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February 12, 2016

Gibbons Hears Testimony on Plumber Licensing Board Bill

Harrisburg, Feb. 11 – State Rep. Jaret Gibbons D-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence, heard testimony today to establish a plumber licensing board within the Department of Labor and Industry in Pennsylvania. Gibbons, a member of the House Professional Licensure Committee, said the legislation (H.B. 1357) would protect consumers from unscrupulous plumbers. “I am concerned for the welfare of my constituents, especially senior citizens in Pennsylvania who could be swindled out of their hard-earned money for a household service that wasn’t performed properly because the state doesn’t have a board to hold accountable licensed plumbers in the state,” Gibbons said In Pennsylvania, the plumber must…

February 12, 2016

Senator Vogel to Collect Food for Local Salvation Armies

State Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. announced that he will be collecting non-perishable food for area Salvation Armies at his Rochester and New Castle District Offices. The deadline to donate the non-perishable food items is March 21. “It’s important that we all do our part to remember those less fortunate. I hope many people join in helping to alleviate hunger in our area,” Vogel said. Everyone making a donation will be entered into a drawing to win a gift donated by Senator Vogel. If you would like to participate, please drop off any non-perishable foods at the Senator’s offices at 488…

February 12, 2016

Horse Racing Industry Measure Headed to Governor

The Senate today (Feb. 10) gave final approval to a bill that makes substantial regulatory changes necessary to protect and bolster Pennsylvania’s horse racing industry, according to Senator Elder Vogel. House Bill 941 which includes an amendment by Senator Vogel that will shift essential funds into the State Racing Fund and protect the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania, now goes to the Governor for his signature and enactment into law. Once enacted, the bill would provide a surplus of more than $27 million for the State Racing Fund by 2019-20, Senator Vogel said. “There has been a tremendous amount of…

February 12, 2016

Ag Committee Holds Hearing on Fireworks Bill

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee today (Feb. 10) held a public hearing on a bill that would legalize the sale of fireworks in Pennsylvania, according to Committee Chairman Senator Elder Vogel (R-47). Senate Bill 1055, legislation introduced by Senator Vogel and his colleagues Senators Don White (R-41) and Gene Yaw (R-23) would lift the ban on the sale of “consumer” fireworks, known as “Class C” fireworks, and allow businesses legally operating in the state to sell consumer fireworks — such as bottle rockets, roman candles and mortars — to Pennsylvania residents without the need for a permit. “It’s…

February 11, 2016

Fifth Grade Scheduling Causes Extended School Board Debate

On Monday’s agenda meeting, most members of the Ellwood City Area School Board accepted a fifth grade schedule proposal as the best possible option. However, board president Renee Pitrelli didn’t accept the change, resulting in an extended circular conversation. Currently, the fifth-graders are divided into two classroom “pods” each rotating between three teachers. Frank Keally, the principal at Hartman Intermediate, felt this was a fine model and several school board members agreed, including Pitrelli, Jeniffer Tomon, Danielle Woodhead and Erica Gray. Unfortunately, this year’s fourth grade class is smaller than normal and as a result, Keally will have to move…

February 11, 2016

Marketing Consulting Company Presents Proposition to Skeptical EC School Board

The Ellwood City Area School Board listened to a business proposition by Image Consultants, an Ellwood-based company, during their agenda meeting on Feb. 8. Earla Marshall offered her professional services via Image Consultants to organize a fundraising campaign for two STEAM labs in Hartman Intermediate and Lincoln Jr/Sr High School. Marshall had previously visited the board representing the Kitchen Cabinet, a volunteer community activist organization. Marshall had said that Cabinet members would volunteer their services to raise money for the STEAM labs. In January, the board passed a motion to give the administration $150,000, which was the minimum estimated cost…

February 10, 2016

Senior Privilege is Working Well, According to Administration

The Lincoln High School administration reported that senior privilege, a scheduling policy for the 2016-17 school year, has been working fantastically. At the Ellwood City Area school board agenda meeting on Tuesday, Lincoln assistant principal John Sovich presented the board with statistics and feedback on the policy. Following the feedback, the board, which was skeptical of the policy last year, overwhelmingly approved of senior privilege. Senior privilege is a scheduling policy in which seniors may opt to come in at 10 a.m. or leave two hours early rather than taking electives. This is not due to a lack of elective…

February 8, 2016

Senator Vogel Seeking Ideas for Saving Tax Dollars

Senator Elder Vogel Jr. (R-47) has launched a webpage, SenatorElderVogel.com/Save-PA, where taxpayers can offer their suggestions to cut state spending as an alternative to Governor Wolf’s tax increases. “Like all families and businesses, state government needs to cut costs and set priorities when budgets are tight,” Senator Vogel said. The announcement comes days after the Senate voted to cut the size of the Legislature, a measure that Senator Vogel has long-advocated to save taxpayer dollars. “Pennsylvania has the tenth-highest tax burden in the country,” remarked Senator Vogel, citing independent analyses by the Tax Foundation. “Before reaching into Pennsylvania taxpayers’ wallets,…

February 8, 2016

Committee to Hold Hearing on Fireworks Bill

The Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 10, to gather testimony on a bill that would permit the sale of fireworks to Pennsylvania residents, according to Committee Chairman Senator Elder Vogel (R-47). The hearing, set for 9 a.m. in Room 8E-B in the State Capitol East Wing, will focus on Senate Bill 1055, legislation introduced by Senator Vogel and his colleagues Senators Don White and Gene Yaw that would legalize the sale and use of consumer fireworks for Pennsylvanians. The hearing will be streamed live at: www.pasenategop.com. Click here for Senator Vogel’s…

February 2, 2016

Iowa Caucus Results: Clinton Wins Democratic, Cruz Wins Republican, Both by One Delegate

Iowa- The results for the first primary of the 2016 presidential election season are in. In the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton won, if by the smallest margin, grabbing 22 delegates while Bernie Sanders claimed 21. Sanders only tailed Clinton by 0.2 of a percent. Thus, only two candidates remain viable contenders for the Democratic ticket. The third Democratic candidate, Martin O’Malley, dropped out of the race this morning. Iowa has 27 delegates for the Republican Party, which were more evenly distributed. Ted Cruz won, claiming eight. Donald Trump and Marco Rubio each had seven. Three of the other nine candidates…