House Agriculture & Rural Affairs

House Agriculture and Rural Affairs – 12:30 p.m. – Off the Floor

January 26, 2010, 1:33 pm

The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee met to consider HB 2139. This bill would establish the PA Agricultural Surplus System. The bill was reported after being amended twice. The Committee also received an update from a representative of the Department of Agriculture on the latest inspection of the Capitol Cafeteria. The members were told the cafeteria passed inspection but there were some violations found during the inspection. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story.

House Ag & State Government discuss repercussions of Capitol cafeteria health violations

January 25, 2010, 1:13 pm

This morning the House Agriculture and State Government committees held a joint hearing on food safety bill HB 174 and the consequences of the many health code violations found during a December 17th Ag Department inspection of the capitol cafeteria, which is run by Aramark. DGS Secretary Jim Creedon reported the trees planted around the cafeteria have been removed, and various holes capped off, which he believes will go a long way towards preventing future infestations. Aramark representative Bruce Walton also appeared before the committee to discuss why Aramark employees did not come forward to report the obvious presence of mice, and assure that such a situation will not be allowed to happen again. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

House Agriculture and Rural Affairs – 9:00am

October 22, 2009, 11:06 am

The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee held a hearing this morning on HB 1788 by Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster). The bill would allow for supplementation of local taxing authorities who would lose 10% of their assessed value due to preferential tax treatment from the implementation of the Clean and Green act. The Department of Agriculture, the PA School Boards Association, and two school superintendents gave testimony. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the story.

House Appropriations – Off the Floor

October 8, 2009, 2:39 pm

The committee voted unanimously to report as committed the following bills: HB 196, HB 933, HB 1592, HB 1641, SB 1095, and SB 1100. SB 1042 was passed over. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for more details.

House Appropriations – Off the Floor

October 7, 2009, 6:12 pm

The committee voted unanimously to report as amended a package of non-preferred appropriation bills including HB 1684, 1685, 1686, 1687, 1689, 1690, 1691, and 1704. The adopted amendments cut the appropriation in each of the bills. SB 1100 was unanimously reported as committed. Check the Capitol Toolbox later this evening for more details.

House Approp moves Table Games to floor

October 4, 2009, 2:55 pm

House Appropriations voted 18-14 to move gaming reform/table game bill SB 711 out of committee today. Democrat Greg Vitali joined Republicans in voting against the measure, while Republicans Mario Scavello and John Evans joined Democrats in voting for it. Check the Capitol Toolbox for the full story, as well as the fiscal note for SB 711 and copies of all amendments to it.

House Appropriations – Off the Floor

October 1, 2009, 2:17 pm

On a straight party line vote, the committee voted to report as amended HB 254 and HB 371. Both bills amend the Public Welfare Code. Minority Chairman Mario Civera (R-Delaware) accused the Democrats of shutting the Republicans out of the process. He noted that since both bills are on second consideration, adoptingÂ the amendments mean the legislation will be on third consideration when they are reported to the floor thus blocking any floor amendents. The spirit of bipartisanship returned when the committee voted unanimously to report as amended SB 369 which amends the Emergency and Law Enforcement Death Benefits Act to include paid firefighters, ambulance service and rescue squad members in the scope of individuals who are eligible to a one-time death benefit of $100,000. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.

House Appropriations – Off the Floor

September 17, 2009, 12:49 pm

The committee voted unanimously to report as committed HB 1531 which extends the sunset date for the tax refund check-off for the Military Family Relief Assistance Program. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.