Congressman endorses AG candidate
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser endorsed York County District Attorney Dave Sunday for attorney general.
“Dave Sunday will be a great attorney general and he has my full support,” Meuser said. “Dave is a veteran, prosecutor and someone Pennsylvanians can trust to protect all its residents, particularly our most vulnerable. Too often, extreme liberal interests are backing candidates who are pledging not to make arrests or prosecute crimes. This lawlessness has resulted in record crime rates. We can trust Dave Sunday to reduce crime rates and prosecute criminals appropriately.
“Dave understands that our commonwealth’s future hinges on government’s ability to provide safe streets and communities. No one, no family, no business wants to relocate to a state that is not safe and secure. Dave gets that. He will play a critical role in establishing Pennsylvania as the premier place to work, live and raise our families.”
Other candidates running in the Republican primary are state Rep. Craig Williams and former Delaware County District Attorney Kat Copeland.
Democratic candidates are former Bucks County Solicitor Joe Khan, state Rep. Jared Solomon, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and former Defender Association of Philadelphia chief Keir Bradford-Grey.
“Dan Meuser has been a staunch advocate for safe and strong communities in Congress. His work to revitalize neighborhoods, increase education and workforce development and advance our national security has been a tremendous asset to our commonwealth and nation. I am proud to call Congressman Meuser a friend and honored to have his support for attorney general,” Sunday said.
Sunday has been endorsed by the Republican Attorneys General Association, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association PAC and Sens. Kristin Phillips-Hill and Mike Regan. ••
Condemning Hamas
The House passed H.R. 5961, the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act, that included Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s resolution condemning Hamas and Iran-backed terror groups for using human shields and that only the unconditional surrender of Hamas and other Iran-backed terror groups will save innocent civilian lives.
The amendment passed 412-11.
During floor debate, Fitzpatrick said, “This Congress has a responsibility to unequivocally denounce the cruelty and inhumanity perpetrated by the terrorist organizations funded by Iran, especially Hamas. As we work to prohibit further funds from being used by the ruthless Iranian regime to prop up terrorists and subsidize terror attacks, we must also ensure that we swiftly and clearly condemn the criminal acts already carried out by Iran’s agents of terror. The deliberate use of innocent civilians and humanitarian infrastructure by Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist groups to shield themselves, their weapons and their operations is unconscionable. Their unabashed and irredeemable disregard for human life is unjustifiable.
“This Congress and this government must continue to be united in our condemnation of terror and terrorists. Anything less is a betrayal of our obligation as a global leader for human rights, human dignity and human freedom.” ••
Addressing rising flood insurance premiums
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10th dist.) and Rep. Perry Warren (D-31st dist.) joined Gov. Josh Shapiro in Yardley Borough for the signing of House Bill 735, establishing a task force to address rising flood insurance premiums.
“Eight years ago, I introduced what was then HB 1299, which was the precursor for HB 735, to help Pennsylvanians living in flood zones with flood insurance premiums,” Santarsiero said. “Then, as now, residents in neighborhoods along the Delaware River were facing skyrocketing flood insurance costs that threatened their ability to protect their homes and made it almost impossible for them to sell. I want to thank my friend and successor in the House, Rep. Warren, for continuing the work on this issue with me. This is an important step toward helping Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth find relief from rising flood insurance premiums.”
The bill signing took place at the Yardley Inn, a restaurant in Yardley Borough that has been flooded several times. The building is set to begin renovations in early 2025 to move the restaurant farther back from the Delaware River and elevate the foundation to prevent future flooding.
“Thank you to Gov. Shapiro for coming to Yardley to sign House Bill 735 into law as Act 22 of 2023,” Warren said. “I reintroduced this bill when I was first elected in 2017, it passed in the House in the 2019-2020 session, and it was the first bill passed by the House Insurance Committee in 2021-2022, but it did not get across the finish line. This year, through the collective efforts of Sen. Santarsiero, the House Insurance Committee, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and me, and in the wake of the devastating flooding in Upper Makefield and Lower Makefield in July, the bill passed in the House and Senate and has become law with Gov. Shapiro’s signature.”
HB 735 establishes the Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force to explore ways to lower flood insurance premiums and incentivize communities to invest in flood-prevention measures. The task force would consist of one appointee each from the Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, Insurance Commissioner, Secretary of Banking and Securities, Senate Majority Leader, Senate Minority Leader, House Majority Leader and House Minority Leader.
Santarsiero introduced Senate Bill 442, the Senate companion bill, which passed out of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee earlier this year.
The task force would have the power to review and analyze existing law, procedures, practices, processes and rules related to the administration of flood insurance. In addition, the task force would hold public hearings and accept written comments from the public.
“The establishment of a flood insurance task force is a proactive step towards ensuring homeowners and businesses in Bucks County can more easily recover from future flash floods,” said Bucks County Commissioner Chairman Bob Harvie. “My fellow commissioners and I are committed to working closely with Gov. Shapiro, state and local officials, insurance providers and our dedicated emergency services personnel towards improving our response to these devastating floods.” ••
No donations from foreign nationals
Legislation led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Jared Golden passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Administration. The Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act will prohibit contributions and donations by foreign nationals in American elections.
“I am incredibly grateful to Chairman Steil and the Committee on House Administration for moving this bipartisan bill forward today,” Fitzpatrick said. “Foreign adversaries have no business influencing American elections on the local, state or federal level. Our bipartisan legislation will ensure that foreign agents and entities are prohibited from contributing to campaigns for ballot initiatives or referenda in the United States. As this bill further advances to the House floor, I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense election security measure.” ••
Farry office hours in Bensalem
State Sen. Frank Farry (R-6th dist.) is offering satellite office hours the first Wednesday of every month, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bensalem Township Municipal Building, 2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem.
Farry’s staff will be on site to assist with state government services; Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, birth and death certificate applications, SEPTA Senior Key card registrations and renewals; and unemployment issues. ••
Lower South supervisor meeting schedule
The Lower Southampton Township Board of Supervisors will meet on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m., at the Township Building, 1500 Desire Ave., Feasterville.
The final meeting of the year will be Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Building. ••
Bensalem school board meeting schedule
The Bensalem Township Board of School Directors holds meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Dorothy D. Call Administrative Center, 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem.
The next meeting will take place on Dec. 19 (third Tuesday).
The public is invited to attend. ••
Commissioners meeting Dec. 20
The Bucks County Commissioners will hold their last meeting of the year on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Bucks County Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., in Doylestown.
The meeting will be broadcast on the county’s YouTube channel. ••
