State Sen. Dan Laughlin has endorsed York County District Attorney Dave Sunday for attorney general.
“Dave is an outstanding prosecutor with a blue-collar background that grounds him in reality,” Laughlin said. “I have been particularly impressed with Dave’s work on the opioid crisis ravaging our communities. Dave understands that we need to address the root causes of the use of drugs, which hinge on education and mental health. Under Dave’s leadership, York County has seen a decrease in their overdose rate and crime rate while it rises in surrounding communities and throughout our commonwealth.”
Sunday is among three Republicans running for attorney general. The others 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. ••
Money for terrorism victims
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and 12 of his colleagues introduced the Fairness for 9/11 Families Technical Fix Act, a bill that will amend current law to mandate rules for payments to Havlish Settling Judgment Creditors.
“While no amount of money will ever fill the void of losing a loved one, all of the families of the victims of September 11th deserve to fully participate and receive their due benefits from the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund,” Fitzpatrick said. “By correcting an oversight made in the ‘Fairness Act’ that was passed in haste last year, our bipartisan Fairness for 9/11 Families Technical Fix Act would provide legal equity to those 9/11 families left behind, the Havlish plaintiffs. Providing them with the same kind of exemptions given to other victims of state-sponsored terrorism will ensure that they receive the financial relief that all victims of state-sponsored terrorism deserve.”
“Far too many of those families who lost their loved ones on September 11th remain left behind by legislative oversights made in the 11th hour,” said Ellen Saracini, widow of Capt. Victor J. Saracini, a Lower Makefield resident who piloted United Flight 175. “The Fairness for 9/11 Families Technical Fix Act will allow those families to access the Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund payments already conditionally allocated to them. I encourage all members of Congress to join Rep. Fitzpatrick in this bipartisan and commonsense effort to ensure that the Havlish plaintiffs are provided relief and permitted to fully partake in the VSST Fund.” ••
A grant for Bucks Historical Society
State Reps. Joe Hogan, K.C. Tomlinson, Kristin Marcell, Craig Staats and Shelby Labs announced that the Bucks County Historical Society has received a $4,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The Bucks County Historical Society was founded in 1880 by Gen. William Watts Hart Davis and has been headquartered at the Elkins Building in Doylestown since 1904. The Bucks County Historical Society is supported by 40 full- and part-time staff members, and more than 200 volunteers.
Membership is open to individuals, families, organizations and businesses and is governed by a board of trustees made up of 30 men and women. ••
Transparency in healthcare prices
The Health Insurance Price Transparency Act, a bill put forth by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Susie Lee, was included as part of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act that passed the House with bipartisan support.
“Every American has the right to know the true cost of their healthcare services before seeing a bill,” Fitzpatrick said. “My Health Insurance Price Transparency Act protects patients by demanding transparency and ensuring that important information about treatment options is readily available. I am thrilled to see this legislation included in our larger package, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which passed with bipartisan support. I thank Chairman Smith, Chairwoman Foxx and Chairwoman Rodgers for their support.” ••
Combating antisemitism in education
Several state House Republicans announced a package of legislation aimed at combating antisemitism in Pennsylvania’s education system.
Noting a recent survey in The Economist showing one in five young people believe the Holocaust is a myth, Rep. Kristin Marcell will sponsor legislation requiring curriculum transparency in Holocaust education occurring in schools and noted that parents and the community deserve to know how these events are being taught in Pennsylvania’s schools.
“While the Department of Education establishes the curriculum guidelines, schools that choose to offer lessons on the Holocaust and genocide may use any curriculum that is consistent with the law’s requirements. However, across Pennsylvania there is currently no standardized, simple and user-friendly way for parents to review the curriculum to see how the Holocaust is taught to their children,” Marcell said. “Teaching about the Holocaust is not just about learning history; it is about safeguarding democratic values and promoting a more just and tolerant society.”
In addition to co-prime sponsoring the Holocaust curriculum transparency legislation, Rep. Joe Hogan will author a resolution declaring Nov. 9, 2024, as Antisemitism Awareness and Education Day in Pennsylvania. That date also coincides with the International Day Against Fascism.
“The rise in antisemitism across Pennsylvania is real, it is happening, and it is impacting families across the entire commonwealth,” Hogan said. “This package is meant to increase awareness about the real impacts of antisemitism and increase facts and transparency in Pennsylvania’s Holocaust education.” ••
Reducing gas emissions
Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Salud Carbajal re-introduced the Market Choice Act.
By eliminating the gas tax in exchange for implementing a tax on greenhouse gas emissions, this initiative would diminish the detrimental impacts of such emissions while making investments in American infrastructure. The bill also establishes a bipartisan National Climate Commission to set goals and review the effectiveness of the federal government’s existing policies and programs for emissions reduction.
“As COP28 meets this month and as the United States moves into the third year of the implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, two of our nation’s greatest problems continue to persist without any long-term solution,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our bipartisan Market Choice Act lays out a bold, comprehensive framework for how the United States can improve affordability for American families, create innovative new job opportunities, further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and substantively invest in our physical infrastructure for generations to come. I am grateful to Rep. Carbajal and all our partners for their leadership on this equally bold and practical approach to the climate and infrastructure challenges ahead.” ••
Take ‘vulnerable’ prisoners out of solitary
State Reps. Tina Davis and Mike Schlossberg are introducing a bill that would prohibit solitary confinement for “vulnerable” populations in Pennsylvania’s jails and prisons. Davis made the announcement at a news conference, held at the state Capitol, that was hosted by the Solidarity Not Solitary Coalition.
“This bill will save taxpayers money in the long term,” Davis said. “Studies have shown that solitary confinement has led to greater psychological issues for incarcerated individuals, making it more difficult for them to be rehabilitated and reintroduced into society. This puts a stress on the social services system and leads to a higher recidivism rate.”
Supporters of the bill claim segregated confinement deprives inmates of normal human interaction and access to rehabilitative programs and processes, and contributes to a variety of negative physiological and psychological reactions, such as hallucinations, depression, anxiety and paranoia.
The legislation would offer people in segregated confinement with enough socialization to prevent the worst physical and mental effects of isolation and offer those with serious mental health issues alternatives to segregated confinement.
The bill is supported by left-wing organizations such as the Abolitionist Law Center, Human Rights Coalition, ACLU and Juntos.
Davis represents the 141st Legislative District, comprised of Bristol Township and Bristol Borough. ••
Fitzpatrick proposes minimum wage bill
Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez introduced the Fair Wage Act to index the federal minimum wage to a regional cost-of-living standard. This holistic legislation also adjusts cash wages of tipped employees and the wages for newly hired employees under the age of 18, such as high school students employed for a summer job.
“Our nation’s workers deserve a fair wage that accounts for varying, regional cost-of-living rates,” Fitzpatrick said. “While others pursue partisan and unrealistic measures to address the broken minimum wage standard, I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Fair Wage Act with Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. Our legislation recognizes that the federal minimum wage in my home of Levittown has a disparate impact than it does in Los Angeles or Little Rock. We must ensure that when it comes to the minimum wage, Americans can rely on being compensated appropriately based on where they work, live, raise their families and pay taxes.” ••
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 hold its last meeting of the year on Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m., at the Township Building, 1500 Desire Ave., Feasterville. ••
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. ••
