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Boback conducts hearing on restructuring of DMVA and veterans programs

Times Leader - 10/25/2021

Oct. 25—WILKES-BARRE — Rep. Karen Boback, majority chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, this week conducted a public hearing highlighting the potential restructuring of the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) and certain programs that the department administers.

"As majority chairman, I brought the committee together to have a discussion about legislation we will be bringing forth to benefit veterans across the Commonwealth," said Boback, R-Harveys Lake. "Among the legislative proposals we discussed, was amending the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program, to assist more veterans and their families; creating a veterans lottery ticket to fund elderly day care program; establishing a staff judge advocate at the DMVA; and reforming the Pennsylvania State Veterans Commission."

Boback said after talking to many constituents throughout not only her legislative district but across our Commonwealth, she realized the benefit the veterans lottery ticket program would create for Pennsylvania veterans, including creating a community-based palliative care program for them.

"I am eager to work alongside our House and Senate colleagues, including our department and agency counterparts who were willing to testify before the committee to create further programs that would continue to assist our veterans," noted Boback.

—House Bill 910 introduced by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh/Berks), House Bill 1815 introduced by Rep. Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery) and House Bill 1953 introduced by Rep. Chris Sainato (D- Lawrence) would amend the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption Program.

—House Bill 1691, introduced by Rep. Boback, would establish an instant Pennsylvania lottery ticket for veterans to help fund an elderly veteran's day care program in addition to the Veterans Trust Fund for veterans programs and benefits.

—House Bill 1938, introduced by Rep. Craig Williams (R-Chester/Delaware), amends Title 51, to require the DMVA general counsel to have Judge Advocate General experience.

—House Bill 1972, introduced by Boback, would establish an adult day care program to be known as "Community-Based Palliative Care" within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

—House Bill 1978, introduced by Pennycuick, amends Title 51, by altering the membership criteria for the Pennsylvania State Veterans' Commission.

Rep. Mullery lauds governor for urging

passage of unemployment compensation bill

State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, issued the following statement today in response to Gov. Tom Wolf calling for the legislature's urgent passage of H.B. 549, Mullery's unemployment compensation legislation.

"I am encouraged to hear the governor's support and call for lawmakers to pass this important bill to make critical improvements and eliminate the roadblocks thousands of Pennsylvanians are continuing to face when applying for their benefits," Mullery said. "These are benefits they are rightfully entitled to and are needed as a means of financial support while searching for a new job. It's money to put food on the table and pay bills, yet these payments continue to be delayed and frustrations continue to mount.

"While we approach another legislative session week, it appears quite clear that the majority party once again seems more about appeasing special interest groups as opposed to supporting the hardworking people of Pennsylvania. Fixing the unemployment compensation system has bipartisan support, and we are past time of playing political games. People are struggling, people are hurting, and they need access to the benefits they're entitled to fast and efficiently.

Mullery is the Democratic chairman of the PA House Labor & Industry Committee and introduced the legislation earlier this session. He said he is optimistic that it will gain additional support in the current session.

The governor announced his support for H.B. 549 while discussing his executive order at a news conference Thursday in Pittsburgh. In addition to urging passage of Mullery's legislation, the governor's executive order requires companies that receive grants from the Governors' Action Team to provide their employees with paid sick leave; calls on legislators to pass legislation guaranteeing paid sick leave for all PA workers; and calls on lawmakers to pass legislation that would raise the minimum wage.

Mullery reminds residents of

paper shredding event Saturday

Mullery is reminding area residents his free paper shredding event to safely dispose of their unwanted and personal documents is this weekend.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 at Crestwood High School, 281 South Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top.

"Only throwing out documents that contain personal information gives thieves easy opportunities to access checking accounts and commit identity theft," Mullery said. "Shredding documents before they're discarded will add extra security and peace of mind that your information stays safe."

Mullery said this will be a drive-thru shredding event. Residents are asked to place items in the back of their vehicles to be removed by a staff member and then wait in their vehicles for the boxes or bags to be returned.

Common types of unwanted items for shredding include credit card statements, credit card applications, bank and investment statements, canceled checks, income tax information, insurance and health records, and retirement or pension fund information.

This event is only for residential documents. Business documents will not be accepted.

Documents will be shredded on site.

For more information, residents may call Mullery's Nanticoke office at 570-740-7031.

Sen. Baker wants to limit influence

of lobbyists, political consultants

Senator Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, this week announced that she is working with her Senate colleagues to implement new transparency and ethical standards for lobbyists and political consultants in order to limit their level of influence in state government.

Specifically, Baker is advancing legislation (SB 803) to prevent lobbyists from also being registered as political consultants. Additionally, the measure would prohibit a political consultant from lobbying a state official who was a client for the remainder of the term for which consulting services were provided.

"There is broad agreement on the need for substantial ethical reforms in state government, and a primary concern of good government advocates is the increasing blurring of the distinction between political campaigns and policy making." Baker said. "By establishing a standard of practice on the part of public officials and those seeking to influence them, we strengthen the firewalls between campaign activities and government service, and ensure the public interest is not compromised by the conflicted activities of outside interests."

Other bills contained within the reform package include:

—Senate Bill 801, sponsored by Sen. Bob Mensch (R-24), would require lobbyists to register any clients seeking state financial assistance or grants and prohibit kick-backs and inducements for referrals or performance bonuses for a successful application for taxpayer-funded grants.

—Senate Bill 802, sponsored by Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), would prohibit any state entity from hiring an outside lobbyist or political consultant to lobby any branch of government. The bill would also prohibit former lobbyists who become employees of the General Assembly from being lobbied by their previous colleagues for one year after separation from employment. This would prevent the revolving door of individuals leaving a lobbying firm to join the legislature and immediately being influenced by their former coworkers.

—Senate Bill 804, sponsored by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson (R-6), would require all registered lobbyists to complete mandatory annual ethics training developed by the Department of State.

Earlier this year, Senator Baker renewed her push for effective ethics reform by introducing bills to ban cash and other gifts to legislators, public officials, and public employees.

"I have long believed that a gift ban is the simplest and most immediate reform we can put in place to counteract undue special interest influence on the legislative process," said Baker. "It is impossible to erase the suspicion that gifts provide the giver greater access and influence than the ordinary citizen possesses. This an essential step to begin restoring public confidence in our work."

Rep. Toohil lauds state investment in

J.J. Ferrara Performing Arts Center

Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, recently visited with members of Pennsylvania Theatre of the Performing Arts (PTPA) in Hazleton, where a state grant she helped to secure will fund renovations to the organization's J.J. Ferrara Performing Arts Center.

In July, PTPA was awarded a Local Share Account (LSA) grant in the amount of $244,176 that was also supported by Sen. John Yudichak, I-Swoyersville. Hazleton's grant applications were submitted following their approval by city council.

"The arts play a critical role in the cultural health of any thriving community, and we are fortunate PTPA is dedicated to doing just that in the greater Hazleton area," Toohil said. "I was happy to advocate on behalf of PTPA's grant application to ensure they have a first-rate facility to continue their mission of enriching our lives through their excellent local productions."

The funding will go toward repairing the center's water-damaged ceilings, replacing worn carpeting and flooring, and painting the building's interior and exterior. In addition, new seating, curtains and signage are to be installed, and the lobby and bathrooms will be made ADA-compliant.

The J.J. Ferrara Performing Arts Center is located at 212 W. Broad St.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.

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