January 26, 2021
A Pennsylvania Senate committee has approved for a second time a bill that puts the health, welfare and safety of a child above other factors in parental custody matters.
Senate Bill 78 — better known as Kayden’s Law — was reintroduced and unanimously voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
The committee unanimously approved the custody reform bill in September, but it had to be reintroduced because the previous legislative session expired before the bill could be brought to the Senate floor for a vote.
January 26, 2021
Legislation named after a Pennsbury School District student who was tragically murdered is moving forward in Harrisburg.
Senate Bill 78, known as Kayden’s Law, came before the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee Monday and was voted with bipartisan support out of committee.
Kayden was killed in Philadelphia by her father during a 2018 unsupervised visit. Her father, who killed himself, had a history of threatening actions and a Bucks County judge had approved unsupervised visits. The death of the student of Pennsbury’s Edgewood Elementary School in Lower Makefield Township brought spotlight locally to the child custody process.
January 25, 2021
LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — A child-protection bill named in honor of a slain Lower Makefield girl was one of the first pieces of legislation approved by the state senate committee that was considering it.
The bill, co-sponsored by Bucks County state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday in Harrisburg. It made similar progress in September, but was not approved by the full senate by the end of the year and, as such, had to be reintroduced.
January 25, 2021
At least 1,000 Bucks County residents have died from the coronavirus as of last week, a grim milestone surpassed as cases slow and vaccinations continue.
Initial state Department of Health data put Bucks County’s deaths to COVID-19 at about 1,013 people as of Monday morning, rising by about 43 deaths over the past 14 days.
With about 84 deaths so far this month, January is currently the fifth deadliest month of the pandemic that began 10 months ago.
January 25, 2021
State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) is hosting a telephone town hall on Thursday, January 28 at 7 p.m.
During the town hall, he will provide important information and updates on the state-wide COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan, along with local updates on when, how, and where residents of the 10th Senate District can get vaccinated.
“I am hearing from my constituents daily with questions about how they can get the COVID-19 vaccine, and when they will be eligible under state guidelines,” said Sen. Santarsiero. “I hope this town hall offers residents of my district an opportunity to get up to speed on the latest news about the vaccination effort, and have their questions answered.”
January 21, 2021
Democratic lawmakers heard from advocates, academics and business groups Monday on a renewed push to give minimum wage workers in Pennsylvania a raise to $15 an hour.
Over 100 people attended the Zoom hearing on minimum wage hosted by the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Policy Committee, covering a broad range of topics over three hours.
January 21, 2021
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10th dist.) announced his appointment as minority-party chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In addition to his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee, Santarsiero will serve on the Appropriations, Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure, Environmental Resources & Energy and Intergovernmental Operations committees.
January 20, 2021
NEWTOWN, PA — The Pennsylvania Senate representative for District 10 congratulated President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Inauguration Day.
Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States at the U.S. Capitol. A Scranton native, he won Pennsylvania by more than 80,000 votes in the November election.
January 12, 2021
While shocking, the events of Jan. 6, 2021 were hardly surprising. Leaving aside Donald Trump’s often abhorrent behavior over the last four years of his presidency, his actions in just the last few months were a strong signal of what was to come.
At the first presidential debate last fall, he refused to commit to an orderly transition of power should he lose and requested that neo-fascist groups like the Proud Boys “stand by” if needed. Then in the days after the election when his initial lead in six critical swing states began to evaporate as mail-in ballots — which were cast in historically high numbers due to the pandemic — were counted, he began to propagate the big lie that the election had been stolen from him without offering any evidence to support that outrageous claim. In response, his supporters in those states began to demonstrate at vote counting locations in an attempt to intimidate the public servants working inside.
January 8, 2021
The head of the Pennsylvania Senate said Friday night the Republican caucus will wait for a court ruling before making a decision on filling a seat from western Pennsylvania.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, said Friday night the Senate Republicans will likely follow the lead of a federal court ruling in the election in the 45th District. State Sen. Jim Brewster, D-Allegheny, was certified as the winner in the race by the Department of State, but Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli has sued over inconsistencies in the counting of mail-in ballots. The controversy over filling the seat has drawn national media attention.
January 8, 2021
HARRISBURG — Trump flags outnumbered U.S. flags in the “America First” crowd yelling outside Lt. Gov. John Fetterman’s office window.
About 200 self-described patriots were pledging their allegiance to the outgoing president and pleaded for Pennsylvania state lawmakers, on the first legislative session day of the year, to reverse the certified results of a presidential election they believe was stolen.
January 7, 2021
Three Democratic state Senators from the Delaware Valley and the state health secretary gave their reassurances to the public about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines during a virtual town hall Wednesday, while also answering questions about how its distribution is continuing to roll out.
The town hall with senators Carolyn Commita (D-19th), Tim Kearny (D-26th) and Steven Santarsiero (D-10th) mainly focused on distribution in the Southeast region of Pennsylvania. This was one of several town halls happening in the following weeks for all regions of Pennsylvania including two more for Southeast Pa.
January 6, 2021
Pennsylvania lawmakers in Washington, Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley are reacting to the breach of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump that forced a halt to the certification of the Electoral College vote Wednesday.
January 6, 2021
A number of state and federal lawmakers representing the area have responded after attackers took siege of the U.S. Capitol during Congress’ certification of President-Elect Joe Biden’s victory.
After rioters broke through law enforcement barriers, members of Congress were given gas masks and cleared from chambers by police early in the afternoon. Leadership was quickly removed by their security details and U.S. Secret Service special agents took Vice President Mike Pence from the building during the breach of the complex.
January 5, 2021
A Western Pennsylvania lawmaker who won re-election in November was not sworn-in to the state Senate on Tuesday with the rest of the victors, as Republicans voted to deny his seating and ponder a challenge by his electoral opponent.
Sen. Jim Brewster, a McKeesport Democrat who has represented the 45th District for the last decade, defeated Republican Nicole Ziccarelli by 69 votes in the Nov. 3 contest, but didn’t get to take the oath of office on the Senate floor with the 24 others who won their races in this cycle.
January 5, 2021
A long-awaited $8.7 million project to rehabilitate 11 historic homes and other structures throughout Washington Crossing Historic Park in Upper Makefield should start next month, state Senator Steve Santarsiero, D-10, Lower Makefield announced.
The work, which has faced several delays since originally being funded nearly a decade ago, is expected to be finished in the spring of 2022, he added.
January 4, 2021
WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA — The groundbreaking for the $8.7 million rehabilitation project at Washington Crossing Historic Park will be held in February, local elected officials announced Monday.
The project, which will involve fixing 11 historic homes and other structures throughout the park, has faced several delays since it was first funded nearly a decade ago, State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) said.
December 30, 2020
A total of $3.5 million in state grant funds have been awarded to improve local infrastructure, health and safety, and arts and culture in Bucks County, state Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) said.
The awards will go to New Hope Borough, Doylestown Hospital, Bucks County Children’s Museum and the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), a Commonwealth grant program for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects.
December 30, 2020
NEWTOWN, PA — The Bucks County Conservation District will receive $262,558 in grant funding for a water quality improvement project at an equine facility in Newtown Township, state elected leaders announced Wednesday.
The improvements that will be made through the project will “protect Neshaminy Creek and help raise awareness within our local equine community about the importance of conversation,” State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) said. Funding is being provided through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener program.
December 29, 2020
WEST CHESTER — State Sen.-Elect Carolyn Comitta, state Sen. Tim Kearney, and state Sen. Steve Santarsiero will hold a virtual town hall meeting with Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine to answer residents’ questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and discuss the Commonwealth’s vaccination plan.
The meeting, set for Wednesday, Jan. 6, at 3 p.m., is focused on the southeast Pennsylvania region and will likely include additional state lawmakers representing the area. It will be held via Zoom and is free and open to the public.
December 29, 2020
NEW HOPE >> New Hope Borough has been awarded a $1.75 million dollar grant towards the construction of a new parking garage, funded by Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
“Council and I extend our deepest gratitude to State Senator Steve Santarsiero who supported our proposal, and to Governor Tom Wolf for his forward-looking leadership,” said Council President Connie Gering in announcing the grant.
December 28, 2020
The nonprofit Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center (OHMTEC) has been awarded $500,000 in Pennsylvania state funding through the Redevelopment Assistance Capitol Program (RACP). RACP is a commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
December 28, 2020
BUCKS COUNTY >> State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) has announced that $3.5 million in state grant funds to improve local infrastructure, health and safety, and arts and culture in Bucks County, which will help grow and strengthen businesses, while providing a needed economic boost to the region.
The awards will go to New Hope Borough, Doylestown Hospital, Bucks County Children’s Museum and the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). RACP is a Commonwealth grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.
December 24, 2020
MORRISVILLE BOROUGH >> State Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and State Representative Perry Warren (D-31) have announced $1.5 million in state grant funding for improvements in Morrisville Borough.
The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks will receive $1 million for its Manor Park Landfill project and Morrisville Borough will receive $500,000 for a project at Patriots Park at Historic Summerseat.
December 23, 2020
A new, five-level parking garage in New Hope is one of several projects included in some $7.5-million in state grants awarded Tuesday to wide-ranging economic redevelopment projects throughout Bucks County.
The 350-car garage will receive about $1.75 million in grant funding and is expected to help make the historic borough more accessible to visitors, a news release from state Sen. Steve Santarsiero states.
