This Week in Harrisburg

I am pleased to report that my legislation to increase the penalties for concealing the death of a child was unanimously approved this week by the House Judiciary Committee. House Bill 20 next heads to the House floor for debate and a possible vote. The measure is in reaction to the recent high-profile case in Florida involving the death of little Caylee Anthony in which her disappearance wasn’t reported to authorities for almost a month. Learn more.
 
Also this week, I joined a majority of my colleagues on the House State Government Committee in approving two bills that would reduce the size of the House to 153 members from the current 203 members, and the Senate from 50 to 38 members. Both House Bills 1234 and 1716, which I co-sponsored, aim to increase government efficiency and better enable the Legislature to reach consensus when debating and deliberating major legislative initiatives. The bills will next be considered by the full House. Learn more.   
 
In other legislative news, the House Finance Committee approved four property tax reform bills this week and sent them to the House floor for debate and a possible vote. All four measures aim to reduce the tax burden on homeowners across Pennsylvania. 

One of the bills would empower school districts to reduce or eliminate property taxes by replacing the revenues through enactment of an earned income, mercantile or business privilege tax, or a combination of any of these taxes. Learn more.