Bill O’Boyle: Wolf urges state to invest in seniors, individuals with disabilities

May 14—WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Tom Wolf this week called for the Pennsylvania General Assembly to immediately use a portion of the $1.7 billion in unspent American Rescue Plan Act dollars to help older adults and individuals with disabilities through property tax and rent rebates to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our commonwealth is sitting on billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief money that is meant to help our citizens and it is past time to use that money for its intended purpose — to improve the lives of Pennsylvanians," said Gov. Wolf. "For Pennsylvanians on a budget or a fixed income, inflation causing costs to go up on everything, can lead to painful decisions. Now, I am calling on Republican leaders in the General Assembly to take action to send those bills to my desk."

In February, Gov. Wolf proposed his $1.7 billion action plan, which includes a proposal to direct $204 million to provide property tax relief to Pennsylvanians by investing in the existing Property Tax Rent Rebate program. This investment would be a one-time bonus rebate to current program users, doubling existing rebates with an estimated 466,000 Pennsylvanians receiving an additional average rebate of $475.

Since its inception in 1971, the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program has delivered more than $7.1 billion to older adults and individuals with disabilities.

In addition to members of the General Assembly, AARP also provided its praise of the proposal.

"Everyone is paying more for nearly everything today — from prescription drugs to gas to housing but, the problem of inflation is hardest for those on fixed incomes," said AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh. "The very purpose of the American Rescue Plan Act is to provide flexible, emergency funding for state and local governments to effectively respond to the negative economic impacts created by the pandemic. AARP Pennsylvania is pleased to support this critical investment of American Rescue Plan Act dollars to support Property Tax Rent Rebate Program beneficiaries."

Toomey opposes attempt to expand abortion access

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley, this week voted in opposition to "the Democrats' extreme abortion bill."

"If approved, this radical legislation would expand abortion policy to new extremes by allowing access to abortion beyond what even Roe v. Wade permitted," Toomey said. "The vast majority of Americans support restrictions on abortion, yet the bill the Senate is considering today would allow an individual to obtain an abortion, as a practical matter, at any time for any reason up until the moment of birth. This partisan bill would also override many state laws in meaningful ways, endangering even the minimal health and safety standards enacted in Pennsylvania after the discovery of Kermit Gosnell's atrocities. This vote is a political stunt designed to further inflame heightened tensions around this issue and to appease the Democrats' radical base."

Toomey said the legislation would:

—Require states to allow abortions at any point in the pregnancy.

—Prohibit states from restricting abortions based on the sex or disability of the baby.

—Invalidate state parental notification or consent laws for minors seeking abortions.

—Override certain state laws that prohibit partial birth abortions.

—Exempt itself from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which limits government actions that place substantial burdens on an individual's religious exercise.

Toomey said due to the failure to reach the 60 vote threshold, this legislation failed to pass.

Treasurer Garrity announces 'PA 529 Day' promotion

Treasurer Stacy Garrity this week announced that the Pennsylvania Treasury Department is celebrating 529 Day throughout the month of May with a promotion that could put more than $40,000 into new PA 529 College and Career Savings Program accounts to boost education savings.

Pennsylvanians who open a new PA 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan (GSP) account in May will be automatically eligible to win a top award of $5,290 for their PA 529 GSP account, or one of 67 county-specific awards of $529 in PA 529 GSP account contributions. Only those with newly opened PA 529 GSP accounts will be eligible for awards, and official rules are available online at pa529.com/529day.

"I'm excited to offer this great incentive to motivate more families to start saving," Garrity said. "It's never too early or too late to start saving for your child's future education. By including 67 county-specific awards, we're ensuring that the impact is felt all across Pennsylvania. With PA 529, families enjoy big tax benefits while helping their child follow their dreams. Offering these awards will give their savings a big jump-start."

529 Day, celebrated every May 29, highlights the benefits of saving for post-secondary education with a 529 account — and Pennsylvania's PA 529 accounts are among the most highly-rated in the nation.

The PA 529 GSP is one of two savings plans offered by the PA 529 College and Career Savings Program. PA 529 plans have been helping families save and pay for post-secondary education for 30 years.

PA 529 GSP account earnings are based on college tuition inflation rates. Families can select from a variety of tuition levels from community colleges to Ivy League universities. Each credit saved at today's rates will cover a credit of tuition at tomorrow's prices — whether a child pursues post-secondary education in a few years, or in 18 years.

Saving with a PA 529 GSP account provides great tax benefits including state income tax deductions on contributions (up to $16,000 per beneficiary per year, $32,000 for married couples); tax-free growth on federal and Pennsylvania state income taxes; tax-free withdrawals for qualified expenses; and gift and inheritance tax benefits. Another advantage for PA 529 accounts is that assets do not affect eligibility for Pennsylvania state financial aid.

PA 529 accounts can be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, equipment and room and board at technical schools, apprenticeship programs, community colleges, and four-year colleges nationwide.

Keller resolution supports American oil, natural gas production

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Middleburg, and 20 of his House Republican colleagues this week introduced legislation to express their support for the development of American oil and natural gas, an industry that promotes national security and reduces energy costs for America and its allies around the world.

The resolution also highlights how the Biden administration — through legislative policy and executive orders — has weakened domestic energy producers and the nation's energy industry as a whole.

The lawmakers' calls for greater investments in American energy comes on the same day the average price of gas in the United States jumped to a new high of $4.37 a gallon. In April, inflation shot to 8.5%, Keller said.

"The Biden administration's constant attacks on American energy producers have resulted in a historic energy crisis and rising prices for American families," Keller said. "This resolution reaffirms that American oil and natural gas are the answer to lowering energy costs, curbing runaway inflation, and rebuilding America's strength at home and abroad."

PennDOT's 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan completed

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) this week announced the 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) to establish the priorities and critical transportation strategies to guide Pennsylvania's project investments.

"We are committed to the constant improvement of Pennsylvania's transportation system, and this plan helps us more effectively strategize investments in our transportation infrastructure and services," said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. "The LRTP symbolizes a down payment on a future that we can build together."

The LRTP represents a multi-modal approach to improve mobility, safety, fairness, resilience, and sustainability for moving people and goods throughout the commonwealth. The plan advances policies, goals and objectives while leveraging PennDOT's landmark PennDOT Connects initiative, a transportation project approach that enhances local engagement to improve transportation-project planning, design, and delivery.

The plan's goals and objectives will guide state and regional planning and project programming processes such as PennDOT's 12-Year Program, which includes a fiscally constrained list of funded projects that will be delivered over the next 12 years. The completed digital version of the plan allows the public and stakeholders to easily navigate to the content most relevant to their community's transportation needs.

The LRTP digital web-based plan and PDF version are both available to view at penndot.pa.gov/planning. The public's continued involvement in PennDOT's long range planning process is welcomed and appreciated. Ongoing feedback on the commonwealth's long-range transportation planning process can be provided at penndotplanning@pa.gov or via phone at 717-705-1478.

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