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Capitol Report
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#Listrak\DateStampLong#
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Shapiro’s Spending is Not Sustainable
The 2026-27 state budget process got underway this week when Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his budget address before a joint session of the General Assembly on Tuesday.
The governor and House Democrats talk a lot about affordability, yet they continue to spend more than the Commonwealth brings in through revenue. What does the average household do? They make cuts! The average taxpayer can’t run their household like this, and neither should the Commonwealth.
The $53.26 billion proposal represents an increase of $2.72 billion, or 5.4%, over the current year’s spending. With current law revenues projected to increase by just 1.9%, the governor is once again looking to balance his budget in part with a one-time revenue source by using nearly 60% ($4.58 billion) from the Rainy Day Fund.
To generate additional revenue, the governor is also recycling his proposals to legalize and tax recreational marijuana, and to tax skill games at a rate of more than 50%.
The budget proposed by the governor is his ideal plan to begin negotiations with the General Assembly and is not the final enacted budget. In the coming weeks, the House and Senate Appropriations committees will each conduct hearings taking a closer look at the details of the plan. The House hearings get underway on Monday, Feb. 23, with the Judiciary and Department of Corrections.
Additional information about the governor’s proposal is available at PABudget.com.
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New District Video!
Last year, my team and I paid a visit to the historic Silk Mill in Hawley. Check it out below!
Click here to watch the video.
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Think Spring! Trout Stocking Schedule Available
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced its 2026 trout stocking schedule is now available online and on the FishBoatPA mobile app.
The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 684 streams and 130 lakes open to public angling. Stocking is set to begin the week of Feb. 16 in advance of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 28, and the statewide opening day of trout season on Saturday, April 4.
The 2026 adult trout stocking schedule is searchable by county; lists the waterways in alphabetical order; and indicates stocking dates, meeting locations for volunteers and the species of trout that will be stocked at each location.
Click here for additional details about stocking and visit www.fishandboat.com for information about fishing licenses and permits.
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Pay Attention to Your Heart Health; Wear Red for Women Friday!
February is American Heart Month, a time when all people are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health. Currently, one out of every five deaths in the United States is due to heart disease.
Today, Friday, Feb. 6, is also National Wear Red Day, a campaign aimed at raising awareness that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women.
To protect yourself, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people to choose healthy foods and drinks, keep a healthy weight, get regular physical activity and don’t smoke. People should also take charge of medical conditions that could increase their risk of heart disease, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Learn more about heart disease and how to protect yourself here.
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Community Conservation Partnerships Program Now Accepting Grant Applications
Communities across Pennsylvania can now apply for state grants to fund parks, recreation and conservation projects, as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) opens its latest round of Community Conservation Partnerships Program funding. Applications are open now through April 30 at 4 p.m.
Eligible applicants include county and municipal governments, municipal agencies and nonprofit organizations. The grants fund projects such as park and recreation projects, conservation planning, trail planning, land and river conservation, community and streamside tree planting, and more.
Grant applications are only accepted through DCNR’s Grants Customer Service Portal.
Before starting an application, potential applicants should contact a regional advisor who serves the county where their project will be located. Contact information is available on the Regional Staff Assignment map (PDF).
Learn more here.
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Students Invited to Participate in Lyme Disease Awareness Campaign
Pennsylvania students in first through sixth grades are invited to enter the 2026 Lyme Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”
The annual contest helps students, Scout troops and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where they live, how to prevent bites and how to remove ticks that do bite.
Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation, which further emphasizes the importance of teaching children about tick awareness and prevention measures.
The deadline for entries is Friday, March 13. Click here for details.
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District Happenings
Be sure to check out my Facebook page for a recap of district events and celebrations, including:
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Enjoying the afternoon at Wally Ice Fest
in Newfoundland. |
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| Visiting Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park. |
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Upcoming District Events
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