Tracking Every Cent of Taxpayer Money

May. 11, 2018

Tracking Every Cent of Taxpayer Money With overwhelming bipartisan support, the House last week approved and I voted for legislation to greatly enhance the public’s ability to track every cent Pennsylvania receives and how the state spends taxpayer dollars. House Bill 1843 would enhance the Pennsylvania Treasury’s Transparency Portal website and make the program permanent so it is always available to taxpayers. Specifically, the legislation would create the Commonwealth Checkbook, a user-friendly online ledger to show the public how and where their tax dollars are spent. The bill would also require state agencies to post budget requests online. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Wall That Heals Attracts Thousands Already this week, thousands of Pennsylvanians have visited The Wall That Heals, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex. “The Wall That Heals” and an accompanying mobile Education Center has been on display since opening ceremonies on Wednesday, May 9, and will be available for public viewing, 24 hours a day, until 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 13. Admission is free. Constructed of powder-coated aluminum, the wall features 24 individual panels bearing the names of more than 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. Since many Americans have not been able to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF), creators of both the original wall and the replica, want to give all citizens, veterans and their family members an opportunity to see the memorial. Additional information about the mobile replica can be found at thewallthatheals.org. For more information about the Capitol event, visit this site.

Benefits Available for Amputee and Paralyzed PA Veterans The Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension program offers eligible Pennsylvania veterans a pension of $150 per month through the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). To be eligible, veterans must have served in the military honorably; resided in Pennsylvania upon entering the military; suffered a service-connected injury or incurred a disease resulting in the loss or loss of use of two or more extremities (arms/hands or legs/feet); and have at least a 40 percent disability compensation rating or higher in each limb as determined and certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Pennsylvania veterans should contact the County Veterans Affairs Director in the county they reside to apply. More information about the DMVA Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension program can be found at Pension Program. About 1,800 veterans are currently enrolled in the program.

Happy Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in our district. Thank you for your sacrifices and patience throughout the years and the love you shared with your children. Our country, Commonwealth and communities are only as strong as the mothers who raise each new generation of young men and women who will grow up to be the leaders of tomorrow.