Mustio: House Approves Game and Fisheries Merger Study

Also, information on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Fish-for-Free Day on Memorial Day.

The House voted unanimously this week in support of a measure to launch a detailed study of the potential impacts of merging the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.    House Resolution 129 calls on the non-partisan Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) to study the financial feasibility, impact, costs and savings that may be realized by combining the agencies. It also calls on the LBFC to explore a range of options with regard to how to structure the state’s wildlife agency to best manage the wildlife and aquatic resources of the Commonwealth. A similar study was conducted 10 years ago, and it showed a merger was feasible and would save money. No legislative action resulted from that study’…

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State Rep. Mark Mustio

Rep. Mustio: PA House Passes Bill to Close the Delaware Loophole

Bill to create level playing field for job creation heads to the state Senate.

The House passed legislation this week to close the Delaware Loophole and implement comprehensive business tax reforms for Pennsylvania job creators.   House Bill 440 would close the loophole by targeting specific transactions that some businesses use for the sole purpose of avoiding taxation in the Commonwealth.   The bill also includes several additional tax reforms, including reducing the Corporate Net Income (CNI) Tax rate to 6.99 percent and uncapping the Net Operating Loss (NOL) deductions businesses may take. In addition, the bill would support Pennsylvania’s small businesses, encourage new investments in existing businesses and promote the development of new start-up companies. All of these reforms seek to make Pennsylvania a more …

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State Rep. Mark Mustio

Rep. Mustio: Legislation Introduced to Abolish PA Turnpike Commission

State Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, shares news with his constituents in this week's 'Updates from Harrisburg.'

Following a 44-month grand jury investigation revealing untold millions of public dollars being squandered through “pay-to-play” corruption, political patronage and a lack of competitive bidding, legislation has been introduced in the state House to abolish the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.  House Bill 1197 would transfer all operations, maintenance, construction and other responsibilities for the turnpike to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in an effort to streamline government and enhance efficiency. If enacted, this legislation would require PennDOT to honor any collective bargaining agreement in existence between the Turnpike Commission and any employee organization. The bill also would assign debt of the outstanding …

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Rep. Mustio: Uncorking the Pros of Liquor Privatization

Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, shares news with his constituents in this week's 'Updates from Harrisburg—Part 3: Public Protection … It's In There."

One of the most common myths put forth by liquor privatization opponents is the potential for reduced public safety, increased social problems and elevated crime such as rampant alcoholism, binge drinking, underage drinking, and more alcohol-related deaths and injuries across the board. This week’s Headline Harrisburg report “uncorks” just some of the public protection aspects of liquor privatization that await Pennsylvanians under House Bill 790. Of course, government must concentrate on vigorously regulating the distribution of alcohol and cracking down on those who misuse it, especially minors and those who drink and drive. Contrary to the misinformed prohibitionist opinion, a number of states with completely privatized alcohol sales …

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State Rep. Mark Mustio

Mustio Votes to Bar Unemployment Benefits for Prison Inmates, Increasing Penalties for Willful Fraud

State Rep. Mark Mustio thanks Bridge Educational Foundation and U.S. Steel for providing scholarships to students in need through state's Educational Improvement Tax Credit.

This week, the PA House took a major step forward to protect Pennsylvania taxpayers by unanimously passing sweeping Unemployment Compensation reform legislation that would increase penalties on individuals who commit willful fraud to obtain unemployment compensation benefits, including cases of fraud perpetuated by incarcerated individuals.   If enacted, House Bill 403 would require the Department of Labor and Industry to cross-check databases to make sure prison inmates are not collecting unemployment compensation. This legislation would also impose an additional 52-week penalty for claimants who illegally apply for benefits while in prison. This penalty would apply to these same individuals in the future should they become eligible and …

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Mustio: Uncorking the Pros of Liquor Privatization

Weekly updates from Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Mustio.

  This week’s Headline Harrisburg report “uncorks” just some of the government-limiting aspects of liquor privatization that await Pennsylvanians under House Bill 790. First of all, our current state-run liquor system was created in 1933 by then-Gov. Gifford Pinchot, who declared that the PA Liquor Control Board’s mission was to make liquor sales “as inconvenient and expensive as possible.” When you consider that now only two states, Pennsylvania and Utah, still maintain complete control over wholesale and retail operations, the LCB’s original mission statement becomes even more antiquated and prohibitionist. Not surprisingly, the public overwhelmingly and consistently agrees. Opinion poll, after opinion poll, confirms the same thing: …

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Patch Poll: During What Times Should Municipalities Restrict Noisy Activities?

A concern about noisy nighttime trash collections in Ross Township raises a bigger question of whether trash collection, lawn mowing, construction and other noisy activities in Pittsburgh's north suburbs should have time limits.

Complaints from residents in a North Hills community have brought to light a problem that many municipalities have faced over time—when to restrict noise-making activities. Noise at night has been the topic of conversation at many board of commissioners and council meetings throughout the Pittsburgh area over the years. Most recently, Ross Township commissioners are amending an ordinance to restrict the collection of garbage from commercial and/or non-residential areas from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Currently, trash collection is not allowed in Ross between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. under an ordinance enacted in 1993. The township's decision was made after residents complained about noisy, night garbage collections near three North Hills School …

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Mustio: Updates from Harrisburg

Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, discusses efforts to implement real-time tracking of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine purchases in Pennsylvania.

  Uncorking the pros of liquor privatization A few short days after the PA House cast a historic vote in favor of House Bill 790, which contains my commonsense liquor privatization amendment, to end full government control of wine and spirits sales in the Commonwealth, I received a photograph from a constituent vacationing in Florida. In particular, the Now Hiring sign photographed below “uncorks” just some of the pro liquor privatization benefits that await Pennsylvania under House Bill 790, especially in the area of job creation. Just like Florida and several other states, I have personally visited such as Washington and Oregon, if Pennsylvania’s state liquor store system were sold off, or privatized under House Bill 790 our entire …

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From Congressman Rothfus

Rothfus: Balanced Budget Fosters Job Creation and Protects Seniors

Sewickley area U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus discusses the need for a balanced federal budget.

A balanced budget is critical for growing a healthier economy, adding jobs, and ensuring that we have the money to preserve and protect Medicare and Social Security and promote a strong national defense. The budget plan approved by the House last week, which I supported, balances in ten years and will lead to greater economic prosperity for all Americans. The surging debt and persistent deficits run up by the federal government are not abstractions. They are a threat to our economy, national security, seniors, and veterans. Today, every American’s share of the national debt exceeds $53,000. That would pay for a family’s groceries for nearly seven years or a four-year degree at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. To appreciate the …

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