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Community Corner

This Week in Harrisburg

House Budget Proposal Advances 

On Wednesday, the House advanced a $29.1 billion budget proposal designed to reflect our priorities of keeping spending in check while funding core government services. It includes no tax increases. The spending blueprint makes record-setting investments in education for a total of $10.3 billion for PreK-12 education. That includes a $20 million increase in funding for special education. Higher education funding would be maintained at current levels.

Despite an estimated shortfall of approximately $1.5 billion going into the new fiscal year, the proposal is balanced with a mix of spending cuts and non-tax revenues. It represents a modest 1.9 percent increase over the current year’s spending.

The proposal now goes to the state Senate for its consideration and will likely be amended before it comes back to the House. Learn more here
 
Paycheck Protection Legislation Takes Historic Step

This week, the House State Government Committee, of which I am a member, passed legislation that would prevent public sector unions from using government resources to collect union dues from the paychecks of public employees. Often times, union dues are used for political purposes rather than for general support of the union. This collection process has become burdensome to local governments that lack the technology or other resources to automate the deduction process. House Bill 1507, which I have co-sponsored, now advances to the full House for consideration. 
 
Expanding the “Do-Not-Call” List 

This week, the House unanimously passed legislation which would allow consumer phone numbers registered on the state’s “do-not-call” list to remain on the list permanently. Currently, numbers are only valid for five years and consumers must re-register to protect themselves against unwanted telemarketing calls. The legislation also prohibits telemarketing calls on legal holidays. House Bill 129, which I have co-sponsored, now advances to the Senate for further consideration.

To add your phone number to the “do-not-call” list, please click here or call 1-888-777-3406.
 
Declining Unemployment

The PA Department of Labor and Industry recently reported that the unemployment rate continued its downward trend in May to 5.6 percent. That’s the lowest rate in more than five years and nearly two full points from 12 months ago.

The majority of the gain was within the private sector, which added 21,700 jobs to reach a record high of 5,078,000, while public sector jobs were up by 3,000. The largest gain was in leisure and hospitality, which reached a record high of 550,000 jobs. The latest numbers are more proof that our job creation efforts are producing results.  

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