January 16, 2019
Veteran lawmaker also appointed to seats on Banking and Insurance, Education and Transportation
Harrisburg – January 16, 2019 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) has been appointed Democratic chair of the Senate Law and Justice and Game and Fisheries committees.
“Serving as chair on both Law and Justice and Game and Fisheries is an honor and privilege,” Brewster said. “There are significant issues to be discussed and key decisions will have to be made about modernizing our liquor system and redefining game and fishing rules and regulations.”
Brewster also served as Democratic chair of both committees in the last two-year legislative session.
The veteran lawmaker was also reappointed to seats on the Senate’s Banking and Insurance, Education and Transportation committees.
“As a member of key committees that handle issues that are important to my district, I can ensure that the needs of our region are served well,” Brewster said.
On education, Brewster has led the effort to reform charter schools. He has fought for additional dollars for education and plans to reintroduce his “Extraction for Education” severance tax plan that will provide dollars not only to bolster basic education, but also to fund school safety initiatives.
Brewster was appointed as an inaugural member of the statewide School Safety and Security Committee established under Act 44 in 2018.
“There are key problems in education that need to be fixed,” Brewster said. “I’ve sponsored bills to reform charter schools, aid school safety initiatives and ensure that we have more resources for our children to learn.”
The McKeesport lawmaker said his appointment to the Transportation Committee will ensure that issues that arise relative to the construction of the Mon-Fayette Expressway and mass transit will be addressed. Brewster has long been an advocate of the Mon-Fayette Expressway and rapid expansion of mass transit into underserved areas. He currently serves as secretary of the Port Authority of Allegheny County Board of Directors.
“Building and expanding the reach of transportation systems that serve eastern Allegheny and western Westmoreland counties, plus meeting the unique needs of the Mon and Allegheny Valleys continues to be a priority,” Brewster said.
Prior to his election to the Senate, Brewster served as mayor of McKeesport, and was formerly Vice-President of Operations at Mellon Bank in Pittsburgh.
Brewster said his appointment to a seat on the Banking and Insurance Committee provides an opportunity to utilize his expertise and experience in banking to have significant impact on crafting better banking laws.
Brewster said his legislative agenda is chalk full of important initiatives. In addition to his charter school reform package and severance tax piece, Brewster has advocated changing game laws to allow hunting on Sundays and more financial support for the Game Commission. He has introduced a far-reaching plan to address the opioid crisis, including mandatory treatment for those addicted.
In addition, Brewster has prime sponsored legislation to promote the use of American made steel in Marcellus Shale drilling and improve pipeline safety. Several years ago, Brewster spearheaded a study of the country of origin for steel pipe used in drilling.
He said he will introduce legislation to invest new dollars in environmental protection and school safety.
-30-
July 1, 2016
Harrisburg, July 1, 2016 − The state’s Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) today approved more than $400,000 in grant funding to help complete a key bridge reconstruction project at Keystone Commons, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
“The grant funds approved today will be used to reconstruct the AWR Bridge at Keystone Commons,” Brewster said. “The ability to create jobs and spur development requires investment in our infrastructure.”
Brewster said the $433,250 in funding was approved through the CFA’s Multimodal Transportation Fund. He said the Regional Industrial Corporation (RIDC) requested the funding to improve the transportation network that serves the facility.
The McKeesport lawmaker serves as a member of the Senate Transportation Committee and is a member of the Port Authority of Allegheny County board. He said he is very supportive of transportation related projects and was pleased that this bridge work is being funded by the CFA.
“We have to continue making job creation a priority and seek state resources to help our region grow business and development,” Brewster said. “Funding from the CFA can help leverage more investment and development.”
Keystone Commons houses over 40 businesses and is a center for business activity. The facility is located in the former Westinghouse Electric plant.
-30-
January 13, 2015
Harrisburg – Jan. 13, 2015 – Hunters and outdoor-sports enthusiasts will soon be able to obtain a license plate for their vehicles honoring Pennsylvania’s hunting heritage, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-
Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will process applications for the Hunting Heritage plate. The application will be available through the Game Commission website and should be available for purchase in February.
“A new license plate honoring hunting as a sport in Pennsylvania was long overdue,” Brewster said. “I am excited that Pennsylvania hunters, sportsmen and women will soon be able to apply for a license plate that highlights our deep-rooted heritage.”
Brewster said that he initially introduced the measure following a discussion he had with his uncle Ron Maurer, a resident of Elizabeth Township who asked him about the potential for hunters to have their own license plate.
The lawmaker’s bill was initially introduced as Senate Bill 773. The measure was eventually incorporated into Senate Bill 1187 and was signed into law on July 2, 2014 as Act 109.
According to Brewster, the new law calls for the proceeds from the fee that is charged for the plate will go to food banks and non-profit organizations that promote hunting, youth hunting and the enhancement of game species.
Brewster credited lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in helping smooth the passage of the legislation. He thanked Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Franklin) and former Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Fayette), who were last session’s Republican and Democratic chairs of the Senate’s game and fisheries committee, along with Sen. David Argall (R-Schuykill) for helping push the measure for a vote.
He also said that the plate would never have been created without the support of the Pennsylvania Game Commission President Robert W. Schlemmer, whose granddaughter helped PennDOT and the Game Commission with the design of the plate.
-30-
March 6, 2014
McKeesport – March 6, 2014 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny) said today that new revenue generated by the recently adopted transportation funding law has resulted in Port Authority (PAT) service changes, and additional improvements will be phased-in later this year.
“I fought for passage of the transportation funding plan because it will result in much-needed road and bridge repair and it will make significant investments in mass transit,” Brewster said. “There is no doubt about the benefits of the new funding plan for motorists and mass transit users.”
“As a member of the PAT board, I believe it is essential that we make changes and upgrades to the transit system as quickly as possible.”
On Wednesday, PAT announced a service improvement plan that includes frequency changes and increased stops in order to alleviate overcrowding.
“One of the most important things that PAT officials can do in the immediate future is rebuild the transit system and the rider network by responding to consumer demand,” Brewster said. “The changes announced yesterday are just the start and more upgrades are on the way.”
Brewster serves as secretary of the PAT board and is a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. The McKeesport lawmaker was a strong advocate of ensuring that mass transit monies were a significant part of the funding legislation.
Act 89 will generate an additional $2.4 billion annually within five years to build and maintain roads, bridges, highways and mass transit systems. By the fifth year, a total of $1.7 billion will be earmarked annually for highway and bridge projects; nearly $500 million more would be targeted for mass transit.
Information on changes can be viewed on PAT’s website: www.portauthority.org
Contact: Tim Joyce
Phone: 412 380-2242
E-mail: tjoyce@pasenate.com
-30-
November 21, 2013
HARRISBURG, Nov. 21, 2013 – State Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) voted in support of the comprehensive transportation funding plan because it will help Pennsylvania address many of its transportation issues. The Senate voted to pass the bill by a vote of 43-7.
“We have been working diligently to pass a transportation bill to fund critical infrastructure investments across the state,” said Brewster, a member of the Senate Transportation Committee.
Brewster said the funds generated by the plan – $2.4 billion annually within five years – will go toward maintaining roads, repairing bridges and supporting mass transit systems. In addition, the increased transportation investment will create an estimated 62,000 high-quality jobs for workers across the state.
“Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges have been deteriorating for years, and we needed to take action to ensure that, first and foremost, drivers in our state are safe on our roads,” said Brewster. “Drivers will also benefit from shorter commutes and lower maintenance costs.”
Brewster said that coupling the transportation funding bill with the prevailing wage rate was wrong.
“I voted against the prevailing wage amendment because it has no place in the transportation funding bill,” said Brewster. “That issue is important enough to deserve consideration on its own.”
Brewster said the funding bill is essential for the state’s future and is “a way to put Pennsylvanians back to work and help improve the state’s economy.”
The bill now goes to the House for concurrence.
-30-
July 31, 2013
Harrisburg, July 31, 2013 – Today state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and other members of the Senate Transportation Committee criticized the House of Representatives for its failure to pass a comprehensive transportation funding bill.
In June, the Senate passed a $2.5 billion transportation bill in hopes of adequately funding Pennsylvania’s failing bridges and roadways as well as a struggling public transit system. Senate Bill 1 did not receive enough House support to pass.
Brewster said legislators in the House were not focused enough on the safety of Pennsylvanians. Some members of the House politicized the common sense bill and compared mass transit to welfare, he said.
“How can you make a comment like that? What planet are you from?” asked Brewster.
Brewster also expressed concern for the nearly 600 employees who would be affected by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s reform plan. He urged the commission’s leaders to use the next few years wisely and to keep employees a priority during the changes.
“We must properly fund transportation, or our infrastructure will continue to fail Pennsylvanians,” Brewster said. “We can no longer afford the consequences.”
The Senate Transportation Committee will hold public hearings on transportation funding in Pittsburgh, Erie, Altoona, Lehigh and Philadelphia in the coming months.
-30-
June 5, 2013
Harrisburg, June 5, 2013 – Following overwhelming Senate support of the $2.5 billion transportation funding, state Sen. James Brewster today released the following statement regarding Senate Bill 1:
“This measure is a positive first step toward improving Pennsylvania’s ailing transportation system. If this measure is signed into law, after it clears the state House, it will create tens of thousands of construction jobs, boost local economies and maintain public safety throughout Pennsylvania.
“There is great concern regarding the condition of our many roads and bridges and how safe they are for motorists. I am pleased that this legislation could address those concerns through construction and repair initiatives. Plus, it provides a significant and sustainable investment in mass transit and our ports and rail infrastructure.
“This initiative would also generate an influx of construction jobs and ancillary businesses and suppliers which will result in more Pennsylvania workers gaining good, family sustaining jobs. Each region of Pennsylvania will receive an economic boost from this measure.
“This plan could also mean greater mass transit access for citizens in the Mon Valley, East Hills and Allegheny Valley — communities that desperately need a modern transportation system. Business retention and expansion will result from improved mass transit. The Chambers of Commerce have made the needs of their members known and this legislation will help meet them. Hospitals and Universities will benefit as well from these improvements.”
“As important, I was reassured that Turnpike expansion projects, including the Mon-Fayette Expressway, remain a priority in Act 61. That is an important future project that will bring dividends to the entire region and serve local commuters and motorists for years to come.”
-30-
March 6, 2013
McKeesport, March 6, 2013 – Adequate funding for mass transit and the Mon-Fayette Expressway must be priorities in the transportation package being developed by the Corbett administration and lawmakers, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) said today.
Brewster made his comments following the Senate Appropriations budget hearing on transportation today in Harrisburg.
“We must find real dollars to build roads, bridges and pay for mass transit because these are important to our economy and job creation,” Brewster said. “Finding dollars to complete work on the Mon-Fayette and ensuring that our mass transit systems are supported must be a focus of the funding package.”
As a part of the governor’s budget address, Gov. Tom Corbett called for a $1.8 billion plan that is funded predominantly by lifting the cap on the Oil Franchise Tax. The governor’s plan would provide about half of the annual financing that his own blue-ribbon transportation financing commission recommended in August 2011.
“Investing in transportation is not only a smart choice it results in immediate job creation,” Brewster said. “Investing in mass transit sparks local economies, relieves traffic congestion and is good for the environment.
Brewster noted that at the budget hearing today the Penndot secretary said that for every $1 billion invested in highway and bridge work 25,000 jobs are created.
Many lawmakers have been leery of the relatively modest plan that the governor has proposed and have called for a far more aggressive approach that would enable key projects such as the Mon-Fayette to be funded.
“Opening access to the Mon Valley is critical to our region’s continued development,” Brewster said. “We have to move beyond our old economic model and realize that to spur development and speed revitalization we have to have quality road access to sites in the valley and near the river.”
By rough estimates, two-thirds of the Mon-Fayette and Southern Beltway system have been completed. According to reports, the last piece of the Mon-Fayette from Jefferson to Pittsburgh is estimated to cost at least $4 billion.
The governor’s plan would phase in the lifting of the Oil Franchise tax cap over five years. According to the proposal, lifting the cap would make $550 million available in 2013-14 – and eventually $1.8 billion.
The proposal calls for $1.2 billion of these funds to be spent on roads and bridges, $250 for mass transit, $200 million for local roads, $80 million for intermodal transportation such as rail and air and another $85 million to pay for slip ramp construction.
Brewster said he expected vigorous debate about the details of the transportation plan when the General Assembly returns to voting session following the conclusion of budget hearings. He said it is critical that the cost of the plan and the distribution of the proceeds of any new revenue be equitable.
“We have to make sure that there the package be large enough to cover all transportation priorities without burdening motorists or bringing our economic recovery to a screeching halt,” Brewster said. “The plan must be balanced, funded at a reasonable cost, be responsible and responsive to the needs of all taxpayers.”
The Senate returns to session next week.
-30-
