Both Business and Labor Support Shell Tax Credits

           It’s rare in Harrisburg when business groups and labor organizations are in total agreement on what action the state government should take.
            This week, more than 30 representatives of government, labor and business crowded the stage in the Capitol Media Center to support the tax incentives needed to close the deal on Shell’s ethane “cracker” plant, which could bring thousands of new jobs to southwestern Pennsylvania.
            Democrats and Republicans joined Gov. Tom Corbett to support the plan, while unions and business groups agreed.
            Job creation, lower taxes and reduced energy costs are three of my main legislative priorities and this plan can accomplish all three. 
            While there has been some opposition to providing tax incentives for economic development, it is clear that Shell has numerous options for its $3 billion investment, and if Pennsylvania wants the jobs, the legislature is going to have to step boldly into that competition.
            There were opponents to Pennsylvania’s Film Production Tax Credit when it was first proposed, but that program has landed the state numerous Hollywood productions and pumped millions into the local economy.

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   Dream Home for Disabled Residents in Canonsburg

          I’m proud to support the efforts of  Accessible Dreams, a local organization trying to increase the availability of accessible housing for the disabled.
            The group just held a ribbon cutting at a residence on Grace Avenue in Canonsburg, a project that was aided by cooperation among state, county, and federal government.
            The affordable, barrier-free home was designed with open floor plans so the residents can live independently.  The project was made possible by the Washington County Redevelopment Authority’s Accessibility Homebuyer Assistance Program.
            Accessible Dreams provides a suite of services including the design and construction of new homes, the remodeling of existing homes and general home repairs. Accessible Dreams also offers complete real estate services to list, sell and buy existing homes for persons with disabilities. Accessible Dreams is an affiliate organization of Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living (TRIPIL).               For photos of the ribbon cutting, click here.

Mining Technology Workshop Drawing Attention

           U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and I visited the Careers in Mining Technology workshop recently to applaud the progress of 12 students who received program certificates.
            With the local job market expanding through energy exploration, the workshop is focused on helping educators and students understand the career options in the mining industry.
            Coal mining and gas drilling have presented the region with an extraordinary economic opportunity, but we have to make sure our young people have the skills needed to fill a wide array of jobs.
            For more photos of my visit, click here.

Officer Dryer Bill Heads to the Governor

           A bill honoring slain East Washington Police Officer John David Dryer is on its way to the governor’s desk after unanimous Senate passage this week.      
            House Bill 2215, sponsored by state Rep. Brandon Neuman and identical to mine (Senate Bill 1382), passed the House in May and now only awaits Gov. Corbett’s signature.  The bill designates the Beau Street interchange on I-70 as the Officer John David Dryer Memorial Interchange. 
            I’m proud to have worked with Representative Neuman on this. He and I introduced our bills weeks after Officer Dryer was killed by gunfire during a traffic stop shortly before Christmas last year.   It’s the least we could do for this man who touched so many people in the community.
           

 Carbon Monoxide Detectors
            The Senate this week unanimously passed a bill requiring carbon monoxide detectors in multi-family buildings where fossil fuels are burned.
            Senate Bill 920 would require detectors be installed in each apartment and all home owners to disclose whether a detector has been installed prior to any sale.  The bill now heads to the House.
            It’s still hard to believe that it’s going to take a law to get carbon monoxide detectors installed where people live when hundreds of people die every year for the lack of a $20 device.

GirlGov Day             Alecia DiMarzio, of Bentworth High School in Washington County (left) and Ashley Rhoads, of Jefferson-Morgan High School in Greene County joined me this week for the annual GirlGov Day in Harrisburg.             GirlGov, created by teen women for teen women, is designed to provide local girls with the opportunity to learn, first hand, about government and social change philanthropy.