Recent News
E-news Updates – November 1, 2025
In this Update: Indiana County Senior Expo Western PA School for the Deaf Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center Bill Requiring Parental Notification of School Weapons Incidents Set to Become Law New Protections Against Telemarketers Approved by Senate Senate Votes to Eliminate Unnecessary Boards and Commissions Make Your Voice Heard Tuesday on Election Day Internship Opportunity for […] [Read More]
E-news Updates – October 25, 2025
In this Update: Senate Approves State Budget that Funds Essential Services Without Raising Taxes Statement on the Tragic Incident on Philadelphia Street in Indiana Indiana County Veteran Bridge Designation Jefferson County Senior Expo Senate Again Acts to Repeal RGGI Electricity Tax Landmark Bill to Modernize PA’s Broken Permitting Process Approved by Senate Tuesday is the […] [Read More]
State Senate Passes Bill to Repeal RGGI Electricity Tax
Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41) today, highlighted the passage of bipartisan legislation preventing a new electricity tax by repealing Pennsylvania’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Senate Bill 1068 was approved by a vote of 33-17. [Read More]
Senate Approves State Budget that Funds Essential Services Without Raising Taxes
For the second time this year, Senate Republicans approved a state budget that respects taxpayers and protects the financial stability of our commonwealth while ensuring that counties, school districts, and other state government partners receive needed funding, said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R-39), Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-41) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Scott Martin (R-13). [Read More]
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𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐀 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐟
During Senate Session this week, I had the distinct pleasure of introducing a fine young man from my district.
Carson Granado is a 7th grade student at the Western PA School for the Deaf and is from the Apollo area. Carson likes his school, enjoys math, and aspires to be an aerospace engineer.
It was wonderful to meet Carson, his classmates, and teachers during their time at the Capitol. I greatly appreciate you all taking the time to travel to Harrisburg!
𝐏𝐀𝐀𝐌𝐀 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
I was honored to serve as a keynote speaker during at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Association of Asphalt Material Applicators (PAAMA) held in Harrisburg.
We discussed budgetary issues as well as the importance of maintaining Pennsylvania’s road #infastructure network and other #economic issues impacting our Commonwealth.
It was a pleasure to spend time with this great group which included constituent, Andy Firment. My thanks to Andy, and to Rex Eberly, PAAMA Executive Director, for inviting me.
🛑 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐨 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧
Gov. Shapiro is focused on visiting other states when PA still needs a budget. It’s time to end the Shapiro Shutdown.
All it takes is one day and one vote for House Democrats and the Governor to join us to enact the budget passed by the Senate last week.
For the second time, @pasenategop approved a 2025-26 state budget that respects #taxpayers and protects the financial stability of our commonwealth while ensuring that #counties, #school districts, and other state government partners receive needed funding.
𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 🇺🇸
Private First Class, John Tabacsko was honored last week with a memorial designation in his name on the bridge carrying State Route 1053 over the south branch of Bear Run in Banks Township, Indiana County.
PFC Tabacsko was born on March 17, 1922 in Sidney within Banks Township and was one of nine children. He attended Lochvale Grade School and graduated with the Class of 1938. John enlisted in the United States Army on August 9, 1942 and reported for duty to New Cumberland, PA. He was transferred to Camp Gordon, Georgia where he trained with the 472nd Field Artillery Battalion.
In October 1944, Private Tabacsko landed in the Phillipines and took part in several major battles of the Pacific Theater. He was killed in action on March 24, 1945 while serving with his unit on Lozon Island. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, Shirley and their young son, John – both whom have since passed. His youngest sister, Margaret Clawson remains a living link to his memory at the age of 92. We are forever indebted to PFC Tabacsko and his family for his service and sacrifice for our great country.
𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐬
HARRISBURG – For the second time this year, Senate Republicans approved a state budget that respects taxpayers and protects the financial stability of our commonwealth while ensuring that counties, school districts, and other state government partners receive needed funding.
The amended budget bill, Senate Bill 160, totals $47.9 billion, a responsible spending level that represents an increase of $300 million from the plan passed by the Senate in August. The new Senate budget plan continues to meet the Senate Republican requirement of imposing no tax hikes on Pennsylvania families while taking the added step of fully funding the commonwealth’s debt service and its share of school employees’ retirement. These steps will ensure Pennsylvania’s credit rating remains strong and the school employees’ pension system meets its obligation to current and retired teachers.
Leading by example, the Senate-passed budget includes a 5% cut in spending for the General Assembly, reflecting the Senate Republican priority of drawing down excess reserves and right-sizing legislative spending.
“Today, all 27 Senate Republicans advanced a state budget for a second time this year,” Pittman said. “The budget pays the bills, pays our obligations, fulfills pension debt services, and relieves the immediate crisis in front of us. In one day and with one vote from House Democrats, this budget can get to the governor’s desk. The Democrats’ budget impasse should never have happened, and those who rely on government services and programs should not be facing hardship. Senate Republicans have and will continue to stand up for taxpayers and families. We welcome the governor and House Democrats to come back to Harrisburg and join us to enact this budget into law.”
𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐏𝐀 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
I was honored to serve as a keynote speaker at the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association`s Fall Energy Conference. We discussed several topics which included the importance of ensuring Pennsylvania’s #energy independence, funding for #infrastructure projects and other economic issues impacting our Commonwealth.
It was a pleasure to spend time with this great group of folks. My thanks to constituent, Andy Bradigan for inviting me.
𝐄𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲
I had the privilege of attending an #EagleScout ceremony for Andrew Beatty of Indiana County. Andrew is the son of Timothy Beatty and Darlene Brown and is a member of Troop 29 in Indiana. For his Eagle Scout #community service project, Andrew led a group in renovating and #landscaping flower beds at his mother’s church, Luther Chapel Luthern Church in Coral, PA.
Congratulations to Andrew on earning his Eagle Scout Award and best wishes in all your future endeavors!
📰 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 📰
HARRISBURG – Senator Joe Pittman (R-41) issued the following statement on the state budget:
“In July, when House Democrats came to the realization that Governor Shapiro’s $51.5 billion budget proposal for 2025-26 spent too much money, they sent the Senate a $50.6 billion version that was not agreed-to. Today, they sent yet another unagreed-to budget to the Senate, this one spending $50.25 billion. After months without a state budget, the latest act by the House has taken steps backwards, not forwards. With the state budget being due 100 days ago, it is long past time for Democrats to stop their games and to complete a responsible budget that doesn’t seek to spend billions more than we can afford by using one-time dollars.
“Pennsylvanians deserve a functioning government which respects hardworking taxpayers. What Democrats continuously fail to realize is that divided government requires true compromise. This means a final budget agreement cannot simply be a checkbook for their reckless spending but must be a reasonable plan, which also includes Republican policies to support families and foster greater #economicgrowth for #Pennsylvania. Ten years ago, the state budget spent just over $30 billion. The substantial budgetary increase over the last decade makes it clear that we must control the growth of our expenditures to prevent a fiscal calamity in the coming years.
“Until Democrats are willing to come to the table with a unified voice and a respect for the differences we have, we will remain at an impasse. The most prudent action for the House to take would be to immediately pass last year’s budget as the Senate did back on August 12, to get money flowing today. The only reason anyone who relies on government services and support is feeling negative impacts from the impasse is because of the Democrats’ unwillingness to put people above #politics.”
