Author: Tiffany P

Get Your State and Federal Government Questions Answered on Wednesday, July 26

SMETHPORT – Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) and Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-15) are pleased to announce their upcoming Cameron County area satellite office hours for July 2023.

On Wednesday, July 26, field representatives from both offices will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce, 34 East Fourth Street, Emporium, PA 15834.

Dush’s staff will be available to assist with any state government-related issues and available legislative services. These include helping Cameron County area residents deal with problems involving state laws, state government or state agencies; assisting residents with PennDOT paperwork, driver’s license and vehicle registration applications and renewals; handicap placards and dead tags (plates); information and applications for senior citizen benefit programs, including Property Tax/Rent Rebate and PACE/PACENET prescription drug programs; state tax forms; and many others.

Thompson’s staff will be available to meet with residents who need assistance from federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the IRS.

No appointments are necessary. For further information, Dush’s Smethport district office can be reached by calling (814)-734-2785. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1 p.m. for lunch).

CONTACT:  Ty McCauslin, Communications Director at tmccauslin@pasen.gov.

HARRISBURG – The Impact Fee on unconventional natural gas wells will deliver more than $8.5 million to communities in and adjacent to the 25^th Senatorial District this year, according to Sen. Cris Dush (R-25).

“At this point, I want to make something extremely clear: the impact ‘fee’ is in fact a ‘tax’ on our natural gas industry that was imposed before I was elected to the state Legislature,” emphasized Dush. “It is classified as a fee to ensure that ‘impacted’ communities can more directly receive a significant portion of the tax to maintain or improve local infrastructure. More specifically, this revenue is another mechanism that enables our region to produce more of the energy our nation needs to heat and light up homes and businesses.”

Impact Fees are levied over and above regular business taxes paid by every corporation in Pennsylvania. The disbursements were based on a formula established in Act 13 of 2012 to ensure communities affected by drilling receive their fair share of funding for projects such as road and bridge repairs, housing and other infrastructure needs.

The Impact Fee provides funding to the Commonwealth Financing Authority, which has generated more grants for the counties as listed below:

• $535,738.28 for Cameron County government               
• $876,450.97 for Cameron County municipal governments
• $301,539.18 for Centre County government
• $201,772.63 for Centre County municipal governments
• $437,234.22 for Clinton County government
• $697,798.25 for Clinton County municipal governments
• $1,001,473.88 for Elk County government
• $1,581,891.13 for Elk County municipal governments
• $218,176.42 for Jefferson County government
• $294,251.82 for Jefferson County municipal governments
• $539,500.07 for McKean County government
• $874,349.87 for McKean County municipal governments
• $389,137.47 for Potter County government
• $647,354.85 for Potter County municipal governments

With this year’s statewide impact fee distribution total of almost $279 million – a nearly 19% increase over last year – Pennsylvania has now realized, to date, more than $2.5 billion in Impact Fee revenues benefiting communities in all of the Commonwealth’s 67 counties.

CONTACT: Ty McCauslin, Communications Director at 717-787-7084 or tmccauslin@pasen.gov

HARRISBURG—Due to ongoing negotiations regarding the release of data with PA Department of State attorneys, PA Senate State Government Committee Chairman Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) announced that today’s second public confirmation hearing for Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt has been postponed and will be rescheduled.

Today’s Senate State Government Committee voting meeting to consider Senate Bill 125 has also been postponed and will be rescheduled.

CONTACT:  Ty McCauslin, Communications Director at 717-787-7084 or tmccauslin@pasen.gov.

HARRISBURG – PA Sen. Cris Dush (R-25), who is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and the PA Air National Guard, sent the following letter (excerpted below) formally calling on Brig Gen Jori A. Robinson, 175th Wing Commander, Maryland Air National Guard (ANG) to conduct a full Environmental Impact Study (EIS) on the proposed Duke Military Operations Area (MOA) over the Pennsylvania Wilds conservation and recreation area:

“I am writing about the proposed military training airspace – the Duke low-MOA over the Pennsylvania Wilds conservation and recreation area – that your wing is currently in the process of completing its public comment period for the Environmental Assessment (EA). 

“As you know, because the EA determined that there was a Finding of No Significant Impact, the 175th does not need to accomplish an Environmental Impact Study (EIS).  I disagree with the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) decision and am formally requesting an EIS be completed.

“Although I am the first to support our military, this is a situation where I do not believe the 175th Wing has done its due diligence in looking at the impact of the proposal and possible alternatives for flying the low-level training that is proposed.  

“I would like to bring to your attention that if this proposal is approved, I believe it should be Pennsylvanians who control access to the proposed Duke low-MOA. This would allow a balance in meeting the needs of the Wilds with events such as Dark Sky, nature-appreciation, education, and tourism and the needs of the 175th flight operations to include currency training.”

Follow the links below to view Sen. Dush’s complete letter and attachment of concerns:

• Letter to the 175th Wing Commander from Sen. Cris Dush
• Issues and concerns with Duke MOA

CONTACT:  Ty McCauslin, Communications Director at tmccauslin@pasen.gov.

HARRISBURG – State Senators formally recognized the individual and team accomplishments of Pennsylvania’s wrestlers during the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships with a Senate Resolution this week.

The resolution – sponsored by Senators Scott Martin (R-13), Cris Dush (R-25), Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) and Devlin Robinson (R-37) – honors Penn State for earning the national team championship, as well as the achievements of wrestlers for Pennsylvania’s other universities and native Pennsylvanians who earned individual success during the tournament.

“Pennsylvania has a long, rich tradition of producing championship-caliber wrestlers, and our state’s representation in this year’s tournament extends that impressive legacy,” said Martin, who was a PIAA and national high school wrestling champion, as well as an all-American athlete for Millersville University. “I congratulate all of the state wrestlers and coaches who earned individual and team victories during the championship tournament.”

Penn State won the Championship Tournament by 55.0 points, the largest margin of victory in the school’s history. The team featured eight All-Americans and saw seven athletes place in the top three of their respective weight divisions.

In addition, two PSU wrestlers – Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks – won individual NCAA titles in their respective weight classes. Other top finishes included Roman Bravo-Young, Beau Bartlett, Shayne Van Ness, Levi Haines, Max Dean and Greg Kerkvliet.
“I am pleased to join my colleagues in recognizing the tremendous achievement of Penn State University and individual wrestlers Max Murin and Ed Scott from the 35^th Senatorial District.  Let their success and hard work in achieving this goal serve to inspire the next generation of wrestlers,” Langerholc said. “Their dedication and commitment are admirable and has brought an unmatched level of pride to the 35^th Senatorial District. Well done.”

Bethel Park native Nino Bonaccorsi, who competed for the University of Pittsburgh, also earned the gold for the first time in his collegiate career.

“The entire Bethel Park community is extremely proud of Nino’s determination and drive, which earned him gold,” Robinson said.  “I am pleased to sponsor this resolution with my Senate colleagues honoring the achievements of Nino and each of these outstanding Pennsylvania athletes. They are true inspirations.”

Other Pennsylvania wrestlers who placed in the top three of their weight classes included: Spencer Lee (Murrysville), Max Murin (Ebensburg), Mikey Labriola (Easton), Sammy Sasso (Nazareth), Ethan Smith (Latrobe), Ed Scott (Dubois), Trent Hidlay (Lewistown), Ethan Laird (McKean), Anthony Noto (Lock Haven University), Will Feldkamp (Clarion University) and Josh Humphreys (Lehigh University).

“I take great pride in co-sponsoring this well-deserved Senate Resolution, as two of these outstanding championship wrestlers have direct ties to my legislative district and have made their Pennsylvania hometown communities proud,” Dush said. “Ethan Laird from McKean County, who attends Rider University, and Anthony Noto, who attends Lock Haven University in Clinton County, have both placed in the top three of their respective weight classes. Through their perseverance and hard work, it is obvious that each of these young men have given all they had in order to achieve both their individual and team objectives.”

VIDEO (Martin)

VIDEO (Dush)

VIDEO (Robinson)

CONTACT:           Jason Thompson (Senator Martin)
                              Ty McCauslin (Senator Dush)
                              Gwenn Dando (Senator Langerholc)
                              Allison Dutrey (Senator Robinson)