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In this Update:

• Shapiro’s Automatic Voter Registration Scheme is Rigged Assault Against Transparent and Secure Elections
• Senate Votes to Streamline and Increase School Safety Measures
• Tax Seminars Held Virtually and Across PA
• Grants Available to Increase Economic Benefits Boaters Offer PA Communities
• Yom Kippur Begins Sunday

Shapiro’s Automatic Voter Registration Scheme is Rigged Assault Against Transparent and Secure Elections 

Honest, transparent and secure elections remain the cornerstone of our constitutional republic.

Sadly, by unilaterally imposing automatic voter registration through PennDOT, Gov. Josh Shapiro has once again demonstrated his ignorance of achieving genuine election integrity and his inability to work with the legislature as required by the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Circumventing the legislature – and the will of the people – is a blatant act of defiance against our constitutional republic.

It bypasses the checks and balances that are in place to safeguard the interests of all citizens.

Voting is a right reserved for properly documented citizens of our state, and with the flood of people crossing our open borders under the Biden administration, we must be able to ensure those who participate in our voting process are who they say they are.

This is precisely why it is so important to require everyone to show valid identification at the time of voting.

As chairman of the Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee, I will continue to explore all available options to resist this and all other unilateral efforts by the governor to cancel out legitimate legislative review and policy implementation.

You can read my official statement here.

Senate Votes to Streamline and Increase School Safety Measures

This week, the Senate passed House Bill 27 to more effectively keep Pennsylvania children safe at school by streamlining and increasing school safety measures.

House Bill 27 would consolidate school safety programs and operations under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) and create a new Executive Committee under PCCD to review school safety issues and to identify current and emerging trends.

The bill would also ensure schools and counties can develop best practices for emergency response by developing a safe schools collaborative, release $100 million that was included in the 2023-24 state budget for K-12 mental health programs and provide greater flexibility for school districts experiencing shortages of substitute teachers. Read More 

Tax Seminars Held Virtually and Across PA

Tax professionals can learn about changes to state tax laws and policies during one-day seminars offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue held across the state and virtually.

The tax seminars will educate tax professionals on Personal Income Tax, sales tax corporate taxes, compliance initiatives and using the department’s website to establish tax accounts for new businesses, file tax returns and pay state taxes.

Find a local or virtual seminar here.

Grants Available to Increase Economic Benefits Boaters Offer PA Communities

Communities can apply now for grants to enhance the economic and social benefits of providing convenient boating access along their waterways. Townships, boroughs, municipal and county governments, and nonprofit groups may apply. Private businesses and service clubs are not eligible.

Applicants can seek grants for site acquisition, development, expansion, prevention of the spread of aquatic invasive species and rehabilitation of recreational boat access facilities. Eligible construction projects may include boat ramps, courtesy floats, restrooms, access roads, parking areas and signs. Funds may also be used to make facilities ADA compliant.

While the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will accept applications from anywhere in the commonwealth, special consideration will be given to projects that provide public boating access in the Delaware River watershed. Learn more or apply online by Dec. 30.

Yom Kippur Begins Sunday

Yom Kippur – the holiest day on the Jewish calendar – begins at nightfall on Sunday, Sept. 24. The Day of Atonement, which ends the following day at nightfall, is spent fasting, praying and seeking forgiveness.

I wish everyone who observes this important holiday a meaningful Yom Kippur. May you be sealed in the Book of Life.

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