Rep. Stevenson Comments on Passage of State Budget - 6/30/2010
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The Pennsylvania House worked into the evening on Wednesday to pass an on-time state budget for the upcoming fiscal year and lawmakers offered their assessment of the $28 billion compromise spending plan. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Butler & Mercer) said this year’s budget looks good on the surface but he has concerns about the plan depending on uncertain Federal revenues. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available.
Rep. Stevenson Comments on Transportation Funding Challenges at Opening of Special Session - 5/5/2010
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Transportation funding will be the topic of a special session of the state legislature, with Governor Rendell addressing lawmakers on Tuesday to lay out some of the options Pennsylvania faces to fill the $2 billion revenue hole created by the failure of the I-80 tolling plan. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Butler & Mercer) said he feels lawmakers in the special session need to look at alternatives that do not place the full burden for transportation funding on the backs of Pennsylvania taxpayers. Mike Davies reports ...
Rep. Stevenson Comments on Federal Rejection of I-80 Tolling Plan - 4/7/2010
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Federal transportation officials have once again rejected the application to impose tolls on Interstate 80, put forth by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PennDOT. Lawmakers who opposed the plan that would have crippled economic activity along the I-80 corridor are praising the Federal Highway Administration for their decision. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Mercer, Butler) said that this decision adhered to the letter of the law, and was also the right move to protect the people who live along I-80. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.
Rep. Stevenson Comments on Hearing to Investigate Public Private Partnerships as Way to Fund Infrastructure Improvements - 4/6/2010
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As public funding options for infrastructure repair and replacement in PA become harder to find, House Republican Lawmakers are seeking alternatives that may help take some of the burden off taxpayers. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Mercer, Butler) co-chaired a hearing on Tuesday in Grove City to explore the use of Public Private Partnerships that could harness the financial resources necessary to address some of the infrastructure projects that state government cannot afford to support. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.
Rep. Stevenson Comments on Opposition to Gaming Expansion Bill - 1/6/2010
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A conference committee compromise version of gaming expansion legislation was narrowly approved Wednesday by the state House. The bill would legalize table gaming at the state’s existing slots casinos and would create at least one additional resort gaming license in the future. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Butler & Mercer) said he feels the bill fails to provide needed reforms to gaming oversight in Pennsylvania. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.
Rep. Stevenson Says PLA's Unfair to Non-Union Contractors & Construction Workers - 12/10/2009
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A public hearing on the growing use of project labor agreements to allow only union workers on publicly funded projects was held by House Republican lawmakers this week in Harrisburg. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Butler & Mercer) said project labor agreements create unfair situation for the overwhelming majority of non-union contractors and their workers, who would be cut out of publicly funded projects. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.
Rep. Stevenson Comments on Legislation to Eliminate PA Turnpike Commission - 12/8/2009
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Legislation that would eliminate the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and fold its responsibilities into the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has been introduced in Harrisburg. The Turnpike Commission has recently come under investigation for a series of ethically questionable circumstances which have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Mercer) said that the Turnpike Commission’s inability to handle its current responsibilities demonstrates why it should have nothing to do with the tolling of I-80. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available.
Rep. Stevenson Comments on Opposition to I-80 Tolling Plan - 11/19/2009
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House lawmakers reacted on Wednesday to testimony about efforts by the Rendell Administration and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to reapply to the federal government for the right to institute tolling on I-80. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Butler & Mercer) said legislators are deeply concerned that testimony has revealed flaws in the I-80 toll plan and indicates the route may not be a good candidate for conversion to a toll road. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available
Rep. Stevenson Comments on Meeting of House/Senate Conference Committee on Budget - 7/29/2009
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The joint House/Senate conference committee on the state budget met for the first time in Harrisburg on Wednesday, in an effort to achieve a compromise on the spending plan, which is nearly a month overdue. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Mercer) said that he hopes that the conference committee will recognize that a tax increase is not a realistic option during budget negotiations. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available.
Rep. Stevenson Says Democrats Cut All Higher Ed Funding as Tactic in Budget Battle - 7/13/2009
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In a surprise move House Democrats introduced a last minute amendment to the Governor’s budget bill on Monday that would eliminate $1.2 billion in state funding for higher education and college’s from Pennsylvania’s state budget. Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-Butler & Merer) a member of the Appropriations Committee, said he feels this surprise funding cut is an unfair tactic by House Democrats to scare lawmakers into supporting tax increases. Mike Davies reports...