Line Workers. Our doctors, nurses, first responders, senior care aides and others should not have to worry about getting sick or infecting others while performing their essential work.”
“It is irresponsible for the state to reopen businesses at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Those who are not essential workers should remain home,” said Senator Art Haywood. “We need to do all we can as legislators to support essential employees risking their lives on a daily basis,” said Senator Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia). “I will continue to support the work Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine have done to inform the public to remain safe and stay home.”
“The citizens of Pennsylvania are counting on their elected representatives to save lives by responding swiftly, pragmatically, and in a bipartisan manner to slow the spread of this highly contagious virus,” said Senator Pam Iovino. “To fulfill our duty to the public, we must follow the consensus guidance of public health professionals, focus on protecting front-line essential workers, and put in place protections that allow furloughed or unemployed workers and small businesses to weather the economic disruption.”
“As the Democratic chair of the Local Government Committee, I worked with stakeholders for weeks to craft the provisions of SB 841, I am disappointed these commonsense measures, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, are being held up by House Republicans for little reason,” said Senator Tim Kearney. “The House should immediately pass SB 841 and focus on bringing relief to Pennsylvanians, rather than sabotaging the Governor’s efforts to keep our families safe.”
“Yesterday, the majority party in both chambers failed to use their legislative power, where they can literally pass any bill they want to, and instead decided to pack up and go home without,” said Senator Katie Muth. “Failing to pass meaningful bills when people are fighting for their lives is simply negligent.”
“Now is not the time to play politics,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero. “Saving lives has to be the first priority. In order to do that, we must all do our part and follow the Governor’s and Department of Health’s plans as they’ve been explained to us countless times. SB 841 is just one of many ways our caucus has worked in a bipartisan effort to provide relief to those who need it most. However, SB 327 is exactly what our healthcare professionals warn us against. Promoting a premature return to normalcy will only undermine our effort to keep the public safe, and further endanger thousands of lives.”
“Government’s most important role is the protection of its people. Since the COVID-19 crisis the Senate has met three times, with little to show for it. Communities across the commonwealth have no interest in the paralysis of government especially in the most desperate of times. What they do care about is the protection of our essential workforce, the interruption of our small businesses, job loss, staying in their homes and educating their children. The only thing that matters is the preservation and protection of every resource needed to keep families safe during this health crisis,” said Senator Sharif Street.
“We need to be back in Harrisburg, we need to get back to work. We must work together to ensure our communities are protected during uncertain times.”
“As thousands of Pennsylvanians continue to get sick and hundreds die, now is no time to play partisan politics,” Senator Tina Tartaglione said. “As public leaders, we must unite behind the common goal of reducing the threat of this virus and mitigating the harm being done to our constituents. The package of bills we have proposed will directly help all Pennsylvania families, including essential workers, displaced workers, first responders, school children, those who have become sick, and those in need. I urge all legislators from all political parties to support these bills.”
“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives is our top priority. We also need to protect and support our constituents, our communities, and our businesses,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “Our front-line essential workers – our hospital workers, grocery store workers, emergency service personnel and others – cannot afford to wait for PPE. They needed it weeks ago. Our childcare facilities need our help to stay open and provide care to the children of our essential workers while they risk their lives for us. Our small businesses need financial support to stay afloat. Our municipalities need the ability to meet remotely and make decisions that will ensure the safety of all of residents. There are a lot of needs right now and our constituents do not have time for us to waste playing partisan games or naming bridges. The Senate Democrats have offered concrete solutions that will help people. We should all be working together to get them to the Governor’s desk for signature as soon as possible.”
More information on the work of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus during the COVID-19 crisis can be found at pasenate.com/covid19.
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February 7, 2019
Clairton, February 7, 2019 – With an overflow crowd of steel workers and concerned citizens in attendance at Clairton City Hall, a joint state Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing was held today on ways to improve air quality, community notification procedures and emergency response.
The hearing was held in Clairton at the request of state Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and Representative Austin Davis (D-Allegheny). It was prompted by a December 24, 2018, fire at the Clairton Coke Works that resulted in emissions of high levels of sulfur dioxide and damage to the facility’s gas processing system.
“We need to see to it that air quality standards are properly monitored, and that local emergency response and community notification procedures are accurate and timely,” Brewster said. “To accomplish this goal, we must bring together officials from U.S. Steel, the Allegheny County Department of Health, local governments, labor organizations and emergency responders. We need to both address air quality issues and protect good paying jobs in the industry.”
Davis added, “Improving the air quality in our communities is my top priority. I appreciate the testimony of all stakeholders. As we look to improve air quality it’s imperative that we look for effective ways to do so.”
The hearing was jointly chaired by state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh) and state Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster).
“Being raised in the shadow of the Bethlehem Steel plant, I am well aware of the seriousness of air quality issues and how communities such as Clairton must balance an economic reliance on good industrial jobs against health and environmental issues,” Boscola said.
Sturla added, “I thank Representative Davis for bringing this important issue to the House Democratic Policy Committee’s attention. This joint public hearing helps ensure that all perspectives are heard as the legislature looks for effective ways to improve air quality.”
Claiming that U.S Steel is committed to keeping the coke works operational and doing more to improve its environmental efforts, Chris Masciantonio, who serves as Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for U.S. Steel, said, “The Mon Valley community is more than just the company’s home; it’s our company’s birthplace and where our employees work and live. The safety of our employees, our partnering contractors and our neighboring communities is paramount to our efforts.”
Masciantonio argued that placing the plant on hot idle, as some environmentalists have urged, would be a lengthy, difficult and costly process.
Don Furko, who serves as president of the United Steelworkers Local #1557, added, “Simply put, if U.S. Steel ends up idling batteries, our members will lose their jobs. This will begin a chain of events that will have a devastating impact on them, their families and our communities across the Mon Valley.”
Members of environmental organizations and Dr. Deborah Gentile of Pittsburgh testified that residents of the Mon Valley have been exposed to pollutants for decades. They said the pollution level and related health threats were compounded by the recent fire and emission exceedance.
Some of the environmentalists called for greater U.S. Steel efforts to comply with health and safety dictates and reduce pollution discharges. They also called on the Allegheny County Department of Health to step up monitoring, enforcement vigilance and provide more responsive public notification when problems arise.
Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the county health department, said the department has already ramped up its enforcement efforts. She said her agency has imposed direct enforcement orders and civil penalties. She said the department’s expanded legal team has also stepped up inspections, toughened penalties and collaborated with state and federal environmental enforcement agencies.
“The department will continue to be proactive and aggressive to improve air quality in our county, as our actions indicate,” she said. “We will continue to improve our communication via our current strategies through additional opportunities such as mobile phone applications and direct communication with citizens, municipal leaders and legislators.”
The hearing follows a January 22 public meeting in Clairton. Brewster, Davis and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) and Austin Davis (D-Allegheny) were also updated on January 25 by officials from the Allegheny County Health Department.
Joining Brewster, Boscola and Costa at today’s hearing were Senators Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) and Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny). In addition to Davis, Sturla and Kortz, Representatives Summer Lee, Ed Gainey, Dan Miller, Brandon Markosek and Sara Innamorato (all D-Allegheny) attended.
Those who testified included:
Panel from U.S. Steel Corporation:
- Chris Masciantonio, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy
- Mike Rhoades, Plant Manager, Clairton Coke Works
- Tishie Woodwell, General Manager, Environmental Affairs
- Kurt Barshick, General Manager, Mon Valley Works
- Jim Futrell, Vice President of Market Research and Analysis, Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Panel from Allegheny County Health Department:
- Dr. Karen Hacker, Director
- Jim Kelly, Deputy Director for Environmental Health
- Michael Parker, Solicitor
- Dr. LuAnn Brink, Chief Epidemiologist
Panel from area unions:
- Don Furko, President, United Steel Workers Local 1557
- Jeff Nobers, Executive Director, Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania
- Ken Broadbent, Business Manager, Steamfitters Local Union 449
Panel of health and environmental advocates:
- Dr. Deborah Gentile, Physician, Pediatric Alliance
- Rachel Filippini, Executive Director, Group Against Smog & Pollution
- Matt Mehalik, Executive Director, Breathe Project
- Ashleigh Deemer, Western Pennsylvania Director, PennEnvironment
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March 31, 2017
Costa, Brewster insist that Turnpike dollars are obligated to improve regional access
Harrisburg – March 31, 2017 – State Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today that the legislative commitment concerning the Mon-Fayette Expressway is clear and that improving access to the region via a revitalized and comprehensive transportation network is an obligation that must be fulfilled.
The lawmakers released the following statements in response to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission’s (SPC) vote earlier this week to delay funding of the Mon-Fayette Expressway. This was closely followed by an announcement by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission that it was halting work on the roadway. The combined actions of the two agencies put further economic development opportunities associated with the project in jeopardy.
The lawmakers are calling for a meeting to be convened with members of the SPC, plus officials from the Turnpike, PennDOT, and regional leaders to discuss the status of the project.
The vote suspended funding for the final 14-mile piece of a proposed 74-mile highway running from West Virginia to Monroeville. The estimated total cost of the last section of the roadway, which connects PA Route 51 in Jefferson to Monroeville, is $2.1 billion.
The Mon-Fayette Expressway project was authorized in statute and identified as a legislative priority. The funds, if not spent on the project, may be used to pay for other legislatively-mandated projects, some of which are not located in the Mon Valley or eastern suburbs.
Costa’s statement follows:
“The decision by the SPC and the Turnpike puts further development of the project in jeopardy. These actions by these two agencies should not be viewed as a license for officials from other areas to try and leverage the funding for projects outside of the region.
“The funding set aside for the project is intended to pay for the improvement of the road network serving economic development sites in the Mon Valley and eastern suburbs. As a result of the actions of this past week, we need a more detailed examination and explanation of how the Turnpike is going to ensure that the legislative mandate to build the road network is going to be accomplished.
“This is an authorized project that was established by statute to aid the region. Those funds set aside for this project should be used to make significant improvements and upgrades to the road system of the region, not be used to help fund projects in Philadelphia or elsewhere. The goal of the project was to improve access and create jobs. We cannot lose sight of the intent of the project.”
Brewster’s statement follows:
“It is imperative that officials from the Turnpike and PennDOT recognize that the enhancement of the road network in the Mon Valley and eastern suburbs is critical. Building a first-rate road system for the region through the auspices of the Turnpike has been a priority, is specified in law, and the legislative mandate cannot be ignored.
“There is a compelling need for a quality transportation system that complements the region. Workers, businesses and residents of the area must be connected to jobs, markets and communities so the entire region can be revitalized and quality of life improved. That need has not been altered by the delay in funding the Mon-Fayette.
“The people in the region have waited a long time for a transportation link that opens up long-dormant economic sites so that the whole area can enjoy economic resurgence. The funds were intended to create access to the region and should not be used to fund projects that do little or nothing to help revitalize the Mon Valley and east suburban communities.”
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February 1, 2017
Harrisburg – February 1, 2017 – State Senate Democrats said that Gov. Tom Wolf should call a special session of the General Assembly to ensure that legislation that results in significant property tax relief or total elimination is passed and signed into law this session.
At a news conference today at the state Capitol, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said taxpayers of Pennsylvania have waited too long for relief from escalating tax bills.
“We believe there should be a full, complete and transparent discussion of any and all tax relief or elimination proposals,” Costa said. “A special session provides the kind of platform that is needed for citizens and lawmakers to understand specifics about each proposal.”
Leading the call for the special session, state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton) said, “Relief from property tax needs to be addressed without delay.”
In the letter to the governor, the Democrats stated, “Our taxpayers have waited far too long for action on this important issue. They want lawmakers to set aside partisan agendas and enact a significant property tax reform or elimination measure–NOW.”
Working families are struggling to pay mortgages and save for college for their children while seniors have to scrape resources together to make ends meet; property taxes add to their burden, the letter said.
Boscola, who has been a long-time advocate of property tax elimination and relief, said that “my goal is to pass legislation that will eliminate the property tax and replace it with a better system to fund public education. Our homeowners deserve it and our children need it.”
Another strong proponent of calling the special session is Senate Democratic Whip Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware).
“Addressing property tax relief or elimination needs to be a top priority, but is critical that we look at all the plans closely and find common ground,” Williams said. “A special session will force the General Assembly to focus on the issue, act assertively and come forward with a proposal that is balanced and equitable.
“Our property taxpayers have waited long enough.”
Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) endorsed the call for a special session.
“The issue of property taxes has been a top priority for Pennsylvanians, many of whom have seen significant tax increases over the past few years,” Hughes said. “This special session would serve as an opportunity to thoroughly examine how we can provide the sustainable property tax relief that Pennsylvanians want and deserve while ensuring that our school districts are still properly funded.”
Sen. John Blake (D-Lackawanna) said that a special session will allow lawmakers to fashion a plan that strikes a balance between property tax relief and reliable state support for public education.
“For many Pennsylvanians – particularly our seniors and lower income property owners – there is a very real school property tax crisis. I remain committed to a responsible solution that can significantly reduce and, if possible, eliminate the property tax burden on these lower income property owners,” Blake said. “I believe strongly that a special session on property tax reform can finally allow the legislature to strike the appropriate balance between property tax relief and the assurance of sufficient, predictable and reliable state financial support for public education.”
Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said he hoped a special session will spur lawmakers to act.
“For too long our taxpayers have watched while the General Assembly has tried to deal with reducing property taxes,” Brewster said. “There are many plans now being drafted or considered and lawmakers need to come together on a plan that provided real relief or elimination. Taxpayers have waited too long.
“A special session is an excellent forum for all plans to be discussed, including the plan to totally eliminate property taxes.”
Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia) said that there are several approaches to address tax reform, but lawmakers need to be thoughtful about how tax elimination impacts schools.
“If we’re going to get serious about providing property tax relief or elimination, we must do it thoughtfully. We certainly can’t hastily approve an elimination plan at the expense of our public schools,” Street said. “There are several approaches to addressing property taxes, so a special session would provide us with a clearer path toward true relief.”
Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), who has long been an advocate of property tax elimination, said school property tax is a complicated issue.
“One large source of revenue for school funding must be replaced with multiple other sources, and we must do this fairly and uniformly,” Schwank said. “Let’s use this special session to strike a balance between relieving the heavy burden property owners face, while also providing our schools with a reliable source of investment.”
Sen. Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said that property tax reform is a complex issue, but one that must be addressed.
“Property taxes remain an important issue to address. I still maintain that the appropriate solution will prove complex. We must dedicate time and effort to ensure the solution is successful,” Haywood said.
“The property tax is no longer sustainable as the sole source of funding for public education. It is high time for us to come together in the spirit of bipartisanship to develop and enact new and lasting solutions to the ongoing burden of rising property taxes on Pennsylvania homeowners,” Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester) who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee said. “This is a process that must involve both school districts and direct input from taxpayers and homeowners.”
The governor is empowered to call a special session of the General Assembly under the provisions of Article II, Section 4 and Article IV, Section 12 of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
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October 13, 2016
Monroeville – October 13, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on the role of charter schools in public education.
“I hope today’s hearing gives us a better sense of how the charter school system works; how it complements — or detracts from traditional public schools; and ways we can make these schools more efficient, transparent and accountable,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee.
Brewster, who is introducing charter school reform legislation, added, “Charter schools must be accountable to the taxpayer and demonstrate that they are fiscally sound and properly supported by the community.
“I asked that this hearing be held in Monroeville to give our region’s school officials, as well as representatives from the charter school community, the opportunity to offer their views on this important issue.”
Boscola said she was pleased with the diverse make-up of the panel, which included state officials, public school superintendents, charter school administrators and others.
Calling Pennsylvania’s charter school law the “worst in the nation,” State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued a 95-page audit last month that revealed numerous examples of financial mismanagement, conflicts of interest and poor oversight. DePasquale testified at today’s hearing.
Many of the critical findings recommendations in DePasquale’s 2014 charter school report were incorporated into Brewster’s legislation. The bill would require greater school board and Department of Education oversight, toughen the fiscal viability requirements for charter school applicants, ban charter board members from having a financial interest in leasing arrangements, step up teacher certification, and require approval from all of the school districts where a charter school draws 25 or more students from. The Brewster legislation would also place a moratorium on new cyber-charter schools.
According to the state Department of Education, Pennsylvania has 162 “bricks and mortar” charter schools (20 in Allegheny County), and 14 cyber charter schools.
Claiming that charter schools disproportionately harm poorer school districts, Mckeesport Area School District Superintendent Dr. Rula Skezas called charter schools the top financial problem for public schools.
“The two most obvious effects that charter schools have had on our school districts are that they have significantly drained the resources available to those students who remain in our schools; and created considerable increased costs for our taxpayers,” Skezas said.
Woodland Hills School District Superintendent Alan Johnson added that his school district will spend nearly $15 million of its $90 million budget on charter school tuition.
Ron Sofo, who serves as CEO of the City Charter High School in Pittsburgh, countered that his school provides a quality education “at $6,000 to $8,000 less per pupil than our authorizing school district.” He argued that charters and public school districts should engage in more collaboration and less competition.
Joining Brewster and Boscola at the hearing were Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), and Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria).
The following testified at the hearing:
- Matthew Stem, deputy secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Education;
- Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale;
- Dr. Rula Skezas, superintendent of the McKeesport Area School District;
- Nathan Benefield, vice-president of policy, Commonwealth Foundation;
- Anthony Pirrello, vice-president, PA Coalition of Public Charter Schools Board, & CEO, Montessori Regional Charter School, Erie;
- Ron Sofo, CEO, City Charter High School, Pittsburgh; and
- Richard Livingston, president of the Clairton City School Board
- Jeremy Resnick, Keystone Alliance for Public Charter Schools, executive director, Propel Schools, Pittsburgh
- Dolores McCracken, vice president, PSEA
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Contact: Charles Tocci
Phone: 717-787-5166
Email: ctocci@pasenate.com
August 4, 2016
Wilkinsburg, August 4, 2016 – At the request of state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, a joint state Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing was held today on efforts and resources to fight blight within our communities, including the successes and challenges of land banks.
“Blight is a scourge that impedes both business and residential interest in a community,” Costa said. “We must do what we can to give our municipalities the resources, tools and flexibility they need to quickly eradicate blight and begin revitalization efforts.”
Costa said blight poses health and safety risks, reduces neighborhood property values, drains municipal revenue on enforcement and maintenance efforts, and discourages community investment and growth.
Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), who chairs the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, said “transforming dilapidated properties from community liabilities to revitalization linchpins must be our shared goal.”
Boscola added that Pennsylvania has approximately 300,000 vacant properties – many of them eye-sores. She said legislators should steer clear of “one-size-fits-all solutions” and give local government leaders the “flexibility to tailor revitalization efforts that fit their unique needs.”
State Rep. Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny), who co-chaired the hearing, said the state has passed several laws in recent years aimed at assisting local governments in blight removal and revitalization initiatives. He added that there are also numerous proposals under consideration in the legislature that would generate more funding for demolition and revitalization work and toughen penalties against absentee owners.
Costa said a 2012 law that established land banks provides an innovative way to acquire and ready properties for reinvestment. He pointed to the local Tri-COG Land Bank as a “promising program that numerous Allegheny county communities should look into.” Tri-COG recently received a pledge of $1.5 million in seed funding from the Heinz endowment.
A land bank acquires blighted properties, clears delinquent taxes and liens, and prepares the property for investment and revitalization – all aimed at returning the property to the tax rolls and productive use. A county or municipality must have a population of at least 10,000 to form a land bank. Local governments have the option of joining and must pay 5 percent of yearly delinquent tax collections to help fund the program.
Urban Redevelopment Authority Director Kyra Straussman lamented that a fourth of the city’s footprint is abandoned and vacant property that the government does not control.
“While our tax base is eroding, we are simultaneously directly paying millions in tax dollars annually to keep problem vacant and abandoned property just as it is,” she said.
Matt Madia, who serves as chief strategy and development officer for Bridgestone Capital investment program, discussed his firm’s revitalization work, including its $9.6 million effort to revitalize the Homewood neighborhood in Pittsburgh. He said some of their business loans have resulted in new businesses occupying commercial space that would otherwise be vacant. He said providing this core business sector with its products and services helps make a neighborhood “welcoming and livable.”
Mark Mohn, vice-chair state Association of Realtors Legislative Committee, said rising property local taxes has worsened the blight problem by making home ownership less affordable. He said lawmakers should consider shifting the tax burden away from homeowners to more broad-based local and state resources.
“It’s time to stop picking the pockets of homebuyers,” Mohn added, suggesting that lawmakers should consider allowing bond referendums and Social Impact Bonds where municipalities can pay back outside investors for transforming blighted properties into productive ones.
Others who testified were: Cynthia Whitman Daley, policy director of the PA Housing Alliance; Tracey Evans, executive director of the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation; A. William Schenck, TriState Capital Bank Board Member, Pennsylvania Economy League of Greater Pittsburgh; An Lewis, Director, Steel Rivers COG; Daniel Lavelle, board member, Pittsburg Land Bank; and Liz Kozub, Community Development coordinator, Turtle Creek COG.
Joining Costa, Gainey and Boscola were Senators John Blake (D-Lackawanna), Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland), Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny), and Representatives Chris Sainato (D-Lawrence) and Paul Costa (D-Allegheny).
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May 5, 2016
Erie – May 5, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Sean Wiley, the state Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing today on problems related to gas drilling in the Lake Erie watershed.
“We need to make responsible and measured decisions about where we can expand – as well as where we should limit – the presence, growth and impact of gas drilling,” said Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh), who chairs the committee. “Land owners, local communities and critical watershed regions like Lake Erie cannot take a back seat to company profits. “
Sen. Sean Wiley (D-Erie) said he called for the hearing to focus statewide attention on issues such as clean water withdrawal from Lake Erie as well as concerns over the disposal of shale gas wastewater and the potential for catastrophic contamination of sources of drinking water.
“The Lake Erie watershed is a prime destination for anglers and hunters,” Wiley said. “It is imperative that we take the necessary steps to protect and preserve this pristine resource that has been so important to our region for so long.”
Wiley said that hundreds of thousands of people fish the Ohio and Pennsylvania portions of Lake Erie, which overlie much of the Utica shale gas formation. While agreeing that the economic and job benefits of gas drilling are significant, Wiley cautioned that huge water withdrawals from the watershed, threats of wastewater pollution and well integrity issues could alter stream flows, threaten steelhead fishing and encourage the introduction of invasive species in the region.
Much of today’s hearing focused on state laws regulating gas drilling and what steps can be taken to better protect the state’s watershed regions. Boscola called for the need to strike a “balance” between efforts to encourage gas drilling and competing efforts to protect community, recreational, health and environmental interests.
Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper said she cannot support gas drilling in the Erie watershed because there are too many risks to “our health, public safety and to the beautiful resource that is Lake Erie.
Pointing to devastating natural gas explosions around the state, Dahlkemper asked, “How much risk is too much risk? We have a duty to protect the Lake Erie watershed and a responsibility to protect this fresh water resource that provides drinking water for tens of thousands of people, has generated $980 million in tourism and provides some of the best fishing in the nation.”
Dr. Marsha Haley, who serves as an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, pointed to studies indicating that leaching of drilling wastewater can affect the chemical composition of streams and adversely impact water ecosystems and watershed wildlife.
She also pointed to separate studies in Washington County, Southwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Pennsylvania indicating that people who live closer to well sites experience a greater incidence of health problems ranging from respiratory and heart symptoms to lower birth weight.
Representatives from the oil and gas drilling industry were invited to testify, but declined to attend.
“This hearing shouldn’t be an argument that pits drillers against preservationists, job creators against environmentalists, and the state’s energy sector against health and community interests,” Boscola said. “To me, our task isn’t about taking sides. It’s about finding a balance.”
Boscola and Wiley were joined on the Senate panel by Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
In addition to Senate committee members, the following took part in the discussion:
- Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkepmer
- Marsha Haley, medical doctor (radiation oncology)
- Sister Pat Lupo, Benedictine Sisters, Environmental Education and Advocacy of Erie County
- John Rossi, Pennsylvania State Chapter of the Sierra Club
- John Walliser, Pennsylvania Environmental Council
- Ryan Grode, SWPA Environmental Health Project
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October 21, 2015
Harrisburg – Oct, 20, 2015 – State Senate Democrats today called on the Pennsylvania state treasurer to “stop payment” on a scheduled disbursement of property tax revenue headed to charter schools. They have sent a letter to state Treasurer Tim Reese formally asking for the withholding of the money.
“Charter schools are seeking gaming tax relief funds based on one legal interpretation, while public schools and many public officials have a different view of the law,” state Sen. Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) said today. “The treasurer should not release one dime until there is legal clarity and outstanding issues have been resolved.”
Charter schools contend that they are due disbursement from funds generated from gaming revenues. Typically, when a state budget is adopted, charter school funding is deducted from basic education subsidies.
Due to the budget impasse the normal funding stream is not available. The charters say that the law stipulates that since those funds are not available, the funds are then deducted from other state payments. The state is expected to make a $45 million payout to charter schools on Oct. 22, with 312 school districts diverting funds to charter schools.
“All of our schools, including traditional public schools and charters, need to be appropriately funded by the commonwealth,” Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) said. “However, we cannot provide special assistance to charter schools while many other school districts are suffering.
“I urge the state treasurer to hold off making payments to charter schools until the budget impasse has been resolved and all schools have funding in place.”
Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) called for the suspension of the payment to charter schools late last week. Brewster said “public schools are facing incredible difficulties because of the lack of a state budget.
“Now, the funding they are getting outside of the basic subsidy is being hijacked and that is wrong.”
Brewster pointed to the situation involving two of his school districts in the Monongahela Valley as examples of inequity. He said that while McKeesport is due $1.2 million in reimbursements, they will only receive $41,000 after charter school funds are deducted. He said that Clairton will have to send its entire $230,000 reimbursement to charters and receive nothing.
“Since so many of our schools are hurting due to the budget impasse, we need to answer important legal questions regarding these funds before they are distributed later,” Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-Chester), Democratic chair of the Senate Education Committee, said. “The bottom line is that both public and charter schools are in need of these supplemental gaming funds – funds that do not go through the normal budget process.”
In the letter to the treasurer, Senate Democrats said they do not believe that gaming fund reimbursements constitute “state payments” and that the state law dealing with disbursement of funds never contemplated a budget impasse.
They say that the statute involving the generation of faming funds and property tax relief define the use of funds disbursed from the property tax relief fund. Senate Democrats say that there is no discretion to shift funds earmarked for tax relief to pay operational costs at charter schools.
“Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act and the Taxpayer Relief Act must be read together in order to establish the General Assembly’s intent for the use of the money in the Property Tax Relief Fund,” the letter says.
Costa said that under the Fiscal Code the state treasurer has the authority to withhold payments from the state treasury.
“No payment can be made without the state treasurer’s warrant and approval,” Costa said. “This is a clear case when the law is murky and public schools are being treated inequitably by laws that did not anticipate a long budget impasse.”
Brewster, who met with the secretary of education and budget secretary yesterday about the issue, said he is very concerned about the short-term financial health of school districts if the funds are diverted.
“Many school districts across the state will bear the burden if these funds are released and they are not compensated,” Brewster said. “Given the outstanding legal issues, the responsible course of action is to stop payment until the conflicting interpretations of the law are reconciled.”
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May 14, 2013
Brewster speaks about his legislation to revamp current system of student testing
Harrisburg, May 14, 2013 – State Sen. James Brewster joined with his Senate Democratic colleagues at a news conference this week to decry a new unfunded education mandate that could saddle cash-strapped school districts with a $300 million expense and threaten graduation for thousands of students across Pennsylvania.
There is no specified funding or plan to provide for the remedial instruction, the redesign of curriculum, or the project-based assessments for those who repeatedly fail the new testing that is part of the Corbett Administration Common Core mandate, according to Brewster (D-McKeesport). In addition, the senator said that an entirely new testing plan may be necessary.
“There is a serious need to look closer at student testing and develop a better approach that most accurately reflects student achievement and school performance,” Brewster said. “Today’s testing system is inherently flawed and in dire need of restructuring.”
Recognizing the growing frustration with how student performance is assessed, Senator Brewster has proposed Senate Bill 823, which would create a bi-partisan, bi-cameral commission to evaluate, revise or replace the current system of student testing.
The Student Performance Measurement Advisory Commission would make recommendations to either revise heavily or replace the current testing structures that apply to students, teachers and school districts.
“For too long, too many have had questions about student testing methods– especially now that student test scores are being used for more than evaluation of student performance,” Brewster added. “We need fair testing, fair standards and an equitable approach.
“Expanding the use of student testing to determine student and school performance, district distress and teacher proficiency is the wrong approach.”
Brewster said that he has spoken to many professional educators and they believe the current tests fail to account for socio-economic, environmental, economic disparities and cultural differences.
“Pennsylvania needs a fair, responsible student testing system that truly reflects performance in the classroom,” Brewster added. “We need to reorder and refocus what we are doing in regards to student testing. Using the commission that I’ve called for in SB 823 will give us the platform to make serious, systemic changes in our approach to student testing and its applicability.”
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