by Christin Brown | Enero 30, 2014 | News Releases
Philadelphia, Jan. 30, 2014 – Senate Democrats gathered in seven communities across Pennsylvania today to challenge Gov. Tom Corbett to produce a spending plan that is aligned with the needs of Pennsylvanians.
Sen. Christine Tartaglione joined Philadelphia senators here to highlight the negative impact of previous Corbett budgets and describe why the upcoming budget is so important.
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“Pennsylvania’s state budget is an identification of priorities and a strategy for investment,” Sen. Tartaglione said. “We can do better than what Gov. Corbett and his administration have provided.
Tartaglione and Senate Democrats said their budget priorities reflect needs shared by all Pennsylvanians, including job creation, expansion of health care through Medicaid, increasing the minimum wage, repairing the social safety net and restoring education funds.
“Under Gov. Corbett’s leadership, Pennsylvania has fallen to the bottom in job creation and government efficiency, and we must do a better job of identifying policy priorities,” she said. “Senate Democrats have concrete plans to move the state forward and our payment method does not involve a broad-based tax increase.”
Senate Democrats said they will push for the following in this budget:
- Creating jobs by funding targeted water and sewer rehabilitation projects, strengthening school-to-work programs and expanding community economic zones throughout the state;
- Investing in education with a $300 million boost, bolstering funds for early education and committing to a long-term financing plan that restores funding;
- Increasing the state’s minimum wage to at least $9 per hour, indexing the wage to inflation and raising the tipped minimum wage;
- Expanding Medicaid and extending health care to 500,000 Pennsylvania families while generating budget savings of $400 million; and
- Repairing holes in the social safety net by using $85 million in Medicaid budget savings for human services programming such as drug, alcohol and mental health.
Sen. Tartaglione said her priorities for the new budget are for the state to restore education funding and for the governor to finally take the lead on raising the minimum wage.
“Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is currently $7.25/hour,” she said. “That isn’t enough for a person living in this state to pay rent, buy a car or purchase groceries for themselves, much less a family. My legislation will raise the minimum wage incrementally to $9.00/hour by 2015, after which it would automatically increase every year with inflation.”
Without an adequate base wage that is competitive with neighboring states, Tartaglione said educational initiatives, if the governor proposes any, would be moot.
“All the education and career preparation in the world won’t help present and future generations if we don’t ensure access to quality jobs and quality income when they graduate,” the senator said. “Right now, we have too many minimum wage jobs and too many educated, over-qualified, minimum wage workers.
“We need to ensure individuals working full-time jobs are able to support themselves and their family members,” she said.
Senate Democrats said they will provide immediate reaction to the governor’s budget address following his scheduled speech to the General Assembly Feb. 4.
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por Christin Brown | 29 de enero de 2014 | Comunicados de prensa
FILADELFIA, 29 de enero de 2014 - La senadora estatal Christine M. Tartaglione aplaudió hoy al presidente Barack Obama por su decisión de utilizar sus poderes ejecutivos para aumentar el salario mínimo a 10,10 dólares la hora para los nuevos trabajadores de contratos federales.
Instó a la asamblea legislativa de Pensilvania y al gobernador Tom Corbett a actuar de forma similar para elevar la tarifa horaria básica del estado, así como el mínimo horario de propinas.
"Necesitamos un liderazgo decisivo en materia de salario mínimo. Por eso no he dejado de trabajar para elevar el salario base por hora en Pensilvania a un nivel que saque de la pobreza a nuestros trabajadores y trabajadoras y les permita disfrutar de una calidad de vida más autosuficiente", afirmó Tartaglione.
"La decisión del presidente de elevar el mínimo para los nuevos trabajadores de contratos federales es una gran noticia y sus acciones deben ser replicadas ahora. Otros estados, como nuestros vecinos Ohio, Nueva York y Nueva Jersey, ya han aumentado sus salarios mínimos para 2014.
"Mejor aún, Nueva Jersey y Ohio han vinculado los futuros aumentos a la subida o bajada del Índice de Precios al Consumo, lo que elimina la oposición política a esta disposición tan básica de la red de seguridad social", dijo.
El proyecto de ley 858 del Senado de Tartaglione elevaría el salario mínimo de Pensilvania de 7,25 $/hora a 9 $/hora en 2015.
"Desgraciadamente, mi proyecto de ley lleva demasiado tiempo ante los legisladores y creo que debería modificarse para elevar el mínimo de Pensilvania al menos a 10 dólares la hora", dijo hoy el senador. "También creo que los futuros aumentos del salario mínimo deberían estar vinculados al Índice de Precios al Consumo".
Tartaglione también ha elaborado una ley, la Ley 1099 del Senado, para aumentar el salario mínimo por hora de los empleados que reciben propinas al 70% del salario mínimo normal. El mínimo por propina está estancado en 2,83 dólares la hora desde 1999.
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by Christin Brown | Enero 23, 2014 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23, 2014 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today urged schools in the 2nd Senatorial District to apply for a grant to participate in the most complete Presidential Youth Fitness Program and help their students improve their fitness and wellness.
Applications are due by Jan. 31.
“The free version of the Presidential Youth Fitness Program will help many schools teach the importance of taking care of the body and the mind, but if districts are able to participate in the full fitness curriculum, the results will be dramatic,” Tartaglione said.
Schools awarded grants will enable participation in the program for the 2014-’15 school year plus the following two years.
Only six states require physical education in every grade and only 20 percent of districts require daily recess.
The program believes that active kids get better grades, miss fewer days of school, are better behaved, and have better self images.
To learn more about the program, visit www.pyfp.org.
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by Christin Brown | Enero 17, 2014 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17, 2014 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today urged Gov. Tom Corbett and his Department of State to heed the Commonwealth Court ruling striking down Pennsylvania’s bad voter ID law.
The law had required all voters to produce approved photo identification prior to casting their votes in election.
“From the beginning, the Corbett administration’s voter ID push was a farce. It found its way into Pennsylvania’s law books because it was a one-sided, misguided attempt to control election outcome in the name of preventing fraud.
“Judge McGinley’s statement that ‘The right to vote … is irreplaceable, necessitating its protection before any deprivation occurs’ is spot on and should be a clarion call to this administration that this farce needs to end now.
“The petitioners did a great job proving there is very little fraud in Philadelphia and throughout the state.
“Millions of dollars have already been wasted in trying to convince judges that Pennsylvania’s voter ID law somehow fits in with the state and U.S. constitutions. Gov. Corbett need not waste any more taxpayer dollars defending this edict before the state Supreme Court.
“Let us return elections to the generations of registered Pennsylvania voters who have gone to the polls with only their signatures. It is what we expect. It is what should be.”
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by Christin Brown | Enero 14, 2014 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, Jan. 14, 2014 – Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today said groups interested in continuing the greening of Philadelphia should apply now for a share of the state’s recreation and conservation grants.
The 2014 awards will be made by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“Many Philadelphians are watching – and enjoying – the city’s transformation into a hiker’s destination as miles and miles of trails twist through the region,” Tartaglione said. “Let’s keep this progress going. Every step we take, every improvement realized adds to a better quality of life.”
This year’s grant applicants are encouraged to work on projects that advance local conservation and recreation and complement the state’s outdoor recreation plan.
Sustainable green park projects, park and recreation rehabilitation and universal access, trails, land conservation, emerging trends (those that connect youth to nature with natural play areas, for example), river conservation, and partnerships designed to promote outdoor recreation and conservation are some of the strategic areas eligible for grants.
The deadline for applications is Abril 16.
DCNR awarded grants last year to Philadelphia County (under the County Recycling Coordinator Grant Program), $71,300; City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County (under the PA Small Business and Household Pollution Prevention Grant Program), $100,000; City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County (Under the Recycling Performance Grant Program), $1.65 million; and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Philadelphia County, $67,000.
For more information on upcoming grant workshops, visit DCNR. Details about Pennsylvania’s Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is required to be renewed every five years so the commonwealth can continue to receive federal land and water conservation funding, are available here.
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by Christin Brown | Enero 8, 2014 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, 8 de enero de 2014 - Un informe recién terminado sobre la prevención de la violencia en Pensilvania debe ser actuado tan pronto como la legislatura regrese a la sesión el 13 de enero, dijo hoy la senadora estatal Christine M. Tartaglione en una carta a un legislador clave.
El "Informe del Comité Asesor sobre Prevención de la Violencia" enumeraba 44 recomendaciones en su informe de 295 páginas.
Tartaglione señaló que una de las sugerencias importantes del grupo es exigir a los propietarios de armas que informen sin demora de la pérdida o robo de las mismas.
La demócrata de Filadelfia ha propuesto dos proyectos de ley para acabar con la tenencia ilícita de armas de fuego encontradas o robadas. Su primera medida, el proyecto de ley 810 del Senado, obligaría a los propietarios de armas a informar sobre las armas perdidas o robadas en las 24 horas siguientes a su desaparición. El proyecto de ley 811 del Senado exigiría a las personas que vendan o transfieran armas de fuego en Filadelfia que registren esas transacciones ante la policía estatal.
"No se trata de un problema aislado de las grandes ciudades, sino que está muy extendido en ciudades de todos los tamaños, economías y demografías de todo el estado", afirmó Tartaglione en una carta dirigida al senador Stewart Greenleaf, presidente de la Comisión Judicial del Senado y autor de una resolución que planteó el estudio de la violencia en la mancomunidad.
"Creo, al igual que los miembros de la Comisión Mixta del Gobierno del Estado, que exigir un requisito de notificación de 24 horas para las armas de fuego perdidas o robadas es un deber público necesario que no podemos seguir ignorando. Como tal, estoy solicitando su ayuda en el movimiento de SB 810 de la Comisión Judicial", escribió.
El informe de la Comisión Mixta del Gobierno del Estado sobre la violencia en Pensilvania fue encargado por la aprobación hace casi un año de la Resolución 6 del Senado "para llevar a cabo un análisis exhaustivo y completo de la delincuencia violenta y los tiroteos masivos, así como otros temas relacionados con esas cuestiones."
El informe califica sus 44 recomendaciones de "medidas normativas y reglamentarias realistas que pueden mejorar la prevención y aumentar la capacidad de respuesta ante estallidos de violencia repentinos y sensacionales en escuelas y otros lugares públicos de reunión, garantizando escuelas más seguras y evitando que las personas con más probabilidades de actuar violentamente lo hagan".
La recomendación nº 20 "añadiría una nueva disposición a la Ley Uniforme de Armas de Fuego para exigir la pronta notificación de las armas de fuego perdidas o robadas".
La comisión confirmó que es difícil cuantificar el número de armas perdidas y robadas a particulares. Sin embargo, según la legislación estadounidense, los titulares de licencias federales de armas de fuego están obligados a informar a la ATF del robo o la pérdida de cualquier arma de fuego en un plazo de 48 horas.
En 2012, Pensilvania fue el líder en número de armas de fuego perdidas o robadas a titulares de licencias federales de armas de fuego, con 1.502. Según el estudio, eso supuso casi el 10% de todas las armas de fuego perdidas o robadas en esa categoría en el país. Texas, Maryland y Nueva York fueron los otros estados que ocuparon los primeros puestos.
"La intención del proyecto de ley SB 810 no sólo es una recomendación directa del informe publicado por el Comité Consultivo sobre Prevención de la Violencia de la Comisión Mixta del Gobierno del Estado, sino que, además, esta legislación constituye un paso fundamental para hacer de la Commonwealth un lugar más seguro para todos los que la visitan, trabajan y viven en ella", declaró Tartaglione.
Para leer el informe completo de la comisión, pulse aquí.
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by Christin Brown | Diciembre 24, 2013 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, Dec. 24, 2013 – Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione said today the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program has invested a total of $7 million to help the expansion of the St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and make improvements at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
St. Christopher’s is receiving $3 million while Fox Chase is getting $4 million.
“RACP is designed to support the improvement of Pennsylvania’s economic, cultural, civic and historic projects, and these latest investments are important holiday gifts,” Tartaglione said. “These new investments not only will help to create jobs, but they will lead to a better quality of life as the people who receive care at St. Christopher’s and Fox Chase will benefit.”
The RACP grants were part of a group of 58 awards announced Lunes by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget.
The total dollar amount for all projects is $133 million. Collectively they are expected to create or sustain some 45,000 jobs in 24 counties, including Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery.
Projects are selected based upon their job-creation potential, their economic impact, as well as their viability and construction readiness.
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por Christin Brown | 17 de diciembre de 2013 | Comunicados de prensa
FILADELFIA, 17 de diciembre de 2013 - Con miles de residentes de Pensilvania comprando los regalos de Navidad más populares y planeando reuniones familiares en avión, tren y automóvil, los senadores estatales Christine M. Tartaglione y Vincent Hughes dijeron hoy que demasiadas personas no podrán permitirse unas vacaciones normales porque ganan un salario mínimo de pobreza. Christine M. Tartaglione y Vincent Hughes dijeron hoy que demasiadas personas no podrán permitirse unas vacaciones promedio porque ganan un salario mínimo de pobreza.
Los legisladores demócratas dijeron que ha llegado el momento de empezar a aumentar el salario mínimo de Pensilvania a 9 dólares la hora.
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"Un trabajador que percibe el salario mínimo tiene que trabajar 64 horas para cubrir los gastos de viajar para estar con sus seres queridos durante las fiestas", declaró el senador Tartaglione, presidente demócrata de la Comisión de Trabajo e Industria del Senado. "Y eso sólo si no tienen que comprar comida, pagar el alquiler o cubrir los servicios públicos. Pero casi todos lo hacen".
"Cuesta unos 50 dólares proporcionar una cena navideña media, según la American Farm Bureau", declaró Hughes, Presidente del Comité Demócrata de Asignaciones del Senado. "Un trabajador con salario mínimo tiene que trabajar un día entero para poder pagar eso, pero es muy probable que ni siquiera se plantee hacerlo debido a las exigencias que pesan sobre su efectivo".
Tartaglione ha patrocinado el proyecto de ley 858 del Senado para elevar el salario mínimo de Pensilvania de 7,25 $/hora a 9 $/hora en 2015. También ha elaborado legislación para aumentar el salario mínimo por hora de los empleados que reciben propinas al 70% del salario mínimo normal. El mínimo por propina es de 2,83 dólares la hora desde 1999.
"Como asistente de silla de ruedas que trabaja para un subcontratista en el aeropuerto me pagan 5,25 dólares por hora más propinas, lo que suele dar una media de poco más del salario mínimo", dijo John Stewart, asistente de silla de ruedas en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Filadelfia que participó en la rueda de prensa de hoy. "Mientras mi salario se mantiene, el coste de la comida, el transporte, el alquiler, la ropa y las medicinas sigue subiendo, lo que hace más difícil salir adelante".
Stewart afirmó que gana menos al año que hace 30 años. Subrayó que busca un aumento del salario mínimo que siga el ritmo del coste de la vida.
"Si alguna vez ha llegado el momento de sentir verdadera compasión por la difícil situación de mujeres y hombres que se dejan la piel trabajando y ganan poco a cambio, es ahora", afirmó Tartaglione. "Y John Stewart es un buen ejemplo de por qué".
"Para los trabajadores con salario mínimo de Pensilvania, las fiestas son cada año los fantasmas de las Navidades pasadas, presentes y futuras, en una pesadilla que se repite", dijo Hughes. "No consiguen despertar de su pesadilla, como Ebenezer Scrooge, para disfrutar de las fiestas y deleitarse de verdad con la alegría de dar. No pueden permitírselo".
Los senadores instaron a los legisladores a considerar y adoptar rápidamente el SB 858 y el SB 1099 para proporcionar un paso más sólido a los asalariados con salario mínimo.
Según los legisladores, el Presidente Obama pidió al Congreso que aprobara este mes un aumento de la edad mínima. Además, otros 10 estados, incluido Ohio, han subido su salario base por hora y también han vinculado los futuros aumentos a la inflación.
"Desgraciadamente, Pensilvania está sumida en la creencia, engendrada y masajeada por el gobernador Tom Corbett y algunos destacados republicanos, de que las corporaciones no podrán permitirse añadir otros 1,75 dólares/hora a la tasa del salario mínimo del estado", dijo Tartaglione. "¿Por qué? Esas mismas corporaciones pueden permitirse bonificaciones por las nubes".
"Las empresas no pueden permitirse no aumentar el salario mínimo", dijo Hughes. "Los empleados son más productivos si no tienen que preocuparse por cuestiones vitales. Tener que trabajar en varios empleos con salario mínimo -porque son los únicos que muchos adultos pueden encontrar- es un problema para todos y constituye una gran preocupación".
"Hasta Scrooge pagaría más que el mínimo de 7,25 $/hora de Pensilvania", afirma Hughes.
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by Christin Brown | Diciembre 10, 2013 | News Releases
Harrisburg – Diciembre 10, 2013 – In advance of the governor’s planned mid-year budget briefing, state Senate Democrats today announced details of a plan to generate more than $1 billion in budget savings and revenues they say can be used to make key investments, avoid deep cuts or tax increases in dealing with a projected $839 million budget deficit.
“Senate Democrats have identified ample revenues to not only deal with the significant budget deficit that has developed under Gov. Tom Corbett’s watch, but we’ve also found resources to fund key job creation initiatives, education investments and safety net repairs that are needed as a result of short-sighted administration policies,” Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), the Senate Democratic leader said.
In a Noviembre budget status report, the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) reported that Pennsylvania was facing a structural deficit of $839 million.
At today’s news conference in the state Capitol, Costa detailed the Senate Democratic $1.091 billion savings and revenue plan. The plan includes the following features and fiscal benefits:
- Expanded Medicaid — $400 million;
- Escheat Reform — $150 million;
- Wine and Spirits Modernization — $125 million;
- Charter School Reform — $85.5 million;
- Capital Stock and Franchise tax phase-out freeze — $75 million;
- Multi-state claims processing for SSP/SSI – $75 million;
- Enhanced tax collection — $55 million;
- Medicaid Managed Care — $50 million;
- Tobacco products tax — $36 million;
- Vendor discount elimination — $40 million.
Senate Democratic Whip Sen. Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia) said Pennsylvanians should not accept the recurring rhetoric from the Corbett administration that they have to cut and slash each and every year due to a revenue shortfall.
“Every year we have heard the same tune from the governor that his hands are tied because revenues are soft and the job market is flat,” Williams said. “For the last three years, Senate Democrats have put forth plans outlining how we can generate budget savings and additional revenues to make key investments without severe cuts.
“The song the governor keeps singing about his budget woes is stale and taxpayers are tired of it. The fact is we need a new more aggressive approach,” he said.
Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) said the reason Pennsylvania keeps having budget deficits and scrambling for money each year is the Corbett administration does not have a comprehensive and coherent job creation strategy.
“Under the governor’s leadership, we’ve gone from eighth in job creation to near last among all states, dead last among all our neighboring states and last among all big states,” Hughes said. “We have a Corbett jobs deficit of 166,000 on top of a Corbett budget deficit of $839 million.
“The reason we can’t move forward is that the Corbett corporate tax cuts of over $1 billion, combined with a lack of attention to the needs of everyday Pennsylvanians in job creation, education and safety net protections, weigh us down.”
Senate Democrats also continued to lament the $1 billion in cuts in education funding authored by the Corbett administrations several years ago. The Democrats said this policy has been counterproductive and costly to the average taxpayers because the state simply shifted the burden.
“We can devise a better approach to budgeting and revenue generation that will not result in our local taxpayers paying more in property taxes and children losing opportunities in school,” Costa said. “The Senate Democratic plan provides a path that is responsible and deals with the Corbett budget deficit.”
In addition to the budget and savings plan, Senate Democrats said they would soon announce their budget priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.
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por Christin Brown | 9 de diciembre de 2013 | Comunicados de prensa
HARRISBURG, 9 de diciembre de 2013 - La revelación del gobernador Tom Corbett de que está en contra de aumentar el salario mínimo porque le preocupa su efecto en la economía es otro ejemplo de cómo este gobernador sólo se preocupa por los ricos, dijo hoy la principal defensora del salario mínimo del estado, la senadora Christine M. Tartaglione.
"Las corporaciones han estado obteniendo beneficios récord a costa de cientos de miles de residentes de Pensilvania que no han tenido un aumento de sueldo en casi cinco años", dijo Tartaglione. "Mientras tanto, innumerables ejecutivos han disfrutado cada año de aumentos y primas que han supuesto mucho más de 1,75 dólares la hora".
"¿Por qué cree este gobernador que dar a los trabajadores 70 dólares más a la semana va a perjudicar a la economía? La respuesta está entretejida en todas las demás medidas que ha tomado desde su elección. Ya se trate de su histórico recorte de 1.000 millones de dólares en la financiación de la educación básica, sus recortes de asistencia social al estilo de Scrooge, o su falta de inversiones en programas de creación de empleo para que la gente vuelva a trabajar, este gobernador ha demostrado una y otra vez que no cree que la gente que hace funcionar esta economía valga la pena."
Corbett declaró el viernes al Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader que "siempre le preocupa cambiar la dinámica cuando empezamos a salir de la (recesión)".
"Para muchos desempleados de Pensilvania -e incluso para nuestros vecinos que han encontrado trabajo pero tienen tres empleos de salario mínimo para intentar llegar a fin de mes- la Gran Recesión continúa", ha declarado hoy Tartaglione, presidente demócrata de la Comisión de Trabajo e Industria del Senado.
"Las empresas multimillonarias están pagando a sus empleados salarios de miseria, y eso está muy mal", afirmó.
Tartaglione patrocinó el proyecto de ley 858 del Senado para elevar el salario mínimo de Pensilvania de 7,25 $/hora a 9 $/hora en 2015. También ha elaborado legislación para aumentar el salario mínimo por hora de los empleados que reciben propinas al 70% del salario mínimo normal. El mínimo por propina es de 2,83 dólares la hora desde 1999.
"¿Cuántas vacaciones más van a tener que sufrir nuestros abnegados y comprometidos trabajadores preguntándose si van a tener dinero suficiente para comprar comida y pagar el alquiler, por no hablar de un regalo para un ser querido?". preguntó Tartaglione. "Esta mentalidad de Scrooge tiene que desaparecer".
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by Christin Brown | Diciembre 3, 2013 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 3, 2013 – Eligible residents who need help stretching their budgets have less than a month left to apply for property tax or rent rebates, state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione said today.
“Pennsylvania’s property tax/rent rebate program can really help low-income residents who need assistance,” Tartaglione said. “This can make the difference for someone trying to decide if their money should buy food or medicine or go to pay a vital monthly bill, like heat. Don’t wait to apply.”
The deadline for applying for this annual reimbursement was Junio 30 but the state pushed it to Dec. 31.
To qualify, homeowners or renters must be:
- At least 65 years old OR
- 50 years old and a widow or widower OR
- At least 18 years old and disabled OR
- Permanently disabled during the claim year, which would be 2012.
If a homeowner or renter earns less than $8,000/year, they can receive the maximum $650 rebate. Homeowners who make between $18,001 and $35,000 can receive up to $250, while the minimum eligibility for renters is a $500 rebate for those making between $8,001 and $15,000. Proof of age and income are required.
Interested homeowners and renters may call Sen. Tartaglione’s district office for help in submitting their applications, if needed. Applications may also be submitted through the Department of Revenue’s website: www.revenue.state.pa.us.
It costs nothing to apply.
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by Christin Brown | Noviembre 25, 2013 | News Releases
Philadelphia – Noviembre 25, 2013 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione will begin distributing more than 1,500 Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families in the 2nd Senate District at 1 p.m. today at her 1061 Bridge Street district office.
Tartaglione will travel throughout the district delivering turkeys this week. Your coverage is invited.
by Christin Brown | Noviembre 25, 2013 | News Releases
Harrisburg – Noviembre 25, 2013 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today urged students to take some time to research often overlooked college scholarship opportunities.
“You don’t have to be able to dunk a basketball or graduate at the top of your class to get help with college tuition,” she said. “There are numerous opportunities for students with focused interests or a record of volunteer work.”
Scholarships can be awarded to students who demonstrate or show high-achievement in areas such as academics, athletics, music, art and many other fields. They can be offered by federal or state governments, schools, civic organizations like the Rotary or Lions Clubs, religious institutions, businesses or trade associations and private foundations.
Students should ask school counselors if they are aware of scholarships that may be available, in addition to exploring the free scholarship search engines and databases on the Internet.
“Researching scholarships should be part of every student’s college preparation,” Tartaglione said. “It’s possible to cut years off student loan payments.”
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) produces a career and college-planning website (www.educationplanner.org), which has links to FastWeb, a free national scholarship search engine. Once students complete their profile, the FastWeb search engine provides links to the awards that match their profile. Each award links-out to the application for the scholarship.
by Christin Brown | Noviembre 21, 2013 | News Releases
Harrisburg – Noviembre 20, 2013 – The transportation funding plan that passed the Senate tonight was the ‘flawed product of a flawed process,” state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione said today.
“Changes to Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage laws have been proposed and debated for years and have failed to reach a majority or even a consensus,” she said. “Leveraging this unpopular idea against the safety of Pennsylvania drivers, who make millions of trips across structurally deficient bridges every day, is pure politics and bad public policy.”
After Senate Republican leaders rebuffed an attempt to amend the House transportation plan to remove the controversial wage language, Tartaglione voted for the critical transportation improvement plan on final passage.
“There is no time to go back to the start on a transportation plan,” she said. “I believe the safety of drivers and the soundness of our economy is at risk if we don’t start rebuilding our long-neglected infrastructure.”
The $2.4 billion package increases spending to $1.7 billion by the fifth year for highway and bridge projects. Another nearly $500 million would be targeted for mass transit and $144 million for multi-modal projects.
It is expected to create more than 60,000 jobs and create an improved infrastructure that will attract billions in private investment.
The new transportation investment is largely paid for by the removal of the cap on the Oil Company Franchise tax over a three-year period to generate $1.8 billion by FY 2017-18. Fee and fine increases included in the bill would raise hundreds of millions more.
Tartaglione noted that she voted in favor of a similar funding plan, Senate Bill 1, that passed the Senate on an overwhelming, bipartisan vote earlier this year without the prevailing wage changes.
“It’s is good news that help is coming for commuters and public transit riders,” Tartaglione said. “But the process that produced that funding is a sign that difficult decisions will not be made in the future without partisan gamesmanship.”
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by Christin Brown | Noviembre 19, 2013 | News Releases
Harrisburg – Noviembre 19, 2013 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today joined Senate Democratic colleagues in announcing a series of bills intended to address problems faced by Pennsylvania veterans in their return to civilian life.
“Today’s returning veterans face unique challenges in returning to civilian life after long deployments during a weak recovery from recession,” Tartaglione said. “We have to do more than just thank them for their service.”
Tartaglione, Democratic Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, discussed the legislation, titled “Saluting PA Veterans,” at a Capitol news conference with Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia).
Their plan contains measures intended to help returning veterans with education, housing and jobs, in addition to initiatives that provide monetary assistance, counseling services and financial relief for families.
In the package of bills is a Tartaglione-sponsored measure requiring the state Department of Health to provide training for emergency service providers to help them recognize and treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or brain injury.
“This effort will involve virtually every department of government in making sure veterans and their families are understood and not underserved,” Tartaglione said.
Pennsylvania is home to nearly 1 million veterans, more than 100,000 of them having served in Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. The unemployment rate among recently returning veterans is above the rate of the civilian population, despite their military training.
The Salute Pa Veterans Plan also includes:
- $40 million in bonds to provide payments to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
- A pilot peer-to-peer counseling program for veterans to address post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and rising rates of suicide
- $20 million for veterans’ housing projects, and veteran preference in public housing
- Housing assistance grants to homeless or imminently homeless veterans and help with down payments or closing-costs for veterans buying homes;
- Increased funding for Veterans Emergency Assistance Program, along with extended deadlines, and expanded maximum Military Family Relief Assistance
- Increased veterans’ preference points for civil service examinations, from 10 to 15
- Priority for subsidized child care to veterans and families of active duty military
- Expanded eligibility for veterans in the disabled veterans tax exemption statute (i.e., exempting 50% of Social Security and Railroad Retirement Benefits from the calculation)
- A task force to study health-care issues unique to women veterans, including accessibility and quality of care
- A call on the U.S. Congress to increase funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs
Senate Democrats had previously introduced several legislative items within the context of their PA Works plan. These have been incorporated into the Saluting Pa Veterans plan. These initiatives include:
Development of a training program to help veterans start small businesses; creation of a $5 million veteran-owned businesses loan guarantee; new tax credits for hiring unemployed veterans; new standards to incorporate education and training in the military into education credits to help expedite the obtaining of a degree; doubling of tuition assistance and increasing the years the assistance is provided.
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by Christin Brown | Noviembre 18, 2013 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, Nov. 18, 2013 – The state Senate today unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione marking Dec. 3 as “International Day of Persons with Disabilities.”
Started in 1982 by the United Nations, the day is recognized around the world.
“This day of recognition has helped raise understanding and awareness throughout the world,” Tartaglione said. “Here in the U.S. and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we have come a long way over the past few decades in accommodating persons with disabilities.”
According to organizers, who estimate that 15 percent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, the major focus of the day is “practical and concrete action to include disability in all aspects of development, as well as to further the participation of persons with disabilities in social life and development on the basis of equality.”
The theme of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities is: “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all”.
The United Nations recently concluded high level meetings intended to draft a plan to ensure that development throughout the world includes persons with disabilities to help further the goal of full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society.
“I hope that we will continue looking for new and better ways for all citizens to fully participate in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life in this state,” Tartaglione said.
by Christin Brown | Noviembre 14, 2013 | News Releases
The following statement was offered today by Senator Christine M. Tartaglione in support of Auditor General DePasquale’s recent audit that discovered mismanagement of a Department of Public Welfare contract for home care workers:
Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today issued a report detailing gaping holes in the monitoring of home care workers payroll contracts. As a result of the problems, the auditor general said that 1,500 Pennsylvanians were impacted negatively by the transition to other providers, costing Pennsylvania in excess of $7 million.
“Today’s audit report was eye-opening and reinforced the concerns that Senate Democrats have raised about this very issue for months. The audit concluded there was gross mismanagement, lack of oversight and little accountability related to payroll providers who were responsible for compensating home health care aides for their hard work and attention to Pennsylvanians living with a disability.
“I have spent my entire career fighting for the rights and protecting the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens. The audit reinforces our belief that the Corbett Administration has failed hard-working families who have suffered financial and emotional stress due to their lack of supervision.
“I will work with my Senate Democratic colleagues to devise legislative or administrative solutions to ensure that home health care workers don’t fall victim again.”
by Christin Brown | Octubre 21, 2013 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, Oct. 21, 2013 – The state Senate has unanimously passed a resolution marking “Brachial Plexus Injury Awareness Week in Pennsylvania,” state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione announced today.
“With greater knowledge and awareness of this type of injury, I hope we will be able to reduce the number of brachial plexus injuries that occur in the future,” Tartaglione said. “I hope individuals will obtain the medical assistance they need to live more satisfying, productive lives.”
Injuries to the brachial plexus are caused by severe trauma to the group of nerves that run from the shoulder to the fingertips. Frequent causes are vehicle-related collisions, certain medical procedures and complications during childbirth. As many as five percent of all newborns suffer a brachial plexus injury, according to medical experts.
“Unfortunately, many individuals do not recognize the symptoms or medical conditions associated with brachial plexus injuries and, as a result, they fail to receive a prompt diagnosis and treatment,” Tartaglione said.
Tartaglione’s resolution marks Oct. 20 through Oct. 26 as “Brachial Plexus Awareness Week.”
For more information on brachial plexus injury, click here.
por Christin Brown | 17 de septiembre de 2013 | Comunicados de prensa
FILADELFIA, 17 de septiembre de 2013 - En una rueda de prensa celebrada hoy en el Ayuntamiento de Filadelfia, la senadora estatal Christine M. Tartaglione anunció una nueva legislación destinada a restaurar el poder adquisitivo del salario mínimo de Pensilvania.
Tartaglione, presidente demócrata de la Comisión de Trabajo e Industria, se unió al presidente demócrata de Apropiaciones, el senador Vincent J. Hughes, y a los líderes sindicales locales en un impulso para unirse a otros estados que han creado salarios mínimos que resisten la erosión de la inflación.
[hdvideo id=11 ]
"Pensilvania no está a la altura de los tiempos ni de sus vecinos", dijo Tartaglione. "Ahora mismo, hay demasiados adultos trabajando a tiempo completo, pero viviendo por debajo del umbral de la pobreza en este estado".
[audio:https://senatortartaglione.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/minimum-wage-hike-bill-tt-webstory.mp3|titles=Aumento del salario mínimo-Bill-TT-WebS]
Tartaglione fue el principal promotor de la ley promulgada en 2006, que elevó el salario mínimo estatal de 5,35 a 7,15 dólares la hora. El salario mínimo federal se incrementó hasta los actuales 7,25 dólares la hora en 2009.
"La creación de un salario mínimo que tenga en cuenta la inflación evitará que miles de familias trabajadoras se hundan por debajo del umbral federal de pobreza mientras esperan la acción de la legislatura", dijo Hughes. "Un salario mínimo estancado perjudica a las familias y aumenta la presión sobre unos servicios sociales ya sobrecargados".
A principios de año, Tartaglione presentó una ley que vincularía el salario mínimo de Pensilvania al índice de precios al consumo, lo que permitiría aumentarlo anualmente en pequeños incrementos. Uno de los proyectos de ley anunciados hoy(Senate Bill 858) elevaría el salario mínimo a 9,00 dólares por hora en 2015 para tener en cuenta los años de inflación, mientras que el otro (Senate Bill 1099) aumentaría el salario mínimo de los empleados que reciben propinas, que ha permanecido invariable en 2,83 dólares por hora durante 15 años, hasta el 70% del salario mínimo normal.
"Ambos proyectos de ley aumentarán estos salarios en incrementos para garantizar que los empleadores no estén sobrecargados financieramente", dijo Tartaglione. "Y ambos proyectos de ley ayudarán a los empleados a ganar salarios más dignos".
Hughes señaló que 10 estados ya han ajustado sus salarios mínimos a la inflación. En la mayoría de los casos, se ha logrado gracias a la aprobación de una abrumadora mayoría de votantes en referendos estatales.
"Sabemos que existe un fuerte apoyo entre todos los habitantes de Pensilvania a los salarios que mantienen a las familias fuera de la pobreza", dijo. "La tarea que tenemos por delante es imprimir ese apoyo a la Asamblea General".
El salario mínimo de Nueva York aumentará a 9 dólares la hora en 2015 en virtud de la legislación promulgada a principios de este año, y los votantes de Nueva Jersey acudirán a las urnas este otoño para decidir si aumentan el salario mínimo de ese estado. Una encuesta de Rutgers-Eagleton entre los votantes de Nueva Jersey mostró un 76% de apoyo al aumento.
"Con tanta atención puesta en el salario mínimo en estos momentos, éste puede ser el año en que los trabajadores de Pensilvania consigan por fin sus aumentos", dijo Tartaglione.
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por Christin Brown | 13 de septiembre de 2013 | Comunicados de prensa
QUIÉN:
Senadora estatal Christine Tartaglione, Presidenta demócrata de la Comisión de Trabajo e Industria del Senado
Senador Estatal Vincent Hughes, Presidente Demócrata del Comité de Apropiaciones del Senado
Elizabeth McLroy, Secretaria-Tesorera de la AFL-CIO de Filadelfia
Mark Price, economista laboral del Keystone Research Center
Kathy Black, Presidenta de la Coalición de Mujeres Sindicalistas
John Dodds, Director Ejecutivo del Proyecto de Desempleo de Filadelfia
QUÉ: El senador Tartaglione anunciará la introducción de una nueva legislación para aumentar el salario mínimo de Pennsylvania de $ 7.25 a $ 9.00. Se unirá al senador Hughes y los defensores de apoyar el proyecto de ley. Ella estará acompañada por el senador Hughes y defensores que apoyan el proyecto de ley.
El salario mínimo de Pensilvania está fijado actualmente en 7,25 dólares para la mayoría de los empleados por hora, lo que exige la ley federal. Dieciocho estados han aprobado salarios mínimos por encima del nivel federal. Los legisladores de Pensilvania no han aumentado el salario mínimo estatal desde 2006.
CUÁNDO: Martes17 de septiembre a las 14.00 horas
DÓNDE: Ayuntamiento de Filadelfia, Sala de Recepciones del Alcalde (Sala 202)
CONTACTO: Para más información, póngase en contacto con Ben Waxman por correo electrónico: bwaxman@pasenate.com o 717-787-7112
by Christin Brown | Septiembre 3, 2013 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, 3 de septiembre de 2013 - La senadora estatal Christine M. Tartaglione se unió ayer a miles de trabajadores locales y sus familias en un desfile empapado por la lluvia celebrado para celebrar el Día del Trabajo y mostrar un sólido apoyo a las familias trabajadoras.
En lugar de restarle mérito al acontecimiento, Tartaglione afirmó que el aguacero matutino sirvió de símbolo apropiado para la jornada.
"A mucha de esta gente la conozco desde hace más de 20 años", dice mientras rueda con su silla de ruedas por South Columbus Boulevard. "No quieren amigos de cualquier tiempo. Quieren saber que estarás ahí pase lo que pase. Fue estupendo ver a familias enteras, incluso niños pequeños, apretujados bajo un paraguas, marchando bajo la lluvia por la dignidad del trabajo duro."
Antes del 26º desfile anual del Día del Trabajo en los tres estados, organizado por el Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Tartaglione sirvió helados frente al local del sindicato Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 para llamar la atención sobre el estancamiento del salario mínimo en Pensilvania, que no ha cambiado desde que su legislación de 2006 lo elevó por etapas a 7,15 dólares en 2007.
"Permitir que el salario mínimo se vea erosionado por la inflación ha empujado a miles de familias trabajadoras a la pobreza y ha añadido presión a los servicios sociales", dijo. "Un salario mínimo justamente ajustado reduce la tasa de pobreza y ahorra dinero a todos los contribuyentes de Pensilvania".
En todas las sesiones legislativas desde 2007, Tartaglione ha presentado leyes que aplicarían un índice de inflación al salario mínimo de Pensilvania, como ya han hecho diez estados. Con ese proyecto de ley atascado en el comité, añadió un proyecto de ley que simplemente aumentaría el salario mínimo a $ 9 por hora.
"Hace diez años empezamos con una fuerte oposición y pudimos defender unos salarios justos", dijo. "Va a volver a ocurrir".
A pesar de los desafíos en muchos frentes, el trabajo organizado está decidido a enfrentarse a la mayoría legislativa y al gobernador Tom Corbett en sus esfuerzos por resolver las dificultades presupuestarias a costa de las familias trabajadoras, dijo Tartaglione.
"Intentan decirte que un profesor de Filadelfia gana demasiado dinero pero que Shell Oil necesita ayuda del gobierno", dijo. "Ya ni siquiera intentan que tenga sentido".
Tartaglione dijo que está trabajando en una legislación que añadiría a los trabajadores que reciben propinas a los ajustes del salario mínimo y discutirá una estrategia legislativa sobre su esfuerzo en una conferencia de prensa el 17 de septiembre.
by Christin Brown | Agosto 22, 2013 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 18, 2013 – The following statement was offered today by Senator Christine M. Tartaglione, Democratic Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, in support of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools rally advocating for Full, Fair Funding for our Schools:
“It has been said that ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’
I truly believe that.
Our village is our parents, our community and most importantly the teachers in our schools.
Children deserve the best teachers we can give them, and an equal opportunity at a bright future
It is unfair to children, parents and teachers to balance the school budget on the backs of the teachers.
These teachers are the ones that have the most daily contact with our children – we should want to offer the most competitive salaries and benefits, in order to attract the most talented teachers.
We should want the smartest, brightest, and best teachers to stay in Philadelphia.
Funding education properly now will create a stronger city and Commonwealth, and will save our community money in the future.
Our funding system is broken and in need of serious repair. Concessions from employees will not fix this, finding various things to tax at various times will not fix this. It needs a major overhaul and that is where the attention and effort needs to be focused
These children are our job creators for our future.
They will start businesses, dream up new ideas, cure our illnesses when we are old and aging, and move us toward reaching our full potential as a community.
We sabotage our own futures if we do not provide proper education for our children now.”
by Christin Brown | Agosto 21, 2013 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA, Agosto 21, 2013 – Hundreds of residents from the neighborhood surrounding Wissinoming Park turned out yesterday for a community picnic organized by state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione.
The event was the first in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood after years of popular events in Norris Square Park.
“State funding cuts are presenting difficult challenges for local schools and families,” Tartaglione said. “The neighborhood picnics bring together local residents and volunteers from community organizations to help get children ready for school.”
Sen. Tartaglione distributed more than 700 backpacks to young students at her Community Picnic in Wissinoming Park this week.
More than 700 donated back packs were distributed to young students who were also treated to hot dogs, water ice and face painting.
The event comes on the heels of the Norris Square community event which has been held for eight consecutive years.
“The Norris Square picnic has a tremendous turnout each year, but not every family has the ability to get there,” Tartaglione said. “So we decided to expand the outreach to help other families who are getting ready for school.
Like the prior events, the Wissinoming Park picnic involved coordinating numerous sponsors and community partners who donated service and supplies.
“One good thing that came out of the recession was a network of local people and organizations who take pride in helping others,” Tartaglione said. “I think we can continue to build on it to make better communities.
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Galería de fotos
by Christin Brown | Agosto 9, 2013 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, Agosto 9, 2013 – Thousands of constituents from the neighborhoods surrounding Norris Square Park attended state Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione’s annual community festival yesterday.
By coordinating numerous sponsors and community partners, Tartaglione was able to personally distribute more than 1,500 backpacks stuffed with back-to-school supplies such as pencils, notebooks and erasers.
Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione (right) talks about the upcoming school year with constituents at her annual community festival on Jueves, Aug. 8, 2013.
“This event has grown every year and it’s become a tradition in this neighborhood,” Tartaglione said. “With budget cuts to schools across the state and especially in Philadelphia, our community partners were willing to do everything they could to help local children get a head start in school.”
The event also featured free hot dogs, popcorn and water ice, along with family services such as fingerprinting and safety programs.
Eight years ago, when the first community picnic was held in Norris Square Park, 500 children received backpacks that were donated by local organizations.
“The growth has been tremendous,” Tartaglione said. “It’s one of the biggest events of the summer in the region and outstanding community organizations help make it possible and help make it free to the local families.”
Among the volunteers for the event were more than a dozen Philadelphia Police Explorer Cadets who stuffed hundreds of backpacks before the event and helped organize the crowds gathered to receive backpacks.
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by Christin Brown | Julio 16, 2013 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, Julio 16, 2013 – State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione today urged Gov. Tom Corbett to quickly sign the state Fiscal Code passed by the House yesterday, more than two weeks after the budget deadline.
In a letter sent today, Tartaglione told Corbett “the wheels of productivity that drive agencies, departments and organizations in this state will remain at a standstill and individuals will not be served effectively by their government until this bill is enacted.
As such, providing your signature to this legislation should be your highest priority at this time.”
Passage of the Fiscal Code (Senate Bill 591), one of a group of bills that make up the annual state budget, was delayed after House Republican leaders inserted a provision encouraging the General Assembly to pass a law allowing “payday” lending in Pennsylvania.
Removing the provision sent the bill back to the House for a concurrence vote that took place yesterday.
Among the bills important provisions are funding for a State Police cadet class and emergency fiscal relief for Philadelphia schools.
“The school district requires this money to prepare for the upcoming school year—that is, to prevent further school closures and staff furloughs, to provide adequate academic staff for the student population, to ensure students have supplies and resources to gain a quality education,” the letter said. “These funds will allow such preparation to begin and will lift a heavy burden from the shoulders of many parents who are pondering the academic futures of their children.”
