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E-news Updates – March 15, 2024
Senate Finishes Review of Shapiro’s Budget Proposal The Senate Appropriations Committee has recently concluded its detailed examination of Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. This proposal requests an increase in state spending to over $48.3 billion, marking a 7.1% rise from our current financial allocations. This would completely drain our state’s […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – March 1, 2024
Senate Continues Detailed Review of Governor’s Budget Proposal This week, I joined my colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee for another round of budget hearings. We hosted PA Fish and Boat, the Dept of Agriculture, the Dept. of Education, the Dept. of Environmental Protection, and the PA Liquor Control Board. To watch all my questions […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – February 23, 2024
Senate Begins Review of Proposed State Budget The Senate Appropriations Committee began public hearings this week on the proposed 2024-25 state budget. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget plan would increase state spending by more than $3.2 billion, or about 7.1% above the current year’s budget. Projections indicate it will be near impossible to balance budgets in […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – February 16, 2024
Budget Hearings Scheduled to Begin Next Week State spending would increase by more than $3.2 billion, or about 7.1%, under the Governor’s budget proposal. This level of increase will make it virtually impossible to balance future budgets without spending cuts and tax increases within the five-year planning period. As a member of the Senate Appropriations […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – February 9, 2024
Brown Releases Statement Following Shapiro’s Budget Address This week marks the beginning of the state budget process. Governor Shapiro presented his proposal to the legislature for lawmakers to begin the work of delivering an effective and responsible budget for Pennsylvania. I was pleased to be one of six lawmakers asked to escort the Governor to […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – February 2, 2024
Senators Brown and Pennycuick Host Joint Hearing on Protecting Municipalities from Cyberattacks As Chairwomen of the Senate Local Government Committee and the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) and I hosted a joint hearing this week that examined cybersecurity threats faced by local governments and municipal authorities. Recent cyberattacks targeting the Bucks […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – January 26, 2024
Healthy Rainy Day Fund Cushions Against Hard Times Currently, the state’s Rainy Day Fund sits at a record high of $6.1 billion. In large part thanks to careful decisions of the Senate over the last several years. Most recently, we deposited $900 million as part of the current state budget. While many wanted to spend […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – January 19, 2024
DWG: Route 611 Closure This prolonged closure has done more harm than necessary. I totally respect that there are laws they are trying to respect within the National Park Service, but when you want to get something done – you can get it done. The state has secured the necessary emergency funding and has specialized […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – January 12, 2024
Brown Once Again Calls Upon the National Park Service for Urgency This week, I contacted the Director of the National Park to call for the immediate prioritization of the required federal permit to begin work on Route 611 in Delaware Water Gap, which has been closed since Dec. 6, 2022. You can view the letter […] [Read More]