state rep aaron bernstine

Bernstine Announces Satellite Office Hours in Beaver, Butler Counties

In another effort to deliver superior constituent service to residents of the 10th Legislative District at no additional cost to taxpayers, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced he is now offering satellite office hours in New Brighton, Slippery Rock and Beaver Falls. “Upon taking office, I have made it a priority to dramatically reduce spending, and these office hours are an example of how efficient government should work,” said Bernstine. “I encourage residents in these areas to take advantage of this opportunity.” Bernstine will offer satellite office hours according to the following schedule: Every Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m….


Bernstine Announces $460,000 to Improve Drinking Water in Wampum

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that $460,000 in state funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PennVEST) will allow Wampum Borough in Lawrence County to move forward with its plans to improve municipal drinking water. “The quality of water in Wampum has been an issue for many years,” Bernstine said. “I was happy to work with the local elected officials, as well as the state, to expedite the process of this grant. Nobody should go without quality water. This issue is finally on its way to being resolved.” The loan, which includes a 1 percent interest rate…


House Passes Bernstine Bill to Protect Mental Health Patients from Abuse

HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives today unanimously approved legislation, authored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence), which would ensure Pennsylvanians receiving mental health care have legal protection from those seeking to do them harm. “Mental health issues can impact anyone, at any time, and without this safeguard on our books, we would be failing to protect a lot of our citizens from potential abuse and neglect. That’s unacceptable.” House Bill 835 would update the Mental Health Procedures Act to state that persons in treatment for mental health issues have a right to be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation. Currently,…


Bernstine, Solomon Bill Would Prepare PA Students to Enter Workforce

HARRISBURG – In a bipartisan effort to prepare Pennsylvania’s youth for the 21st century workforce, state Reps. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) and Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia) introduced legislation which would allow high school students to obtain real-world work experience while still in school. House Bill 1522 would establish a pilot grant program which would encourage schools and local businesses to collaborate to provide work-based learning opportunities for high school students. “As we work to prepare students for the 21st century workforce, this legislation would allow job creators to help transform our education system. When I came to Harrisburg, I wanted to develop…


Bernstine Backs Pension Reform to Better Protect Taxpayers

HARRISBURG – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives’ bipartisan vote to reform Pennsylvania’s two public pension systems, which have a combined unfunded liability of more than $62.7 billion: “While this legislation won’t make all our pension problems disappear, it represents a meaningful step that will reduce our massive unfunded liability by more than $5 billion. Most importantly, it shifts financial risk away from our hard-working taxpayers.  Every dollar we add to our pension debt threatens the quality of our schools and the paychecks of our taxpayers, and we need to stop adding to…


Bernstine, Court Agree to Send Information to District Attorney Office

ELLWOOD CITY – In response to parking tickets that were issued at a legislative press conference on Thursday, May 11, state Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-New Beaver) and Ellwood City Mayor Anthony Court have jointly agreed to send documentation of the event to the Lawrence County District Attorney office, Bernstine announced today. Bernstine held a press conference in front of a private residence on Wampum Avenue to announce his legislation to better regulate municipal electric costs. Many attendees of the event, including Bernstine himself, received parking tickets from the Ellwood City Police Department. “Because I firmly believe that the tickets were…


VIDEO: Bernstine Presents Proposed Bill At Electric Press Conference

Yesterday, Republican State Representative, Aaron Bernstine, joined forces with Democratic State Representative, Pam Snyder, to promote change in the unregulated electric utility usage – a practice that occurs not only in Ellwood City, but in over 30 municipalities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. “This is an example of Republicans and Democrats coming together to do the right thing,” Bernstine stated. At the press conference, held outside a residential property on Wampum Avenue in Ellwood City, Bernstine publicly released information regarding his proposed legislation to regulate municipal owned electric companies. The legislation will discontinue the use of electric departments profits to…


Rep. Aaron Bernstine Endorses Mayoral Candidates

Today, State Representative Aaron Bernstine formally endorsed incumbent mayoral candidates Anthony Court of Ellwood City and George Quay of Beaver Falls.  Both Court and Quay will be on the Democratic ballot in the primary election to be held on May 16th.  Both mayors are also seeking write-in votes to secure positions on the Republican ticket for the general election in November. Representative Bernstine touted Mayor Courts’ integrity and commitment to marketing Ellwood City to employers.  “Immediately after I took office, Mayor Court contacted me to express his support of my plan to bring new jobs to Ellwood City.  He is a man…


House Passes Bernstine Bill to Hold Lottery Winners Accountable for Debts

HARRISBURG – Common-sense, bipartisan legislation to intercept lottery winnings by individuals who are delinquent on state taxes or behind on child support payments has passed unanimously in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, announced bill sponsor, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence).  House Bill 674 requires the Department of Revenue (DOR) to determine whether taxpayers who win a single prize of more than $2,500 from the Pennsylvania Lottery have any unpaid state taxes. If the taxpayer does have an outstanding state tax liability and all appeal rights have been exhausted, the amount of state tax that is owed will be deducted from the winnings…


State Low-Interest Loan to Help North Sewickley Township Fire Department Purchase Truck, Says Bernstine

BEAVER FALLS – State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-New Beaver) announced today that Pennsylvania’s Volunteer Loan Assistance Program has approved a $200,000 low-interest loan for the North Sewickley Township Volunteer Fire Department. The company will use the 2 percent loan toward the purchase of a 2015 rescue pumper. “When there is an emergency in our homes or communities, we call 911 and expect our volunteers to quickly respond in up-to-date equipment and take care of the problem,” said Bernstine. “But, how often do we think about the huge financial burden all that equipment places on them? That’s why the state loan…