Kristin's Corner Senator Kristin

Rep. Frank Farry is the prime sponsor of House Bill 2157, which would impose greater penalties on individuals who set off fireworks in violation of the law, as well as place restrictions on when consumer fireworks may be set off in Pennsylvania. He joins Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill on the podcast to discuss his unique background as a volunteer fire chief and why he thinks this bill will address many known challenges since the Commonwealth legalized consumer fireworks in 2017. You can read the legislation here: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2021&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2157

Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill is joined by the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, Brandon Carson. Brandon was recently hired by the authority to lead this statewide entity that serves a single point-of-contact for broadband funding in the Commonwealth and drive out federal tax dollars to eligible projects to close the digital divide.

Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) joins Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill to discuss legislation they are working on together that would ban outside groups from funding Pennsylvania’s elections process. In 2020, the nonprofit Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL) pumped in more than $20 million into the Commonwealth. Further evidence shows certain counties were targeted by CTCL for funding. The senators believe that this could set a very dangerous precedent and outline why they are seeking to end the practice all together. Senate Bill 982 would restore confidence and integrity in Pennsylvania’s election process.

Senator Gene Yaw, Chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, joins Senator Phillips-Hill to discuss rising energy costs in Pennsylvania and across the nation. The senators discuss the efforts by the Wolf Administration through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and how it will only make matters worse in the state.

They also discuss Senator Yaw’s recent op-ed titled, “Are We Nuts? American Energy is Key to Undermining Putin’s War,” which can be found here: https://www.senatorgeneyaw.com/2022/03/01/are-we-nuts-american-energy-is-key-to-undermining-putins-war/

Finally, they review the recent Independent Fiscal Office’s report showing Pennsylvania a major net exporter of electricity, which can be found here: http://www.ifo.state.pa.us/download.cfm?file=Resources/Documents/Electricity_Update_March_2022.pdf

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) joins Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill to discuss Gov. Wolf's recently proposed state budget and the committee's public hearings to review the spending plan.

Senator Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) joins Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill to review proposed amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution, including measures that he is sponsoring alongside House Speaker Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster).