Latest news with #Rabb
Technical.ly
6 days ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
‘In no world' can state funding replace Trump science research cuts, Philly reps say
As federal research dollars remain in limbo, Pennsylvania lawmakers say it will take more than state government to keep Philly's innovation economy alive. In Pennsylvania, federal funding for scientific programs fuels innovation and economic growth. As the Trump administration continues to revoke funding for research, STEM education and other innovation grants, Pennsylvania state Reps. Mary Isaacson, Christopher Rabb and Tarik Khan gathered at a Science Town Hall hosted last week by Philadelphia Science Action to explain their plans to keep the ecosystem funded in Philadelphia. Their answers call on stakeholders well beyond the 253 members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, including the universities and established startups. The level of collaboration between government, academia and business that made Philly the city of ' eds and meds ' is also what's needed for the industry to get through the current turmoil, the representatives said at the event hosted by Philadelphia Science Action at the Science History Institute. 'If you're part of this legal system, this industry, eds and meds and doing all these things, and you feel insulated because you were able to raise a ton of money through venture capital,' Rabb warned, 'those days are over.' Less money to support research and education means fewer budding scientists coming to Philly to skill up and, eventually, join the talent market. It's also causing more established local workers to change careers, according to Khan, who said there's only so much the General Assembly can do about it. 'There are things we can do on a state level, but let's be honest,' Khan said, 'the money that is being taken away, in no world can our state dollars make up for that.' Why research funding doesn't float to the top Many of the challenges the Trump administration has posed around federal grants can only be settled in the courts. Both Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania universities have sued over the funding issues, and representatives at the town hall said constituents should pay attention to local judicial races to have their voices heard on the topics. 'It doesn't mean that we're not trying to do things to assist where we can,' Rep. Isaacson said, pointing out that state-level electeds can't, for example, intervene in immigration law largely controlled by the federal government. With very narrow Democratic control of the Pennsylvania House, the representatives also say they have to pick their battles — and science funding usually does not make it to the top of the list. 'Our first and firstmost has to be taking care of those who have nothing,' Isaacson said, referencing people who 'depend on food stamps, SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare.' On top of calling on the private sector to look beyond their own institutions to support the ecosystem at large, Rabb also said several academic institutions in Pennsylvania have their own access to cash that could make up for some cuts — which would help avoid dipping into state funds. Pennsylvania universities raked in hundreds of millions in investment returns on their endowment funds in 2024. The University of Pennsylvania, for example, is sitting on one of the largest endowments in the US at $22.3 billion. Yet it has instructed faculty to halt work on projects funded by $175 million in federal research grants. Rabb described his view of the situation in characteristically blunt fashion. 'What's the point of having 'fuck-you money' if you don't say fuck you?' Rabb said. 'These universities have endowments. Use them with moral courage when you need the most.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Changes proposed to Pennsylvania's minimum wage statutes
(WHTM) — A bill circulating in the State House proposes changes to Pennsylvania's minimum wage laws. The bill, proposed by State Rep. Christopher Rabb (D-200), aims to fundamentally improve the application of minimum wage principles to ensure they are more broadly and fairly applied. According to the memo, the bill proposes making critical updates to the definition of 'employee,' strengthening protections against wage theft, and extending eligibility for the minimum wage to classes of workers who are 'historically and unfairly excluded from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.' Rep. Rabb's memo says the bill will abolish the sub-minimum tipped wage that 'subsidizes corporations that profit from providing poverty wages to their employees at the expense of taxpaying customers.' The bill would ensure that gratuities are the sole property of the employee and that none of the wages are taken by an employer for processing fees. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The memo adds that the bill would also repeal the state preemption of municipal or county ordinances to set minimum wage standards, empowering local governments to enact minimum wage provisions that best reflect their community's needs. Further, Rep. Rabb's memo says the bill would expand eligibility for the minimum wage in our Commonwealth to people who have been historically disenfranchised and excluded from labor laws, including 'incarcerated, domestic, agricultural, neurodivergent, youth, and gig workers.' 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
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed legislation would prohibit minors from being charged as adults in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — A bill introduced Thursday by a Philadelphia County legislator would prevent minors from being charged as adults. State Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) introduced House Bill 1383, part of the CARE Package for juvenile justice,. The bill aims to protect and rehabilitate young Pennsylvanians, Rabb's office says, by repealing the direct file law. It would require 'that all children be treated as children and never prosecuted as adults.' 'Children are children—they should never be charged as adults in our justice system, even if they have done something horrible,' said Rabb. 'Research has shown that young people tried as adults have higher rates of recidivism than those who remain in the juvenile system. We cannot continue this cruel, unnecessary punishment that forces children into the adult prison system.' Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices 'We know there are fundamental design problems with how Pennsylvania's juvenile justice system is set up to handle children,' state Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) said of the CARE Package. 'These bills are targeted to address those specific issues. This package of legislation is all about creating a justice system that allows kids greater opportunities to escape the cycle of recidivism and lead fulfilling and impactful lives.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmakers renew push for Pa. to join National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
Pennsylvania hasn't been lacking attention in recent presidential elections thanks to the Electoral College and the 19 electoral votes it's awarded the winner. It was one of seven battleground states in 2024 and the major party candidates and their running mates visited the Keystone State 51 times between July 21 and Nov. 4, second only to Michigan, which played host to 52 visits, according to one analysis. But some state lawmakers want to scrap it in favor of a national popular vote, which would hand the presidency to the candidate with the most raw votes nationwide. Democratic state Reps. Chris Rabb and Heather Boyd have reintroduced legislation Wednesday that would make Pennsylvania the 18th state to join the national popular vote movement. 'Every voter, of every party should have an equal voice in presidential elections,' Rabb, who represents a portion of Philadelphia, said in a statement. 'This is the fundamental principle that our democracy builds on — that every vote counts equally. Not that some votes count more than others. It is time for PA to join other states in ensuring that every vote counts equally.' Rabb and Boyd note that five times in U.S. history, including in 2000 and 2016, the winner of the Electoral College didn't win the popular vote. H.B. 270, similar to laws already enacted in 17 states and the District of Columbia, would take effect once states with a total of 270 Electoral College votes — the total votes needed to win the presidency under the current system — have approved the legislation. So far, the total Electoral College votes from the states that have passed the law is 209. Pennsylvania would add another 19. More: How Trump's new voter ID mandate could impact elections in Pennsylvania Rabb originally introduced the legislation, then H.B. 2662, in November, before the end of the previous term. At the time, the bill had the backing of Republican state Reps. Mike Cabell or Luzerne County, and Jamie Flick, who represents parts of Union and Lycoming counties. Cabell, however, had already been defeated in the GOP primary and did not return in 2025. The current version of the legislation, H.B. 270, has seven cosponsors, including Boyd, all of whom are Democrats. According to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, the 17 states that have signed the legislation into law are: California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Hawaii Illinois Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota New Jersey New York New Mexico Oregon Rhode Island Vermont Washington District of Columbia Matthew Rink can be reached at mrink@ or on X at @ETNRink. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PA Dems want popular vote to decide presidency, not electoral college
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bipartisan proposal aims to change Pennsylvania DUI laws to protect medical marijuana users
Whether it's opioids or alcohol, most drivers think twice about getting behind the wheel of a car after consuming. But what about days after you have legally used medical cannabis? 'I had no idea that when I got my card that I was putting myself in danger, not because I was driving impaired but because I was driving as a medical cannabis patient in the wrong state,' said Rep. Chris Rabb who represents portions of Philadelphia. Rabb said Pennsylvania has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to cannabis and the DUI laws. Rabb said currently an officer does not have to prove the driver is impaired, only that the cannabis shows up in your system to get charged with a DUI. 'The test will only show there are metabolites in my system not that I'm high, not that I'm impaired,' Rabb said. Those metabolites can show up to 30 days after using the drug. It's that reason that over 30 states that have legalized cannabis have updated their DUI laws. 'We definitely are looking to other states on how they handle it; it's something that comes up in the District Attorneys Association,' said Beaver County DA Nate Bible. Bible said the big question mark surrounds how someone handles the drug. One may not look impaired, but another with less in their system does. That's why he thinks there needs to be a better test if this law were to be changed. 'When you are looking at marijuana it's sometimes hard to look at somebody and know if they are impaired so I think that's a big hiccup there needs a little better test to develop this person has a legal amount in them, and there has to be some form of legal amount because it is some people's medicine,' Bible said. Rabb has now introduced this bill four times and hopes, with better understanding and bi-partisan support, this year will be the year for change. 'If someone is misusing it or high, they should not be driving and this bill provides no exceptions to anyone who is impaired for any reason,' Rabb said. Republican Senator Camera Bartolotta also introduced a similar bill in the Senate and both bills were referred to the Transportation Committee. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
