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In this Update:

• Senate Reviews Proposed State Budget
• My Questions During Budget Hearings
• Check the Status of Your Tax Refund
• Improving Access to Unemployment Compensation System
• Share Your Feedback on PennDOT’s Winter Services
• Veterans: Protect Your Pension

Senate Reviews Proposed State Budget

The Senate Appropriations Committee held the first of three weeks of public hearings about the proposed 2023-24 state budget.

The governor proposed a $45.8 billion budget that would increase spending by $1.3 billion. Based on projections, it would nearly wipe out the state’s $5 billion Rainy Day Fund in five years.

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity urged lawmakers to make greater investments in Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund and reduce the structural deficit to improve the state’s credit rating. She testified that the commonwealth has a choice: spend modestly now or face a possible fiscal cliff as federal funds dry up and the Rainy Day Fund is depleted.

Independent Fiscal Office Director Matthew Knittel confirmed that Pennsylvania joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative would mean hundreds of millions of dollars in new energy taxes. Higher electricity costs could be on the horizon if the governor advances a carbon tax.

Find the hearings schedule, livestreams of budget hearings, daily recaps and video from prior hearings at PASenateGOP.com.

My Questions During Budget Hearings

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I was in Harrisburg this week to participate in the state budget hearings described in the first article.

I asked a variety of questions during the seven hearings we held this week.

• During the hearing with Department of Revenue Acting Secretary Pat Browne, I asked about the proposed expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.
• I asked Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office Director Matthew Knittel about the governor’s proposed tax credit for specific professions.
• Pennsylvania hardwood forests are key for local recreation and our economy. During this week’s budget hearing with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, I asked about forest pest management efforts and if they’re successful. The spotted lanternfly, gypsy moth and other insects threaten our area.
• The PA ABLE Savings program allows individuals with disabilities to save tax-free for related expenses while maintaining government benefits. During the hearing with the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury, I sought an update on the program.
• The Susquehanna and other rivers are vital in our district. At the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection hearing, I asked about various commissions that oversee these rivers. We need to balance the need for jobs with our responsibility to protect the  environment near these natural assets.
• Pennsylvania’s auditor general discussed his efforts to take the department to the next level by more aggressively attracting and developing great employees during this week’s hearing. He also shared how he’s improved audits.

I will continue to provide updates about budget hearings and my participation in them.

Check the Status of Your Tax Refund

As families struggle with rising costs and inflation, many are anticipating their tax refund. Anyone who would like to check the status of a Pennsylvania Income Tax refund can do so by calling 1-888-PATAXES or clicking here. There is also an opportunity to verify your tax refund to expedite processing.

Improving Access to Unemployment Compensation System

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry extended indefinitely a program that enhances Pennsylvanians’ access to the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system by offering in-person appointments to claimants.

The program, now called UC Connect, offers in-person services for UC claimants who do not have proper technology, equipment or technical skills; individuals without access to home Internet or broadband; and individuals with limited-English proficiency.

To schedule an appointment, claimants should contact a PA CareerLink® center directly.

Share Your Feedback on PennDOT’s Winter Services

PennDOT is accepting winter services feedback through an online survey. The public can take the survey here through April 6.

The 17-question survey asks how often respondents travel during poor weather, how they rate PennDOT’s winter service and how they rank snow-removal priorities. Respondents are also asked how they receive PennDOT roadway information and whether they use the state’s 511PA traveler information services.

During the winter, https://511pa.com offers its standard traffic and incident information while adding PennDOT plow-truck locations, winter roadway conditions and other services.

Veterans: Protect Your Pension

Veterans and their beneficiaries who are potentially eligible for VA pension benefits must beware of pension poaching. While pension poaching can impact any veteran, poachers primarily target older veterans. Pension poaching comes in several forms, from selling financial products of questionable value to charging a fee to restructure assets to make the veteran or beneficiary meet income eligibility criteria. Read about other pension poaching methods here.

Avoid becoming a victim of pension poaching by never paying:

• For forms or to submit applications.
• To restructure assets to “qualify.”
• For the promise of eligibility for a pension.
• To receive a lump sum payment on a pension.

If you suspect or experience a scam or financial exploitation related to any veteran benefit, including a VA pension, file a report immediately with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Military and Veterans Affairs section by calling 717-783-1944, emailing PAvets@attorneygeneral.gov or filling out this online form.

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