Harrisburg Happenings
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I participated in the third and final week of public hearings on Governor Wolf’s proposed state budget for the 2015-16 Fiscal Year. [Read More]
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Senator Vogel asked Acting State Adjutant General James Joseph about delays in processing Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption program applications and lauded the Veterans Court in Beaver County and the Department’s mobile veterans outreach effort. [Read More]
DCNR Budget Hearing
Senator Vogel asked Acting DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn about timber sales in Pennsylvania and amenities in state parks. [Read More]
PEMA Budget Hearing
Senator Vogel asked PEMA Director Richard Flinn and Fire Commissioner Timothy Solobay about preparations for emergencies in Marcellus Shale drilling areas and the inability of some county 911 centers to handle text messages. [Read More]
Department of Agriculture Budget Hearing
As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee, Senator Vogel discussed a number of topics with Acting Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding including: inequity in tax breaks for farmland, particularly in light of the array of tax increases proposed by Governor Wolf; support for the horse racing industry in Pennsylvania; a proposed “Green Agriculture” initiative; and, funding for Penn State’s agriculture programs and the University of Pennsylvania’s vet school. [Read More]
Department of Transportation Budget Hearing
Senator Vogel asked Acting Secretary of Transportation Leslie Richards about CNG filling stations, the Green Light Go Program and the use of roundabouts. [Read More]
Department of Revenue Budget Hearing
Senator Vogel questioned Revenue Department officials about over-optimistic projections for the Governor’s proposed severance tax and the negative impact that a cap on local funding would have on Beaver, Butler and Lawrence counties where drilling operations are expected to increase in the coming years. [Read More]
DEP to Hold Public Hearing on Cracker Plant Application
Senator Elder Vogel lauded today’s announcement of a public hearing on the Shell Cracker plant proposed for the former Horsehead Corporation’s Monaca Zinc Smelter in Potter Township, Beaver County. [Read More]
Vogel Disappointed with Penn National Drop of Lawrence Racino Project
Senator Elder Vogel issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement by Penn National Gaming of its intention to withdraw its support for the proposed Lawrence Downs Casino and Racing Resort project. [Read More]
Department of Labor and Industry Budget Hearing
Senator Elder Vogel asked Acting Secretary of Labor & Industry Kathy Manderino about efforts to stop prison inmates from receiving unemployment compensation and updates to the state uniform construction code. [Read More]
Department of Education Budget Hearing
Senator Vogel discussed public-private partnerships and state support for career and technical programs in Pennsylvania’s schools with Acting Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera. [Read More]
Harrisburg Happenings
As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I participated in the second week of public hearings on Governor Wolf’s proposed state budget for the 2015-16 Fiscal Year. [Read More]