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In this Update:
Around the DistrictLast week, the New Haven Hose Company held its annual banquet. Many members were honored including Vinny Traynor (Chief’s Award), Bill Addis (Most Calls Award), and the company’s “Elite 25,” the 25 members that answered the majority of incoming calls. Congratulations to all! This week, I enjoyed visiting the Boys & Girls Club of Somerset County and getting a tour of their clubhouse at Georgian Place. This is one of 12 clubhouse locations in Allegheny and Somerset Counties, in addition to their two workforce development sites and three preschools. Annually, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania services thousands of youth with their programs including academic literacy, STEM enrichment, sports and recreational activities, and mentoring. Senate Reviews Proposed State BudgetThe Senate Appropriations Committee held the first of three weeks of public hearings about the proposed 2023-24 state budget. Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed a $45.8 billion budget that would increase spending by $1.3 billion. Based on projections, it would nearly wipe out the state’s $5 billion Rainy Day Fund in five years. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity urged lawmakers to make greater investments in Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund and reduce the structural deficit to improve the state’s credit rating. She testified that the commonwealth has a choice: spend modestly now or face a possible fiscal cliff as federal funds dry up and the Rainy Day Fund is depleted. Independent Fiscal Office Director Matthew Knittel confirmed that Pennsylvania joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative would mean hundreds of millions of dollars in new energy taxes. Higher electricity costs could be on the horizon if Shapiro advances a carbon tax. Find the hearings schedule, livestreams of budget hearings, daily recaps and video from prior hearings at PASenateGOP.com. My Comments on This Week’s Budget HearingsThis week I attended budget hearings for the Department of Environmental Protection and the Attorney General. You can view my questions for both Acting Sec. Richard Negrin and Attorney General Michelle Henry here. Check the Status of Your Tax RefundAs families struggle with rising costs and inflation, many are anticipating their tax refund. Anyone who would like to check the status of a Pennsylvania Income Tax refund can do so by calling 1-888-PATAXES or clicking here. There is also an opportunity to verify your tax refund to expedite processing. Improving Access to Unemployment Compensation SystemThe Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry extended indefinitely a program that enhances Pennsylvanians’ access to the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system by offering in-person appointments to claimants. The program, now called UC Connect, offers in-person services for UC claimants who do not have proper technology, equipment or technical skills; individuals without access to home Internet or broadband; and individuals with limited-English proficiency. To schedule an appointment, claimants should contact a PA CareerLink® center directly. Share Your Feedback on PennDOT’s Winter ServicesPennDOT is accepting winter services feedback through an online survey. The public can take the survey here through April 6. The 17-question survey asks how often respondents travel during poor weather, how they rate PennDOT’s winter service and how they rank snow-removal priorities. Respondents are also asked how they receive PennDOT roadway information and whether they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services. During the winter, https://511pa.com offers its standard traffic and incident information while adding PennDOT plow-truck locations, winter roadway conditions and other services. Veterans: Protect Your PensionVeterans and their beneficiaries who are potentially eligible for VA pension benefits must beware of pension poaching. While pension poaching can impact any veteran, poachers primarily target older veterans. Pension poaching comes in several forms, from selling financial products of questionable value to charging a fee to restructure assets to make the veteran or beneficiary meet income eligibility criteria. Read about other pension poaching methods here. Avoid becoming a victim of pension poaching by never paying:
If you suspect or experience a scam or financial exploitation related to any veteran benefit, including a VA pension, file a report immediately with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Military and Veterans Affairs section by calling 717-783-1944, emailing PAvets@attorneygeneral.gov or filling out this online form.
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