Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) was joined by Rep. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) and Rep. Tom Mehaffie (R-Dauphin) to share their excitement for House Bill 2557 passage by the Senate. 

This bill updates the way municipalities exit Act 47 and enables the city of Harrisburg to continue to balance its budget. Kim stated that the governor has agreed to sign the bill and she is hoping to see it on his desk by the end of this week or next week. 

Harrisburg could have another five years of extra taxing authority under a bill advanced out of committee Tuesday.

Worked out over a working weekend, HB 2557 from Rep. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) was amended to put Harrisburg under an Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, much like the one that managed Pittsburgh, for the next five years.

Lobbyists were banned, diversity reinforced and a three-year registration minimum added to the Senate’s prime redistricting bill Monday as it was prepared for a final vote by lawmakers.

The bill, SB 22, would set up a redistricting commission made up of eleven citizens who apply to the Department of State, are vetted, and then picked by majority and minority legislative leaders to draw Pennsylvania’s congressional and state legislative maps.

Taking stock of a subdued Capitol Rotunda on the eve of budget season, John Meyerson, spokesperson for Raise the Wage PA, made note that the building still has symbolic meaning.

“It’s not empty, because it’s filled with the hopes and aspirations of millions of Pennsylvanians who are looking for a fair and living wage,” Meyerson said.