I joined Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and some of my House colleagues at a recent Capitol news conference at which the auditor general released the findings of audits on the Susquehanna and Delaware River Basin Commissions. A few years ago, I raised questions about these interstate compacts, which are largely unchecked and abusing their regulatory authority. The audits show the commissions, which receive taxpayer funding, inappropriately used taxpayer money for lavish meals and alcohol, and for gift cards to reward employees. I will be taking action to increase transparency, provide legislative oversight and other measures to make the commissions more accountable to taxpayers.

I was an early supporter of making cleaner burning Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) more available to Pennsylvania consumers and, in particular, large users such as transit companies and fleet vehicles. My legislation, to provide grants and loans to small mass transit agencies such as the Adams County Transit Authority for the conversion of fleet buses to CNG, was amended into Act 13 of 2012. I was proud to be there and offer remarks at the start of CNG fueling at the Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority-Gettysburg facility at 257 N. Fourth St. The Gettysburg facility is one of 29 CNG fueling stations to be opened statewide as part of a Public Private Partnership. It is gratifying to see my legislation at work here in Adams County and throughout Pennsylvania!
I was honored to receive the Champion of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business in Pennsylvania for my strong support of small businesses in the Commonwealth. Presenting me with the award is Rebecca Oyler legislative director of NFIB-Pennsylvania.
I participated in a House Policy Committee hearing in York County in which testimony was taken from residents who allege they have been defrauded by cemetery operators at Suburban Memorial Gardens in Conewago Township. Among the complaints were allegations that the cemetery owners were not delivering on their commitments and were not maintaining the cemetery. The committee will consider the testimony and possible legislative remedies.
Several months ago, I arranged a meeting with PennDOT officials, asking them to work on improving the dangerous intersection at Route 16 and Orchard Road in Liberty Township, which claimed the life of an 11-year old girl earlier this year. I recently stopped by the site to check on the progress being made and learned that PennDOT is ahead of schedule and is expected to complete the project by early fall. Changes include a new turning lane at the intersection, moving telephone poles back away from the road and new signage.
Robb Hanrahan, host of “Face the State” on CBS21, invited me on his program to discuss the work of the Common Sense Caucus, a government watchdog group I assembled a few years ago to address major issues such as regulatory reform, increasing government transparency and the state budget.
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