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| Weekly Roundup |
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The latest news from the State Capitol |
Concealed Carry a Success
Thank you to everyone who came out to my concealed carry seminar last week at Bethany Wesleyan Church in Cherryville. Participants said they found it very informative. If you were unable to attend, I plan to hold similar seminars in the future.
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Policy Committee Holds Election Issues Roundtable
As part of the House Majority Policy Committee’s series of roundtable discussions, on Wednesday morning I attended a briefing on election issues with the County Commissioners of Pennsylvania.
The main focus of the conversation was new voting machines that counties are required to obtain prior to April 2020. Most counties are in the process of selecting their machines, which must have an auditable paper trail in order to comply with a federal court consent agreement. Some counties will be able to do a trial run with their machines for this fall’s municipal general election, ahead of the 2020 races. Other topics included voting reforms that are part of current or pending legislation which would help to streamline the voting process or save counties money.
Guest speakers for the discussion were CCAP Executive Director Doug Hill, Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz and Lehigh County Election Director Tim Benyo.
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Helping to Put More Domestic Abusers Behind Bars
Continuing the commitment to protecting crime victims, the House this week approved a bill to ensure victims of strangulation get the justice they deserve.
Prior to a 2016 law, strangulation could only be charged as a misdemeanor assault in Pennsylvania. Act 111 made it a criminal offense, and according to law enforcement officials across the state, the law has helped put more domestic abusers behind bars.
House Bill 854 builds on that progress by fully incorporating strangulation into our laws, ensuring any prior strangulation conviction will be recognized and considered in subsequent cases.
Passing this bill continues the push by House Republicans to protect the victims of crime. You can learn more about House Republicans protecting victims here.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
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Pension Forfeiture for Sex Offenses
Working to ensure public officials and employees are held fully accountable for their actions, the House approved legislation this week that would force them to forfeit their taxpayer-funded pensions if they are convicted of committing a sexual offense.
The bill builds on Act 1 of 2019, which requires any public official who is convicted of a felony to forfeit his or her pension.
Under House Bill 991, public employees and officials – including elected officials – would lose their pension if convicted of offenses such as indecent assault, indecent exposure or unlawful dissemination of an intimate image (commonly referred to as revenge porn).
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
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April is ‘Donate Life Month’
April 2019 is “Donate Life Month” in Pennsylvania.
In Pennsylvania, about 8,000 people are on the organ donation waiting list and, on average, every 18 hours one of them will die waiting for the call that never comes.
The encouraging news is that more people are making the decision to “donate life.” About 4.7 million Pennsylvanians have said yes to organ and tissue donation by adding the donor designation on their driver’s license. More than 138 million Americans are registered donors.
In addition, Pennsylvania driver’s license and ID card holders can support organ donation programs with a voluntary donation of $3 at the time of application or renewal. To date, nearly $14 million has been generously donated to the fund.
More information is available at donatelifepa.org.
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Happy Passover and Happy Easter
I want to wish everyone observing the Passover Seder at sundown this Friday the blessings of health and peace Passover you and yours this season.
I want to also wish everyone celebrating Easter this weekend peace, love and to have a blessed and holy Easter.
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| Office Locations |
2030 Center Street, Northampton, PA 18067 | Phone: 610-502-2701
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Slatington Borough Hall, 125 S. Walnut Street, First Floor, Slatington, PA 18080 | Phone: 610-760-9805
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402A Irvis Office, PO Box 202183. Harrisburg, PA 17120-2183 | (717) 772-5398
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| Email Address: ZMako@pahousegop.com |
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