Jun. 15, 2016 Download
Legislation designed to reform Pennsylvania’s public pension system and place new state workers into a hybrid retirement plan has been approved by the Pennsylvania House. The hybrid formula would provide prospective employees with a baseline pension, and a defined benefit – 401K style – plan for any income earned over $50,000. The change will also help to address the unfunded pension liability currently plaguing the Commonwealth’s Public School Employees (PSERS) and State Employees (SERS) retirement systems. Rep. R. Lee James (R-Venango, Butler) said the House has worked in a bipartisan fashion to address pension liability without robbing those already in the system of their benefits.
Senate Bill 1071 now awaits concurrence in the Senate.
Jun. 09, 2016 Download
The Legislative Report Program with Rep. Lee James (R-Venango, Butler) is now available on the House Republican Radio News Service. You may use this brief public affairs report in its entirety or edit it down for actualities to use in your state government news coverage.
Mar. 24, 2016 Download
The latest Legislative Report Program with Rep. Lee James (R-Venango, Butler) is now available on the House Republican Radio News Service. You may use this brief public affairs report in its entirety or edit it down for actualities to use in your state government news coverage.
Feb. 10, 2016 Download
Rep. Lee James (R-Butler & Venango) offered his reaction to Gov. Tom Wolf’s spending proposal for fiscal year 2016-17, which was announced Tuesday in an address before a joint session of the General Assembly. The governor’s budget plan would increase taxes on working Pennsylvanians and employers by $3.6 billion and spending by 10 percent, or $3 billion, and calls for $33.3 billion in total spending. To support his proposed spending plan the governor has proposed 15 new tax increases, including a retroactive increase in the Personal Income Tax on Pennsylvania workers.