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In this Update:
Allegheny County Residents Confirmed by Senate
I am thrilled to see three nominees from my district confirmed by the full Senate! My good friend and former PA state senator, Brigadier General John Pippy, was confirmed as the 55th Adjutant General of Pennsylvania. Before serving in the PA Senate and House of Representatives, Brigadier General Pippy was commissioned into the United States Army at West Point and served in Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria.
Two judicial nominees from my district were also confirmed by the Senate. Simquita Bridges was confirmed as judge for the 5th judicial district of Allegheny County. John Kearney, Chief Deputy of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, was confirmed as magisterial district judge of district 05-3-17. Both Ms. Bridges and Chief Kearney have extensive public service experience.
Congratulations to all and thank you for serving our commonwealth. It was an honor to recommend them before my Senate colleagues. You can read more about these dedicated public servants here. North Allegheny Teams Visit State Capitol
Congratulations are in order for several teams from North Allegheny Senior High School! We hosted three championship teams at the Capitol this week. The Girls’ Volleyball Team won their eight consecutive state championship this year, and the Boys’ Water Polo and Golf Teams also won their respective state championships. You can view my introduction of the teams on the Senate floor here.
Community Highlights
Congratulations to Dara and the team at Flo Yoga Studio on their new location at South Hills Village Mall! I was happy to attend their ribbon cutting ceremony with the South West Regional Chamber of Commerce and Rep. Natalie Mihalek.
Always a great event at the Wild Game Picnic at the Alpine Club!
I had the honor to present Tom Klingensmith with a proclamation commemorating his 33 years of service to the Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Department. Thank you for your dedication to protecting our community, Tom.
The Pittsburgh region is well-positioned for the Moon! Thank you to Astrobotic Technology CEO John Thornton and staff for a great tour of their impressive facility. The Space Race is bringing very high-skilled jobs and whole new economy to Pittsburgh!
I was glad to attend the Allegheny County EMS Legislative Forum. We discussed the challenges facing the 32 EMS agencies in Allegheny County and ways we can continue working together. Thank you to these agencies and my bipartisan, bicameral colleagues for your discussion and collaboration. Thank you to our EMS professionals for your work as first responders. We are incredibly grateful for your dedication to our communities. Robinson Appointed to State Employees’ Retirement Board
I was glad to be appointed to the PA State Employees’ Retirement Board. I appreciate the appointment from Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward to serve in this capacity. Read more here. Budget Process Begins in Harrisburg
On Tuesday, Governor Josh Shapiro presented his proposed plan for the 2025-26 state budget. This $51.5 billion budget plan would increase state spending by $3.6 billion, an increase of 7.5% compared to the current year’s budget. The legislature raised concerns that Governor Shapiro’s overly optimistic future revenue projections and future expenditure assumptions could eliminate the state’s emergency savings (also known as the Rainy Day Fund) and create the need for a multi-billion-dollar tax increase on Pennsylvania families within a year and a half. The Governor’s budget address is only the first step in the process. In the weeks ahead, the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a series of budget hearings to closely examine the spending plan to determine how it can be improved. The hearings will begin Feb. 18 and run through March 6. Bill Repealing RGGI Electricity Tax Receives Senate Support
To prevent a new electricity tax, the Senate passed legislation with bipartisan support this week repealing Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI, a multi-state compact, would increase electricity rates for consumers, cut energy and manufacturing jobs and lead to the closure of Pennsylvania power plants. Senate Bill 186 would formally repeal Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI, ensuring that any decision to impose electricity taxes or emissions programs must go through the legislative process rather than being enacted unilaterally by the executive branch. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Despite bipartisan opposition from the General Assembly, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Environmental Quality Board pressed ahead with regulations to establish a CO₂ Budget Trading Program – effectively imposing a tax on electricity generation. In 2023, the Commonwealth Court ruled that RGGI is a tax and cannot be implemented without legislative approval. However, the Governor’s decision to continue to appeal this ruling to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has prolonged uncertainty for workers and businesses across the commonwealth and deepened concerns about energy grid reliability and affordability. Senate Supports Bill to Combat High Egg Prices, HPAI
In response to recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and skyrocketing egg prices, the Senate passed legislation to expand the number of certified poultry technicians in Pennsylvania. It now advances to the governor to be signed into law. At the request of the state’s egg farmers, House Bill 324 would offer flexibility to farmers and their employees to test poultry for dangerous transmittable diseases that have the potential to decimate poultry flocks. This measure would equip trained technicians to more quickly detect HPAI and contain any further spread. It would also update the outdated blood testing provision to modernize and expand testing to more accurately reflect the various types of dangerous transmittable diseases of poultry. House Bill 324 would safeguard the health of poultry flocks and protect the state’s $7 billion poultry industry. Trout Stocking Schedule Announced
Local anglers can find out when their favorite fishing hole will be stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission using the annual Trout Stocking Guides available online now. The commission stocks approximately 3.2 million adult trout in nearly 700 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling each year. These figures include approximately 2.4 million rainbow trout; 693,000 brown trout; and 125,000 brook trout. The average size of the trout produced for stocking is 11 inches in length. Additionally, 72,000 trophy trout, sized from 14-20 inches, are 70% stocked before opening day. The statewide opening day for trout season is Saturday, April 5. Additionally, the Fish and Boat Commission will host Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 29. Youth under the age of 16 can join a mentor (adult) angler who has a current fishing license and trout permit to fish for trout the Saturday before the regular opening days. Learn more about the program. Recognizing National Cancer Prevention Month
February is National Cancer Prevention Month, an observance that aims to raise awareness about how impactful cancer can be for those who are affected and their loved ones. It’s also a time to celebrate the significant milestones people in treatment have achieved. In the previous legislative session, we passed landmark legislation that eliminated out-of-pocket costs for genetic testing of hereditary cancer syndromes and supplemental breast screenings for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. The law, which I proudly co-sponsored, was the first of its kind in the nation. It eliminated costs including co-pays, deductibles, or co-insurance for breast MRIs and ultrasounds for women with high-risk factors. It also eliminated costs for BRCA-related genetic testing and counseling for those women.
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