Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) reintroduced legislation that would ban abortions based on a diagnosis of down syndrome. Turzai and Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair) introduced similar legislation during last session which passed through the House and Senate committee but it was never seen for a final vote. 

The surprising consensus Tuesday from both the House and Senate was that members of both parties were positive about the Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget address, which Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) stated is "breaking tradition". 

"I think there is a lot there that we can embrace and get behind, at least generically," Corman said. "The governor laid out some priorities that I think we all share." 

Friends, family, lawmakers and staffers gathered Wednesday for a memorial to Karen Coates, the former chief of staff to House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), who passed away last week, calling her a fiercely intelligent professional who balanced her work with a love of her family.

Coates, who served as Turzai’s chief and legal counsel since he ascended to the Speakership in 2015, died last Thursday following a brief illness.

Karen Coates passed away Thursday evening following a short illness.

Coates, Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) had served as his right hand women since he ascended to the chamber's top position in 2015.

Two special elections will take place in Philadelphia and Lackawanna counties March 12 to fill the House’s two vacant seats.

Since Oct. 16, when former Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich (D-Lackawanna) passed away, and Dec. 11, when Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D-Philadelphia) resigned following her bribery conviction, the seats have been empty.