On Point with Sen. Tim Solobay

Redistricting Fight is Over, Time to Move On

Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, gives us his take on the redistricting efforts.

The state Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision upholding the latest legislative redistricting plan. The new maps make only small changes to my Senate District, the biggest being the loss of Monessen and the gain of Aliquippa. The redistricting process has been difficult and, unfortunately, very partisan.  But it’s time to accept the unanimous decision of the court and shift our effort to meeting new constituents and helping with the transition that comes with these changes. The approved redistricting plan is far better than some of those that came before it, and I’m grateful to continue representing Greene County where cooperation among officials at all levels of government has brought about some exciting projects to improve the …

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Solobay Resolution Marks Lupus Awareness Month in PA

'This resolution is designed to draw attention to a disease that affects over 65,000 Pennsylvanians—and one out of every 185 Americans—yet often goes hidden from view,' Solobay told his colleagues during remarks on the Senate floor.

The state Senate has unanimously passed a resolution marking May as “Lupus Awareness Month,” state Sen. Tim Solobay said recently. “This resolution is designed to draw attention to a disease that affects over 65,000 Pennsylvanians—and one out of every 185 Americans—yet often goes hidden from view,” Solobay told his colleagues during remarks on the Senate floor. Solobay, D-Canonsburg, co-chair of the Legislature’s “Lupus Caucus,” is the prime sponsor of the resolution, which also recognizes May 10 as “World Lupus Day” in Pennsylvania. Drawing attention to symptoms of the disease can save thousands from unnecessary pain and health risks, Solobay said. “The symptoms of lupus often mimic less serious illnesses, so individuals with the disease …

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Solobay Training Bill Clears Key Senate Committee

Sen. Tim Solobay’s legislation would allow volunteer firefighters’ relief association funds to be used to pay for the costs related to advanced life support or paramedic training.

A state Senate committee this week approved Sen. Tim Solobay’s legislation to allow volunteer firefighters’ relief association funds to be used to pay for the costs related to advanced life support or paramedic training. “I’m grateful that my colleagues share my concern that we need to do what we can to make life easier for first-responders to get training and at the same time help organizations recruit volunteers,” Solobay, D-Canonsburg, said. “Recent events across the country have underlined the critical need for well-trained medical personnel at a time of emergency.” Currently, Pennsylvania law authorizes the use of volunteer firefighters’ relief association fund for sixteen separate categorized items, one of which is to pay for …

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Prosecutors Mark Crime Victims' Rights Week

Sen. Tim Solobay talks about Crime Victims' Right week and a new license place honoring the Marines.

U.S. Attorney David Hickton and Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone talked about advances in victims' rights as they marked National Crime Victims' Rights Week last week.  Hickton was the special guest speaker at an event on Main Street in Washington.  On my behalf, Mayor Brenda Davis presented both men with a Senate citation recognizing the week and their efforts to improve our victim and witness support system. A few years ago, I was confronted by gun-wielding thugs in Harrisburg, so I’ve been through the system as a crime victim.   Most people are only familiar with our justice system through television shows that usually end with an arrest. But after a suspect has been charged, there is usually a series of interviews, …

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On Point with Sen. Tim Solobay

Electronics Recycling: Success by the Ton

Sen. Tim Solobay gives you an update on what's happening from his perspective in the state Senate.

All of the organizers were pleasantly surprised (earlier this month), when more than 22 tons of electronic items were dropped off at our first big recycling event since a new Pennsylvania law took effect, prohibiting disposal of electronics in household trash. Cars lined up and televisions, computers, and stereos quickly piled up in the parking lot of the Canonsburg Borough Building. In the end, 45,750 pounds of material was collected. Seeing all of that equipment, containing hazardous chemicals such as lead and cadmium, in such a big pile really brought home the importance of recycling as a way of protecting the environment.  The new law forces consumers to take an extra step to dump unwanted devices, but it was obvious that the effort is…

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Frank Reynolds

5:12 pm on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Tim Solobay says we should be worried about hazardous chemicals in an old tv set but totally ignore the 12 million gallon toxic waste dumps that only him and his buddies at Range Resources are apparently allowed to know anything about? What a joke this guy is.   more ›

Paperwork Everywhere? Dispose of it Next Week at Shredding Event

The event will be held in Canonsburg Thursday. Did we mention it is free?

Tax season just ended, and Canonsburg officials encourage residents to rid their homes of sensitive paperwork—but not by throwing the documentation in the trash. Instead, Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, and borough Mayor David H. Rhome invite you to get your shred on. Solobay and borough will host DocSolutions, a subsidiary of Community Action Southwest, to provide free document shredding in the borough building parking lot. "These on-site document destruction and electronics recycling events offer secure and convenient means for folks to do some early spring cleaning and we encourage individuals to mark these dates on their calendars," Rhome has said. The document shredding will take place in the borough parking lot at 68 E. Pike St., …

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Solobay Praises Movement of Plumbing License Bill

'Homeowners should be able know whether someone running a plumbing business has the training and experience to do the job,' Solobay said.

State Sen. Tim Solobay praised this week’s committee approval of a bill that would regulate Pennsylvania’s plumbing industry to protect both consumers and experienced contractors. “Homeowners should be able know whether someone running a plumbing business has the training and experience to do the job,” Solobay, D-Canonsburg, said. “As it stands now, anyone can call himself a plumber and the requirements can vary from town to town and state to state. Creating a uniform licensing system will protect the wallets of consumers and the reputations of experienced contractors.” Senate Bill 441 creates a statewide licensing board for plumbing contractors and prohibits anyone from advertising themselves as an apprentice, journeyman or master plumber…

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White: DEP Ignored Open Records Request Regarding Range Resources' Worstell Impoundment

The state lawmaker blasted the DEP, while state Sen. Tim Solobay said he met with the department and it is doing what it can to ensure companies in the Marcellus Shale industry, as well as all industries, 'not only do it right, but safely.'

It's been more than a week since state Rep. Jesse White made a formal state Right to Know request for information associated with the Range Resources waste water impoundment in Cecil Township. And the Democratic lawmaker from Cecil said Tuesday afternoon that he has yet to get a response from the state agency. White made a request for permits and other documents associated with the site after news surfaced that there was a 30-gallon leak from a storage tank located near the impoundment on Swihart Road. The Right to Know law stipulates that a public agency has five business days to respond to requests. If an agency does not respond in that time period, the request is deemed denied. The five-day period was over as of the end of the business …

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On Point with Sen. Tim Solobay

Volunteer Week Begins April 21

Sen. Tim Solobay reminds you about the special week honoring volunteers.

National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate people doing extraordinary things through service. Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week focuses national attention on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as an integral aspect of our civic leadership. The week draws the support and endorsement of the president and Congress, governors, mayors and municipal leaders, as well as corporate and community groups across the country. Through programs such as the President's Volunteer Service Award, Daily Point of Light Award and the Extra Mile – Points of Light Volunteer Pathway, we recognize individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and government entities and the tremendous impact they are making on our country's most …

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Gallery: Printers, TVs and More Collected at 'Largest Ever' Recycling Day in Canonsburg

Mayor David H. Rhome called Saturday's event 'overwhelming."

Canonsburg Mayor David H. Rhome said there were items "everywhere" during Saturday's electronics recycling day in the borough. There were printers, and television sets and old computer monitors—all items brought to the borough building parking lot for recycling. Rhome, who co-sponsored the event with Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, said he was told theirs was the "largest ever" recycling day in Washington County.

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