Headline Harrisburg

On Thursday, I took part in a roundtable discussion in Allentown with several small business owners about the federal Marketplace Fairness Act and how it would benefit their bottom line. I’ve sponsored a resolution that passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives urging Congress to adopt the legislation, which is designed to set uniform standards for the collection of sales taxes. Small businesses are currently at a disadvantage because out-of-state online retailers are not required to collect the tax. Learn more. 
 
My staff and I would like to invite you to an open house at my district office on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to noon. My district office is located at 21 North Main St., Unit 9, in Coopersburg. We moved there a year ago to better serve the constituents of the 131st District. Please plan to stop by to enjoy some light refreshments and friendly conversation. We look forward to seeing you!

In light of news that a data breach at the popular retailer Target has potentially placed millions of consumers nationwide at risk for fraud or identity theft, the Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General has placed an advisory on its website to assist Pennsylvanians who are concerned that their personal information may have been compromised. 

The advisory informs consumers of free credit monitoring services being offered to Target customers, as well as explains what to do in the event you find unauthorized charges on your credit or debit card account. Learn more. 

This week, I joined a majority of my House colleagues in passing legislation that would give taxpayers and parents as much information as possible about school district spending. House Bill 1411, also known as SchoolWATCH, would direct the Department of Education to create an easy-to-use online database detailing the revenues and expenditures of traditional, charter and cyber schools. The measure next heads to the Senate. 
 
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is now accepting applications for community conservation and recreation projects. A variety of projects are eligible for funding, including park, hiking trails and land conservation. Applications must be submitted by April 16. Learn more.