Here you will find audio clips about important events that have taken place during the current and past Legislative Sessions. en Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST HouseRep RSS v1.0 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Download Story :50 | Download Bite :26

Lawmakers met in Harrisburg this week to discuss a transportation funding proposal put forth by the Rendell Administration that calls for raising $1 billion in taxes and fees to fill a shortfall in state money for highway maintenance and construction. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield and Elk), said lawmakers want to know that the state highway funding now in the pipeline is being spent effectively before considering tax increases. Chuck Nichols reports ... storiy and stand alone bite available.

]]> Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:35:00 EST Download Story :46 | Download Bite :24

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. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield & Elk) said he could not support this budget plan because it contained too much spending and depends too heavily on uncertain Federal revenues. Mike Davies Reports – Story and Bite available

]]> Thu, 01 Jul 2010 02:40:00 EST Download Story :56 | Download Bite :27

Taxpayers and lawmakers joined together for the annual Pennsylvania State Capitol Taxpayers Protest Tuesday in Harrisburg. Speaking at the event were representatives of more than 10 taxpayer groups who spoke in opposition to the budget plan put forth by the Rendell Administration to increase state spending by more than $1 billion and boost taxes to cover skyrocketing state deficits. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield & Elk) said he feels an increase in taxation would further damage the economy and hurt Pennsylvania working families. Chuck Nichols Reports - Story and Bite available.

]]> Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:32:00 EST Download Story :44 | Download Bite :22

Hundreds of Pennsylvania citizens rallied on the Capitol steps in Harrisburg on Monday for the Pennsylvania Liberty March in support of the constitutional right to opt out of newly passed federal health care mandates. Rep. Matt Gabler (R- Clearfield & Elk) said he supports efforts by Republican lawmakers to protect the rights of Pennsylvanians to choose their own health care plan. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:55:00 EST Download Story :58 | Download Bite :33

Local lawmakers are reminding citizens in rural areas of Pennsylvania who use post office boxes or other means of receiving mail that they may face the possibility of not being counted in this year’s US Census. State Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Clearfield/Elk) said the residents of his legislative district need to know that a telephone service is available for anyone who did not receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:22:00 EST Download Story :45 | Download Bite :21

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. Matt Gabler (R-Elk, Clearfield) said the rejection of the tolling plan will rejuvenate the economy in the area. Chuck Nichols reports... story and bite available.

]]> Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:44:00 EST Download Story :58 | Download Bite :34

After months of deliberation, Federal transportation officials have once again rejected the application to impose tolls on Interstate 80, put forth by the PA Turnpike Commission and PennDOT last year. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk, Clearfield) said that he feels this was an appropriate decicion by federal regulators and that it is good news for communities along the I-80 corridor. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.

]]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:30:00 EST Download Story :48 | Download Bite :24

After months of silent deliberation, Federal transportation officials may be nearing a decision on the pending application to impose tolls on I-80 put forth last year by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and PennDOT. Representative Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said that he remains optimistic that a decision by federal regulators will bring good news to those Pennsylvania communities that depend on the free flow of traffic on I-80 for their economic well being. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:17:00 EST Download Story :55 | Download Bite :38

A group of Pennsylvania lawmakers headed to Washington, D.C. on Thursday to voice their concerns to the Federal Highway Administration about Pennsylvania’s application to toll Interstate 80. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk, Clearfield) said that he plans to highlight several factors that should lead to the rejection of the application. Chuck Nichols Reports - Story and Bite available.

]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST Download Story :46 | Download Bite :23

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. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said project labor agreements could be bad news for both taxpayers and the overwhelming majority of non-union construction workers and contractors in Pennsylvania who would be cut out of publicly funded projects. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available.

]]> Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:47:00 EST Download Story :59 | Download Bite :32

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. Matt Gabler (R-Elk, Clearfield) said that recent allegations of fraud and corruption illustrate that the Turnpike Commission has no business handling tolling on I-80 and should be eliminated. Chuck Nichols Reports – Story and Bite available.

]]> Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:16:00 EST Download Story :53 | Download Bite :28

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. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said legislators are concerned because the new application for tolling appears to be based on financial analysis done by a firm with no experience in transportation issues. Mike Davies reports...

]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:39:00 EST Download Story :60 | Download Bite :34

An application to toll Interstate 80 has once again been submitted to the Federal Highway Administration by PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The Highway Administration had previously denied Pennsylvania’s application due to a lack of documentation over the potential distribution of funds gathered from tolls. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk, Clearfield) said that it is wasteful to re-apply for permission to toll I-80 when the proposal clearly fails to meet federal standards. Chuck Nichols Reports - Story and Bite available.

]]> Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:49:00 EST Download Story :55 | Download Bite :38

Efforts are ongoing to renew the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's application to the Federal Highway Adminsitration to impose tolling on Interstate 80. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk, Clearfield) said he and other northern Pennsylvania lawmakers continue to oppose the tolling plan. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.

]]> Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:58:00 EST Download Story :53 | Download Bite :29

As lawmakers in Harrisburg wait for the final details on the latest state budget deal, many are expressing disappointment with the general outline of the spending plan announced late last week. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said information is scarce, but he is particularly concerned with how proposed tax increases on small games of chance may hurt local service organizations like fire and emergency services companies. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:15:00 EST Download Story :53 | Download Bite :31

A new $27.9 billion budget compromise was announced Friday in Harrisburg that appears to have support from both Senate Republicans and House Democrats, but some lawmakers have concerns about the details of the plan. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said he is worried about the amount of state spending and the taxes that will be required to support this budget proposal. Mike Davies reports...

]]> Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:35:00 EST Download Story :45 | Download Bite :23

As the state budget standoff continues in Harrisburg, House Republican lawmakers are actually putting forth new budget legislation designed to overcome many of the shortcomings of previous bills. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said the new proposal from House Republicans is a solution that will offer relief to those suffering from the Governor’s blue line vetoes while protecting Pennsylvania taxpayers. Mike Davies Reports – Story and Bite available.

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:02:00 EST Download Story :53 | Download Bite :31

County social service agencies and state supported daycare programs will be among the first to be affected by Governor Rendell’s use of the line item veto as a tool in this year’s state budget battle. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said the governor is using targeted cuts to local social service programs as a tactic to build support for his plan to increase state taxes. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:23:00 EST Download Story :64 | Download Bite :30

While the approval of a state budget this week ensured that most state workers will receive paychecks sometime in the near future, some in Harrisburg got their back paychecks upfront. House Democrat lawmakers were issued their checks on Tuesday immediately following the vote on the stopgap budget bill, and Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said he feels the rush by House Democrats to pay members of their caucus sends the wrong message at a time of economic hardship... Rep. Gabler and other Republican lawmakers will not be receiving their back pay until checks go out to state workers sometime next week. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST Download Story :57 | Download Bite :34

As lawmakers in Harrisburg grapple with the state budget, many are discovering that taxpayers in their school districts are actually the big losers under the budget plan put forth by Governor Rendell and House Democrats. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said local taxpayers need to directly compare the amount of “new funding” their schools would receive from the Governor’s proposal to the amount they would pay in higher state income taxes, to see the real story. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:35:00 EST Download Story :48 | Download Bite :32

Lawmakers are calling for the passage of temporary funding measures to allow thousands of state workers to receive paychecks during the current budget stalemate. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk, Clearfield) said state workers should be paid while the details of the budget are hammered out. Chuck Nichols Reports - Story and Bite available.

]]> Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:48:00 EST Download Story :51 | Download Bite :25

Debate on how to produce a balanced state budget is heating up in Harrisburg with House Republicans recently unveiling their plan that calls for no state tax increases and modest across the board spending reductions in many state programs. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said he is hopeful the $27.3 billion budget proposal that funds vital services without raising taxes will receive consideration as an amendment during budget discussions this week. Mike Davies reports...

]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST Download Story :54 | Download Bite :28

House Republican lawmakers celebrated a partial victory in the state budget battle on Thursday as Republican Leader Sam Smith declared the defeat of Governor Rendell’s proposed personal income tax hike. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said House Republicans are pleased with the victory, but disappointed that Democrat leadership has adjourned the House for the weekend.

]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:02:00 EST Download Story :44 | Download Bite :27

As Pennsylvania begins another fiscal year without a spending plan, Governor Rendell and Republican lawmakers remain at odds over the Governor’s insistence on higher spending and increased taxation despite the current economic situation. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) joined a large number of Republican Lawmakers in signing a pledge to not support any increase in state income taxes. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.

]]> Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:37:00 EST Download Story :52 | Download Bite :28

As the state begins another year without a spending plan, lawmakers in Harrisburg are expressing concern that House Democrats are continuing to refuse to bring the Governor’s budget plan to the House floor for a vote. Rep. Matt Gabler (R-Elk & Clearfield) said the Governor’s failure to negotiate on reducing state spending and insistence on increasing taxes is causing the delay in consideration of a new state budget. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.

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