Latest news with #PennsylvaniaHouse
Buzz Feed
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Buzz Feed
PA Lawmaker Sparks Outrage Over Livable Wage Claim
As Americans struggle to afford groceries and get priced out of cities across the country, Republicans are still advocating against increasing the minimum wage. Back in June, Pennsylvania House minority leader Jesse Topper, a Republican, gave remarks against a bill that would increase the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour for most. That would boost hourly workers' wages to over double where they currently sit at $7.25. "Not every wage is designed — and please hear me clearly on this," Topper says. "Not every wage is designed to be a livable wage." He goes on to give examples of his point, like a teenager or a retired person working for income they don't technically need to survive. You can watch Topper's full remarks on his Facebook page. The clip was posted to r/Fauxmoi, where it racked up over 2,000 upvotes and 270 comments (and counting). "So some jobs are supposed to be a hobby then?" this person asked. Someone else suggested giving Topper "one of those not designed to be livable wages." "You can't say a job is essential and then turn around and say the person doing it doesn't deserve to live off it," one user wrote. This person simply wrote, "Fuck this." Someone said that the people working for minimum wage "do more work in a week than these people do in an entire year." "The audacity of this man to say this, when those same people not making a livable wage are literally paying his salary with their tax dollars," this person wrote. "Despicable humans." One user said that service jobs like those at fast food joints sometimes go to kids who don't "need" the money, but that lots of those jobs are occupied by people who really do. "So pro life," someone joked. And finally, this person pointed out that the mere existence of the phrase "livable wage" is troubling in itself. So, what do you think? Sound off in the comments.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
'Smart' GOP holdout Brian Fitzpatrick flees after voting 'No' on Trump's Big Beautiful Bill; phone unreachable
Pennsylvania House Republican Brian Fitzpatrick was the latest lawmaker to vote against the Donald Trump-endorsed tax and spending bill at a test vote on Wednesday. Fitzpatrick's vote against the bill came as a surprise and other GOP lawmakers on the House floor looked confused on why he votes 'no.' GOP House Representative Brian Fitzpatrick. (@RepBrianFitz/X)(Twitter) As the results flashed on the screen at the House, Fitzpatrick's GOP colleagues tried to locate him on the Senate floor, possibly to get him to change his vote, but the former FBI agent was nowhere to be found. Melanie Zanona, the Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News, reported that Fitzpatrick stormed out of the House immediately after casting his vote against the bill. GOP Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota reacted to Fitzpatrick's departure, sarcastically calling it a "smart" move. The report added that Johnson then tried to phone Fitzpatrick but has not been able to reach him. The test vote on Wednesday came after the House GOP decided to push ahead with the bill despite there being a sharp division within the GOP camp regarding Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill.' While deciding on whether to push ahead with the bill at the House, the House GOP ended up in a deadlock and Vice President JD Vance had to cast the a tie-breaking vote. Earlier on Wednesday, President Trump held a discussions with the GOP holdouts, which resulted in many of them switching in favor of it. However, even in the latest test vote, the House GOP had four holdouts; Andrew Clyde, Victoria Spart and Keith Self, along with Fitzpatrick. Also read: Trump vs Mamdani: Why does US President 'want to arrest' NYC mayoral candidate? 'We're In A Good Place' - Mike Johnson As the House got to work on the bill after a seven-hour deadlock, Speaker Mike Johnson said that the House GOP is "in a good place" regarding the passage of the bill before Trump's self-imposed deadline of July 4. He added that Trump's discussion with lawmakers has proved crucial in thawing tensions withing the GOP camp. We've been talking with members from across the conference and making sure that everyone's concerns are addressed, and their questions are answered, and it's, it's been a good day,' Speaker Johnson said. 'We're in a good place right now. This is the legislative process, this is exactly how I think the framers intended for it to work. We feel very good about where we are and we're moving forward.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Pennsylvanians can now carry concealed firearms in 30th state
(WHTM) — Pennsylvanians can now carry concealed firearms in Virginia. According to Attorney General Dave Sunday, the two states signed a reciprocity agreement this week, allowing holders of licenses to carry firearms in both states. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Shortly after taking office, I asked my staff to review opportunities to maximize reciprocity agreements with willing states, and ensure all existing and future agreements protect and respect standing law and constitutional rights,' said Attorney General Sunday. 'Our research of law in both states revealed nothing conflicting that would disallow permit holders to carry in both states.' The Memorandum of Agreement between the two states only applies to handguns and requires permit holders to: Be at least 21 years of age Carry photo identification Display the concealed carry permit when asked by law enforcement Not have a concealed carry permit previously revoked Pennsylvania House passes bill to expand AG oversight of health system transactions Pennsylvania now has concealed carry reciprocity agreements with 30 states. The AG's office provides a complete list online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania lawmaker pushes to ban ‘disturbingly realistic' child-like sex dolls
(WHTM) — A bill proposed in the State House would ban 'child-sex dolls' in Pennsylvania. According to the bill's memo by Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester), these 'disturbingly realistic sex dolls' are molded to look like young children and babies, and are 'increasingly being found during criminal investigations.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The memo says these dolls are manufactured overseas and are accessible to the United States because they are not currently prohibited under federal law. Rep. Shusterman's memo says the dolls are often found alongside other child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including photographs, videos, and computer files. While the later materials are labeled CSAM, Shusterman says the dolls are not. The bill would update the Commonwealth's definition of CSAMs to include these types of dolls and to make it a third-degree felony to import, traffic, and/or possess such dolls. The bill has not been submitted for introduction yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania House to pass legislation on cyber charter school tuition
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — The Pennsylvania House is expected to pass an attempt to limit the amount school districts have to pay to cyber charter schools today. Governor Shapiro previously called for an $8,000 cap on cyber charter tuition. Cyber charter schools are public schools, but the amount of tuition they receive varies by school district. The Governor and several Auditors General argue that the funding formula needs to be more standardized, and school boards assert that they're having to write too large a check to cyber charters, which detracts from their mission. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now House Bill 1500, which offers several reforms and accountability measures, will pass the House on Wednesday. However, the bill will cap cyber charters at $8,000, meaning school districts would have to write smaller checks. Advocates of cyber charter schools argue it would be crippling and harmful for the families that chose them. 'What we're looking at here is money and funding,' said Marcus Hite, the Executive Director of the PA ASSOC of Public Cyber Charter Schools. 'What about the kids? What about the families that are leaving school districts for bullying, for lack of services, for mental issues? We're worried about the money. Yes, the money is one thing, but nobody is taking into consideration the impact of the 65,000-plus students and families.' The bill is expected to pass the House and move on to the State Senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
