Raid of Horse Racing Fund Could Cost Jobs

This past week I joined other legislators, individual horse owners, breeders and farm owners to oppose cuts in Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget proposal that would take $72 million from Pennsylvania’s Race Horse Development Fund to plug other budget holes.

In addition to lowering property taxes, the Race Horse Development Fund was the chief reason for the legalization of casino gambling in Pennsylvania. The casinos have provided an important boost to the racing industry which has resulted in bigger purses and more jobs.

The proposed cuts would send these job creators in search of greener pastures and potentially cost Pennsylvania as many as 15,000 jobs.

Balancing the budget must be done with a longer view than this scheme to shift money around to fill budget holes without considering the long-term economic impact. Horse breeders, and the ancillary businesses that benefit from a better racing climate in Pennsylvania, are an important part of our agricultural history and a key contributor to our economy.

ECO Camp Free for High School Students

Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will be hosting a free Exploring Careers Outdoors Camp. ECO Camp is week-long residential camp that exposes high school students to various outdoor and conservation careers. Students will explore DCNR lands while being introduced to foresters, geologists, park managers, and other conservation professionals.

Click here to get more information on attending the camp. The application deadline is April 1.

Congratulating Our Dedicated Social Workers

As a member of the California University of Pennsylvania's Social Work Advistory Committee, I understand that social workers are a critical and cost-effective part of our efforts to build better communities.  The pay isn’t great and the work can be pretty intense, but without their profession thousands of Pennsylvanians would fall through the cracks, putting more burden on already over-taxed safety-net programs. 

I recently visited the university to celebrate Social Work as a Profession Month.  I congratulate anyone who does this demanding and important task.

I joined Nathaniel Morley (left) at the event. Nathaniel is the southwest division chair of the National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania Chapter.

Canonsburg to Host Free Document Shredding

As income tax season reminds residents how many sensitive personal documents they have stored at home, the and I are teaming up with a local business to help get rid of the backlog.

DocSolutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Community Action Southwest, will provide free document shredding in the borough parking lot, 68 East Pike St., Canonsburg, on April 20.

DocSolutions is a respected Washington County service provider in records management, including document destruction.