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In this Update:

• Survey Question: Do You Think Independent or Unaffiliated Voters Should Be Able to Vote in Pennsylvania’s Primary Election?
• Gov. Wolf Vetoes Legislation That Would Keep Violent Inmates in Jail Longer
• PA Capitol Fountain Turns Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Breast Cancer Screening Saves Lives 
• This Week’s Hot Jobs in Erie County
• Erie School District Removed from Financial Oversight
• Free Dental Exams
• Medicare Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 15, Free Insurance Counseling Available
• Program Providing Help with Water, Sewer Bills Ends Oct. 28
• Conservation and Natural Resources Grants Available

Survey Question: Do You Think Independent or Unaffiliated Voters Should Be Able to Vote in Pennsylvania’s Primary Election?

You can answer the survey question here.

Gov. Wolf Vetoes Legislation That Would Keep Violent Inmates in Jail Longer

I am extremely disappointed that Gov. Tom Wolf has vetoed legislation supported by Republicans and Democrats that would tighten the parole process for violent offenders.

House Bill 146, or Markie’s Law, was named after Markie Mason, an 8-year-old Lawrence County boy who was brutally stabbed to death by a man who was paroled at the end of his minimum sentence for homicide, even after being convicted of committing two separate assaults of other inmates while in prison.

The bill would have postponed consideration of a violent inmate’s parole an additional two years following the inmate’s minimum release date for each conviction of a violent offense while incarcerated. This was a rational, responsible response to a horrific crime and Gov. Wolf’s veto is indefensible.

PA Capitol Fountain Turns Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This past week at the State Capitol, the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition hosted its annual “Pink Fountain Event” to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast Cancer Screening Saves Lives  

An important message for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is that screening for signs can greatly improve survival rates.

In recent years, the General Assembly enacted laws to provide a new screening and reporting system for patients determined to have dense breasts, which can disguise cancer and delay its detection. It also expanded MRI coverage for patients and implemented a driver license check-off for breast cancer research funding.

This Week’s Hot Jobs in Erie County

Check out Erie County Hot Job listings at PA CareerLink.

For more information on the postings below, type in the job number at https://www.pacareerlink.pa.gov/jponline/.

Erie School District Removed from Financial Oversight

This past week, the state removed the Erie School District from financial watch it has been under since 2016. The state also removed the district from the oversight of a state-appointed financial administrator.

When I was first elected to the Pennsylvania Senate, I pledged to get aid to rescue the Erie School District. I’m proud to have delivered on my promise and helped secure the additional $14 million per year in state funding for the school district that brought the district back from insolvency and assisted its turnaround.

The district’s austerity measures during the crisis, including the merger of four high schools to two in 2017, made it easier for me when I was in Harrisburg to make the pitch that Erie was worth investing in.

This is a proud moment not only for me politically and for the Erie School District, but also for the community. Because we all know that, if you don’t have a functioning school district, everything else falls apart.

Free Dental Exams

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins Oct. 15, Free Insurance Counseling Available

The annual open enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries begins Oct. 15 and ends Dec. 7.

Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI) provides free and objective information about Medicare Advantage Plans, prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement plans to help Medicare beneficiaries compare plans and determine what best meets their needs. This work is done with the help of nearly 650 volunteers across the commonwealth.

You can learn more about PA MEDI counseling or becoming a volunteer on the Department of Aging’s website or by calling the PA MEDI Helpline at 1-800-783-7067, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Older adults can also call your Area Agency on Aging.

Program Providing Help with Water, Sewer Bills Ends Oct. 28

Pennsylvanians who may need help with water bills or wastewater service costs have until Oct. 28 to apply for assistance.

The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program provides assistance for families who have past-due water bills, had their water service terminated or received a notice indicating their service will be terminated in the next 60 days. LIHWAP is a temporary federal assistance program. Households can receive grants for both drinking water service and sewer service. Grants are issued directly to water service providers, and families must meet income requirements.

Applications for LIHWAP, as well as other public assistance programs, can be submitted online at www.compass.state.pa.us. County Assistance Offices are available for in-person support if clients cannot access online services or need assistance or information that is not on the COMPASS website or the myCOMPASS PA mobile app.

Conservation and Natural Resources Grants Available

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) recreation and conservation grants program is accepting applications from municipal entities and non-profit organizations for a special fall funding round through Oct. 27.

Because of its unique funding source, the supplemental fall funding round has some differences from typical DCNR grant rounds. The primary difference is that for municipalities with populations under 5,000 people, the match requirement is 20% of the grant amount with no cap on project size.

DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation offers a Frequently Asked Questions document, and more information about the fall round will also be published through the BRC e-newsletter.

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