Gov. Tom Wolf has spent a considerable amount of time this year pitching his plan to “restore” Pennsylvania through revenue from a shale gas tax, but House Republicans who stand in the way of Wolf’s proposal see a different path forward — one that attracts energy sector jobs to Pennsylvania through tax credits and permitting relief.

 

GOP lawmakers on Wednesday reiterated their desire to pass the “Energize PA” package helmed by House Speaker Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), which is designed to be a catalyst for job creation in the state.

In early May, 20 activists were arrested at the Capitol as they dropped banners and dollar bills with the word “bribe” inscribed on them to the House floor. The demonstrators, from the good government group March on Harrisburg, wanted to send legislators a message: pass a ban on gifts to state lawmakers.

Now, as policymakers are set to reconvene in Harrisburg for the start of the fall session, one House lawmaker hopes that a new gift restriction proposal will satisfy both lawmakers and activists.

Many students at Penn State University won’t see an increase tuition next year, as the school voted Thursday to freeze tuition for in-state residents for the 2019-2020 academic year.

 

The freeze comes as the Penn State University Board of Trustees approved the university’s 2019-2020 operating budget on Thursday, which totals about $6.8 billion in spending.

Surrounded by local government officials, educators and business owners, Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday called on legislators to rally behind funding to expand broadband access in rural areas as part of his Restore Pennsylvania initiative.

 

The plan — which proposes funding $4.5 billion worth of capital projects through a severance tax on natural gas — would create the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Program, which would provide financial assistance to businesses, nonprofits, local governments and rural electric cooperatives to develop the infrastructure necessary to provide high-speed internet in low-access areas.