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News You Can Use
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| New School Evaluation Tool Launches |
The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has launched the Future Ready PA Index, a new public-facing, one-stop location for comprehensive information and data on student and school success. The tool was developed with input from thousands of stakeholders.
The site measures schools in three main categories: the academic performance of students; if student progress is on track; and whether students graduate ready for college or to start a career and succeed.
The dashboard-like site is intended to be easy for parents to use and understand. Parents can search by district, school name, career and technical center and location. They can look at data for one school at a time or use the comparison feature, which allows them to view data side by side for up to eight schools.
To visit the site, click here.
To learn more about the information it contains, click here. |
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| Supporting Small Businesses |
With small businesses as the economic engines of our communities, Pennsylvania consumers are encouraged to shop small on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24.
According to the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center, there are nearly 1 million small businesses in Pennsylvania, which employ nearly half of the state’s workforce. Small firms make up 98.2 percent of the state’s employers.
Over the last legislative session, the House Republican Caucus has worked to enhance opportunities for small businesses and job creators in Pennsylvania by modernizing business laws, seeking to reduce burdensome and duplicative regulations, and fighting off harmful and unnecessary tax increases.
One of those measures, which is designed to help budding entrepreneurs, is the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop. This website, which was based upon legislation initiated in the House, seeks to assist entrepreneurs and businesses at all stages of development. It was launched earlier in 2018.
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Domestic Violence Protection Bill Ceremonially Signed
Earlier this week, I joined Gov. Tom Wolf, Sen. Tom Killion (R-Delaware) and dozens of advocates for the ceremonial signing of House Bill 2060, legislation I sponsored to better protect victims of domestic violence. The new law, now Act 79 of 2018, seeks to give victims of domestic violence a greater peace of mind, knowing that their alleged abuser will not have access to his or her firearms.
Thank you to everyone – colleagues and the hundreds of advocates who steadfastly helped advance this bipartisan, commonsense legislation into law.
Simply, this new law is a responsible way for convicted and proven abusers to relinquish their firearms sooner and to a non-related third party so that more people don’t tragically die from senseless domestic violence. Only individuals with a conviction of domestic violence or a final Protection from Abuse (PFA) order by a judge after completion of due process would fall under the new provisions. This law does not impact law-abiding gun owners in any way.
State’s Independent Fiscal Office Releases Long-Term Budget Look
The Independent Fiscal Office released a report on Friday indicating that the Commonwealth could face a potential budget imbalance of up to $1.71 billion in the upcoming fiscal year. The potential imbalance falls to $1.58 billion in Fiscal Year 2023-24 based on current policies.
The report also suggested that expenditures are expected to increase by $2.70 billion in FY 2019-20, which is roughly $1.70 billion more than the projected increase in net revenues. The factors driving the unusually large growth in expenditures in the budget year are associated with more than $1.0 billion in one-time funding sources used to balance the FY 2018-19 budget, as well as FY 2019-20 increases in state costs associated with health and human service programs.
The Independent Fiscal Office provides revenue projections for use in the state budget process along with impartial analysis of fiscal, economic and budgetary issues.
For more information, click here.
SEPTA Riders: Last Week to Obtain Senior Key Pass
For those of you who are in need of the SEPTA Key Senior Photo ID Card, please note that next week will be the last time seniors can apply for the card from my district office.
The SEPTA Key Card, which took effect Sept. 1, allows seniors to receive free rides on transit and Regional Rail.
Constituents will need to bring along a valid driver’s license or PA photo ID. A staffer will complete a short form and take a photo which will then be submitted to SEPTA for full processing.
Our office will be open Monday through Wednesday, but we will close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 22, and Friday, Nov. 23.
To receive a SEPTA Key Senior Photo ID Card, applicants must fill out an application and show one of the following forms of identification:
- Pennsylvania Driver/Non-Driver ID.
- Birth certificate or baptismal certificate.
- Yellow PACE Card (Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly).
- Statement of Age Verification from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
- Armed forces discharge/separation papers.
- Resident alien card or passport/naturalization papers.
For more information or questions about the SEPTA Key Senior Photo ID, visit http://www.septa.org/fares/discount/seniors-ride-free-info.html, or call SEPTA Customer Service at (215) 580-7800.
Happy Thanksgiving!
For nearly four centuries, Americans have come together in the spirit of thanksgiving. From the earliest traditions that began in Plymouth, Mass., to the first official national observance in 1863, families have gathered in November to celebrate bountiful harvests and all that has been given to them.
In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday on Nov. 22, state offices will be closed on Thursday, and my office(s) will also be closed on Friday, Nov. 23. PennDOT Driver License Centers will also be closed Nov. 22-23. If you are traveling, be sure to check www.511pa.com for the latest traffic and weather information.
From my family to yours, may you all have a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving.
Hunters Can Share Their Harvest
To help families, individuals and seniors who are in need, the Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) program has encouraged hunters from across the Commonwealth to share their deer harvest and provide thousands of pounds of venison.
The program partners with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Department of Agriculture and many other sportsmen and charitable organizations. Since 1991, HSH has distributed more than 1.2 million pounds of donated venison.
Hunters can donate all or part of a harvested deer by taking it to a participating processor, which will then distribute the ground venison to food banks and pantries.
In an average hunting season, the HSH program’s goal is to channel about 100,000 pounds of processed venison through the state’s 20 regional food banks, which then redistribute to more than 5,000 local provider charities such as food pantries, missions, homeless shelters and churches, as well as individual families.
To find a list of local processors or for more information, visit www.ShareDeer.org.
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| Office Locations |
| 1032 N. Easton Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902-1055 | Phone: (215) 489-2126 |
| 141 East Wing, PO Box 202143, Harrisburg PA 17120-2143 | Phone: (717) 772-1413 |
| Email: mquinn@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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