Keystone State News Connection

Emily Scott

Gov. Tom Wolf shared his final budget proposal on Tuesday, with a focus on taking advantage of a $2 billion to $3 billion surplus to invest in public education, a pillar of his 2013 campaign.

In the budget address to a joint House and Senate session, Wolf spoke about progress made in his two terms as Pennsylvania governor. When he took office in 2014, the Commonwealth had a budget deficit of $2 billion to $3 billion, and the Rainy Day Fund was down to its last $231,000. As the first governor since 1987 to turn over a budget surplus to a successor, Wolf wants $1.9 billion to benefit students, from pre-K through college.

“We can afford to invest a whole lot more in the Fair Funding Formula without raising one penny in state taxes, and we can afford to do that without asking any school district, anywhere in Pennsylvania, to sacrifice one penny in state funding,” Wolf said. “Let’s not waste this opportunity.”

In Republicans’ response to the budget, Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said a spending increase of $4.5 billion would “intensify personal financial pressures on all Pennsylvanians,” and that the budget “requires discipline that continues to move our Commonwealth toward a path of economic stability and success.”

Wolf proposed $70 million for high-quality pre-K programs, along with $1.4 billion for K-through-12 public education, with a focus on equitable support for underfunded schools. He also continued his long-standing appeal to raise the minimum wage from $7.25.

“Our failure to increase the minimum wage is costing us right now,” he said. “When people are able to earn a decent wage, they can contribute to the economic lives of their communities and the Commonwealth. When they work full-time but still don’t earn enough to pay for bare necessities, taxpayers end up footing the bill.”

Wolf is requesting a minimum wage of $12 an hour by July 1, with annual 50-cent increases to get to $15 in 2028. Senate President Pro Tem Jake Corman, R-Centre, said hearings will begin soon for a final budget by June that, in his words, “meets the needs of the Commonwealth.”

The featured image above shows City Manager, Mick Jones, holding a donation check to the Library Park project

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio News Correspondent. Published February 8, 2022 9:35 P.M.

(Beaver Falls, PA)  The Beaver Falls City Council met Tuesday night.  Council  approved for a feasibility study on the wave pool project to happen, under the agreement that a document is provided naming The City of Beaver Falls as additional insured, meaning that the city is not liable for any possible accidents or injuries during the study.  The city also voted to enter into a first reading of an agreement with Garlans Company to repair the City Building roof and structure.  Additionally,  Council approved Resolution 1618, which allows the sale of additional refuse cans to city residents.  The price of the cans is $100 each and they are delivered.  City Manager Mick Jones also announced that the city received a $10,000 donation for the library park project from a new company in Beaver County based out of Australia.

Aliquippa and Seton LaSalle played a hard fought game with it coming down to  late in the 4th quarter with the 2 powerhouses running neck and neck. It was the Quips defense and rebounding that kept the game in check even though the Quips turned it over more than 20  times, this would seem like a losing performance against a foe like Seton LaSalle but with their strong rebounding and hustle they held off a very good  Seton LaSalle team who were within 3 pts of the Quips late in the 3rd. Aliquippa is has now won  6 of their last 7 games. Final score Aliquippa 59 Seton Lasalle 46.

HARRISBURG – Speaker of the House Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) and House Appropriations Committee Majority Chairman Stan Saylor (R-York) issued the following statements on Gov. Tom Wolf’s final spending plan address:
Speaker Cutler:
“Gov. Wolf may see today’s address as a coronation of his time in office, but for the eighth straight year, it falls on the Legislature to rein in calls to dramatically increase state spending.
“Our caucus has consistently supported data-driven, targeted investments to move our Commonwealth forward as we once again recognize this budget is not about the man making the requests, but about the people who will ultimately have to pay the bill.”
Leader Benninghoff:
“The irresponsible plan proposed today increases spending by $17 million per day. If I were not actually here to see it, I would not believe such a terrible idea would actually be put forward by this governor.
“We literally cannot afford to bring Washington, D.C.-style runaway spending policies to Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, that is exactly what Pennsylvanians were offered from Gov. Wolf today – more of the same Biden-style Build Back Broke policies that have brought this country record inflation, higher gas prices and significant labor shortages.
“After years of hard work by Republicans in this General Assembly to ensure these kinds of nonsensical proposals from the administration do not become law, it is surprising Gov. Wolf still just does not get it.”
Chairman Saylor:
“When we enacted the current year budget in June, there was widespread agreement that we needed to take a multi-year approach to manage our state finances over the next several years. Now the governor seems to have drifted off into a fiscal fantasy land where there is zero concern for our financial footing after he is gone. The governor’s massive spending spree proposed today will squander the entirety of our reserves and leave the next governor with massive budget deficits, with no reserves to combat it, and would guarantee the need to raise taxes.”

By MARC LEVY and MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf’s eighth and final budget proposal would push state spending well past $43 billion for the first time, as the Democrat asks lawmakers for the biggest-ever increase in aid for public schools, plus more money for direct care workers, higher-education institutions and college scholarships. Wolf delivered the $43.7 billion proposal to lawmakers Tuesday before he was to address them in a joint session of the House and Senate. An economy juiced with federal pandemic subsidies is expected to deliver a multibillion-dollar surplus. Given the state’s big cash cushion, Wolf is proposing no change to state income or sales taxes.

Biden threatens: No gas pipeline if Russia invades Ukraine
By AAMER MADHANI, SYLVIE CORBET and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a flurry of diplomacy across two continents, Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have met separately for hours with the leaders of Germany and France. They are trying to resolve the crisis in Ukraine, where Russia has massed thousands of troops at the border. The results: no resolution but at least no invasion for now. The biggest news Monday: Biden’s vow that Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Europe will be blocked if Russia further invades Ukraine. Putin objected anew that the U.S. and NATO won’t guarantee to keep Ukraine out of the alliance, which he sees as a threat to Russia.

(Graphic provide by Red Cross)

PITTSBURGH, PA (Feb. 8, 2022) — As severe winter storms continue to move through the country, the American Red Cross asks members of the community to schedule the
earliest-available blood or platelet donation appointments in their area once it is safe to give.
Dangerous snow and ice conditions have contributed to over 600 blood drive cancellations since the beginning of the year, resulting in about 17,500 uncollected blood and platelet donations.
Since the Red Cross issued its first-ever blood crisis in January, thousands of generous donors have come forward to give, but patient care remains at risk. The threat of winter weather continues − as well as ongoing complications posed by the omicron variant – and could further complicate efforts to rebuild the blood supply.
More donors are needed to make appointments now for the weeks ahead to help ensure accident victims, cancer patients and new mothers experiencing complicated childbirths have access to lifesaving blood product transfusions without delay. Make an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
All who come to give blood or platelets Feb. 1-28, 2022, will receive an Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon.*

Health insights for donors at a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients
with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.
Donors can expect to receive sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at
RedCrossBlood.org.

Blood drive safety

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including face masks for donors and staff, regardless of vaccination status – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive.

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass ® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.