February 13, 2023 Express Update

This past week, the Democrats won three special elections that were conducted for the purpose of filling vacant House seats. Although the outcome was expected (all the seats were in heavily Democratic parts of Allegheny County) the results were significant in that for the first time in 12 years, the Democrats control the state House. […]

On September 29, 2022, the federal government appropriated an additional $1 billion in supplemental LIHEAP funding through a Continuing Resolution (Sec. 146, Pub. L. 117-58). On November 2, 2022, PA Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that Pennsylvania would receive approximately $38 million in additional funds through this supplemental appropriation. These supplemental funds were not […]

Feedback Requested: Hazmat Endorsement Renewal Delays The PPA has received reports from multiple companies in the past 6 months indicating a prolonged wait period for HME Threat Assessment Program approval. Since PennDOT administers its own HME testing program rather than relying on TSA federal processing center, PennDOT is responsible for notifying the driver (as defined […]

Last Monday, the Energy Marketers of America (EMA) submitted comments regarding the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) proposed rule that would severely limit the authority of state governors to waive federal motor carrier safety hours of service (HOS) regulations during a declared state of emergency. The proposed rule would limit both the scope of […]

For the second straight week, U.S. House Republicans held hearings designed to question Biden Administration activities and advanced Congressional Review Act (CRA) actions – a vehicle for lawmakers to undo recent agency rulemaking through a simple majority vote. EMA was asked to comment on House Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Congressman David […]

With the text of the final bill clocking in at over 1,600 pages, it is no wonder that some items that made their way into the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act (aka the omnibus spending bill) that was signed into law at the end of 2022 have gotten less attention than others. Small businesses should be […]

In a sign that some of the aggressive Republican pushback is working, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is considering easing a proposed rule that would compel companies to disclose climate-related risks. The Wall Street Journal reported recently that the SEC is reconsidering just how stringent the reporting requirement will be. The final version of […]

PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else– — Gov. Shapiro — MCall – Paul Muschick: Gov. Shapiro’s Plan To Make Govt. More Accountable Is A Model For Others — Post-Gazette Editorial: A Bureaucratic Reform Could Transform PA Government — Spotlight PA: Tracking […]