Budget Hearing Q&A: Office of the Budget/Governor’s Executive Offices
March 07, 2019
Senator Mensch asked Budget Secretary Jen Swails about reduced funding for school safety, performance-based budgeting, and employee benefit and pension costs.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Community & Economic Development
March 07, 2019
Senator Mensch asked Secretary Dennis Davin about state tax credit programs during the DCED budget hearing.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Ben Franklin Technology Partners
March 06, 2019
During the budget hearing for the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Senator Mensch discussed increased funding for the Ben Franklin system and investments in life sciences and electronics.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Military & Veterans Affairs.
March 06, 2019
Senator Mensch asked representatives of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs about transferring military service skills for certification in private industry.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Aging
March 05, 2019
Senator Mensch asked about elder abuse prevention measures during the budget hearing on the Department of Aging.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Education, Part 2
March 05, 2019
Senator Mensch discussed funding disparities between programs for public and non-public schools, resources for homeschool students, and community college programs during Part 2 of the Department of Education budget hearing.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Education, Part 1
March 05, 2019
During Part 1 of the budget hearing for the Department of Education, Senator Mensch discussed ways to improve equity in education funding and questioned how advances in digital technology could affect the funding needs of libraries.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: DEP
February 28, 2019
Senator Mensch asked DEP Secretary Patrick McConnell about funding for hazardous site cleanup operations and Pennsylvania’s plans for the cleanup of Chesapeake Bay.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Corrections / Probation & Parole
February 28, 2019
Senator Mensch asked Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel about new security systems and technology being implemented in state prisons, including touch screens, during the budget hearing for the Department of Corrections / Office of Probation and Parole.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Department of Human Services
February 27, 2019
Senator Mensch questioned how we can help organizations that provide early intervention services for at-risk children and better meet the health care needs of older Pennsylvanians with serious medical needs during today’s PA Senate Budget Hearing with the PA Department of Human Services.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Department of Health
February 27, 2019
At today’s PA Senate Budget hearing, Senator Mensch questioned Department of Health Secretary Rachel Levine about misinformation concerning childhood vaccination and its role in the resurgence of diseases such as polio and measles.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: PA College of Technology
February 26, 2019
Senator Mensch asked Dr. Davie Jane Gilmour, President of Pennsylvania College of Technology about the school’s affiliation with Penn State and its capital investments during today’s budget hearing
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Judiciary
February 26, 2019
Senator Mensch discussed the impact of justice reinvestment and specialty courts and how these strategies have affected judicial costs during today’s PA Senate Budget hearing with the PA Judiciary.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Transportation
February 25, 2019
Senator Mensch discussed the importance of proper line painting to road safety, as well as road drainage problems and their impact on road life with PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Labor & Industry
February 25, 2019
During the Department of Labor & Industry budget hearing, Senator Mensch questioned Secretary Oleksiak about the number of workers who earn the current minimum wage and how a minimum wage increase would affect workers who already earn a higher wage.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: PA State Police
February 21, 2019
During the budget hearing for the PA State Police, Senator Mensch discussed the new statewide radio system, the processing of rape evidence kits, and the challenge of updating the State Police funding formula.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: State System of Higher Education
February 21, 2019
Senator Mensch questioned PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein about how the State System of Higher Education is working to better prepare students to meet the needs of the workforce during today’s PASSHE budget hearing.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Department of State
February 20, 2019
Senator Mensch told Acting Secretary of the Commonwealth Kathy Boockvar about the need to include the Legislature in implementing new voting systems, and asked about hacking threats and the rush to force counties to implement change.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Independent Fiscal Office
February 19, 2019
Senator Mensch asked Independent Fiscal Office Director Matthew Knittel what Pennsylvania is doing in terms of tax policies to attract and retain business in PA and create new jobs.
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Budget Hearing Q&A: Revenue/Lottery
February 19, 2019
Senator Mensch questioned Revenue Secretary Hassell on the merits of the Governor’s proposed combined reporting requirement for businesses and discussed the RFPs for I-lottery and scratch-off games.
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