(10/2023) Budget Process Still Incomplete
More than two months after the state budget deadline, the budget process is still not finished. Last week, the Senate advanced legislation necessary to complete the budget, but House Democrats, who hold a slim 102-101 majority, have not moved to call the House back into session.
The recent resignation of one of their members leaves the House deadlocked at 101 Democrats and 101 Republicans. Still unresolved is Fiscal Code legislation, which directs how budget money is to be spent. Without it, funding for some important programs cannot be allocated.
It is worth noting that because the governor vetoed funding for the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success scholarship program, thousands of students are back in their failing schools this fall with little hope for better educational opportunities. House Republicans have put forward a people-driven, future-focused set of ideas to truly help Pennsylvanians and address their concerns. It’s time to put politics behind us and move Pennsylvania forward.
Addressing PA’s Nursing Shortage
In an effort to address the critical shortage of nurses and ensure access to health care, Pennsylvania is implementing the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing nurses with multistate licenses issued by 40 other states and territories to practice here.
Effective Sept. 5, registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who hold a multistate license through the interstate Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) will be permitted to practice in the Commonwealth. The change provides a much-needed expansion in the pool of recruits for hospitals and other health care facilities, which will help to alleviate the burden on overworked nursing staffs and make conditions safer for both patients and health care workers.
A November 2022 survey by the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) showed vacancy rates of 30% for RNs providing direct care, which is a 10-percentage point increase since 2019. A separate HAP report from January 2023 showed Pennsylvania could have a shortfall of more than 20,000 RNs by 2026. This is an important step toward reversing that trend.
Exploring Opportunities in Rare Earth Minerals
Pennsylvania is rich with rare earth minerals, products that serve as vital components in many of today’s technologies, including computer chips, smart phones and touch screens, as well as medical devices, defense systems and more.
The House Republican Policy Committee traveled to Clearfield last week to speak with researchers and industry experts about the great potential for growth in this industry in Pennsylvania’s coal regions. With a vast majority of America’s rare earth minerals originating overseas, we should be encouraging production right here in the Commonwealth.
PA Elk Came Back for Another Season!
You can once again check in on the state’s elk herd from the comfort of your own home! The Pennsylvania Game Commission has installed a camera on Elk County game lands that are typically a hub of elk activity as the bugling season heats up. In the coming weeks, bulls will become more vocal as they compete with one another for available cows. In addition to the elk, viewers can expect to see turkeys, deer and other wildlife as well. The top time to see elk on camera is late in the afternoon.
If you’d like to see the bugling season in person, the PA Game Commission reminds visitors to always be "Elk Smart." Give elk space, never feed elk and do your part to ensure the welfare of the herd.
