Audio/Video

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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 [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]

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. [Read More]