Rescheduled Concealed Carry and Gun Safety Seminar

April 7, 2017

Rescheduled Concealed Carry and Gun Safety Seminar

Due to a scheduling conflict, my Concealed Carry and Gun Safety Seminar that had been slated for Saturday, April 8, has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 22. The seminar will be held from 9-11 a.m., at the Glenn Lebanon Fire Company, 42 Glenn Lebanon Drive in Lebanon.

I apologize for the inconvenience, but we needed to reschedule this event I hope that you can attend on the new date.

The featured speaker will be attorney Joshua Prince, who will discuss Pennsylvania’s concealed carry laws. There may be other speakers as well.

Space is limited, please RSVP by Thursday, April 20.

Registration is available online at RepDiamond.com, by calling my district office at (717) 277-2101, or via email at Jweister@pahousegop.com.

Fire and Emergency Services Grant Training Seminar

I’m pleased that Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Tim Solobay will conduct a Grant Training Seminar on Thursday, April 20, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Glenn Lebanon Fire Company, 42 Glenn Lebanon Drive.

There are many fire and emergency service companies in our region who work diligently to protect our residents. This seminar will provide help in following the grant application procedures in order to gain much-needed financial help with equipment, training and facilities.

Interested companies should contact my district office at (717) 277-2101 for more information and registration.

No-Tax-Increase Budget Moves Ahead in House

This week, the House approved a $31.52 billion budget proposal that does not increase taxes or borrowing but does invest in education, public safety, human services and infrastructure.

House Bill 218 reflects a collective need to reinvent the way Pennsylvania budgets and governs, by moving ahead to streamline programs and services; eliminate duplicative state functions; reduce bureaucracy; and create an endowment fund that will generate money to pay future costs.

The budget will be balanced using several options, including expanded gaming and liquor privatization proposals, which have previously passed the House.

Additional details about the proposal are available here.

Committee Endorses Liquor Bills to Encourage Choice, Convenience

This week, the House Liquor Control Committee passed two bills designed to further dismantle the state-owned wine and spirits system.

House Bill 991 would allow for the creation of privately owned retail stores to sell bottles of wine and spirits in an effort to provide greater convenience and choice for consumers.

Another proposal, House Bill 438, would allow spirits to be sold in the same retail locations as wine. This would specifically apply to grocery and convenience stores with restaurant seating.

The measures are not only designed to improve consumer choice and convenience but also to help the state generate much-needed revenue.

Both bills now move to the full House for a final vote.

If You Owe Back Taxes, Amnesty Program Can Help

Pennsylvanians who owe state tax will soon have the option to pay those back taxes through a new tax amnesty program.

The program, which offers incentives to Pennsylvanians to settle their delinquent tax accounts, is expected to generate as much as $150 million in revenue for the Commonwealth. The program does not “forgive” taxes owed but instead waives penalties, collection and lien fees, and half of the interest owed.

All taxes owed to the Commonwealth administered by the Department of Revenue are eligible for the program. The delinquent taxes must have been owed as of Dec. 31, 2015. Any unpaid taxes, penalties and interest resulting from periods after Dec. 31, 2015, are not eligible for the program.

The amnesty period runs from April 21 to June 19, 2017. More information is available at revenue.pa.gov.

Sign Up to Receive Legislative Email Updates

Keep up-to-date on the latest legislative and community news. Your email address will be used strictly for legislative purposes.