At a Wednesday morning bill signing of HB 152, honoring First Responders, Gov. Wolf answers questions on the Philadelphia  Amtrak train derailment, and pending legislation on property tax and pension reform. 

Tuesday, the House approved a measure by Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) that would raise Pennsylvania’s income and sales tax while providing dollar-for-dollar property tax reduction.

The proposal was adopted as an amendment to Rep. Matt Gabler’s (R-Elk) House Bill 504 by a 109 to 86 vote that crossed party lines.

The proposal calls for increasing Pennsylvania’s personal income tax by 0.63 percent to 3.7 percent while raising the sales and use tax a full percentage point to seven percent in order to earn an estimated $5 billion in additional revenue to be dedicated to property tax relief. 

Here are the highlights from news conferences, rallies, and advocacy days held in the Capitol today: 

• Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) kicked off today’s 10^th Annual Second Amendment Rally on the steps of the Capitol joined by several national speakers and numerous state legislators. Kim Stolfer, President of Firearm Owners Against Crime started the events by declaring that gun control is an abridgement of freedom and that freedom shall not be questioned. 

• A small group of legislators and Pre-K supporters as well as early childhood advocates met today in the Capitol Rotunda to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood programs. 

• Advocates gathered in the Capitol this morning to outline the Pennsylvania Arts and Culture legislative priorities. Jenny Hershour, managing director of Citizens for the Arts in Pennsylvania, kicked off the program by introducing a Hershey High School student, Paxton Zeis, winner of the Poetry Out Loud contest.

• Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Vereb) held a news conference challenging the Governor’s authority to defy court authority in death penalty cases. Rep. Vereb specifically highlighted the governor’s actions defy the important role played by the other co-equal branches of government in securing justice.

• Hundreds of nurse practitioners, patients and supports gathered on the Capitol steps to advocate for reforms that would expand access to health care across Pennsylvania. The rally showcased support for SB 717 and HB 765 which would end a government mandate that nurse practitioners obtain business contacts with physicians in order to practice.

• Minority Senate Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was joined by Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), David Argall (R-Schuylkill) and Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington), along with PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chair Sean Logan to discuss legislation that would protect workers in construction zones.

• Rep. John McGinnis (R-Blair) unveiled HB 900, legislation he will be introducing that would eliminate Pennsylvania’s public pension debt over 20 years with level dollar funding. Rep. McGinnis described the “immense financial crisis looming over Pennsylvania’s future” and said recent credit rating downgrades are an obvious sign of that crisis. 

Rep. John Maher (R-Allegheny) is seeking to provide members of the Environmental Quality Board an independent legal mind.

His legislation—House Bill 1099—to provide the EQB with an independent counsel was approved by the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Tuesday morning along an 18 to seven bipartisan vote.

Sens. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) and Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) offered some remarks today after SB 3, the medical cannabis bill, passed the Senate.