Newsroom
Sen. Hughes Unveils Legislation Addressing School Funding Inequities
PHILADELPHIA, June 15, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes, along with state and local advocates, today unveiled legislation that would provide funding to upgrade school facilities and ensure education equity in public schools. The news conference was held at Cassidy...
Lawmakers Announce Voting Access Improvement Package
HARRISBURG, June 13, 2017 — A group of Democratic lawmakers announced a package of bills today aimed at increasing voter participation in Pennsylvania. "We are committed to reforming our election process by improving voting access and...
Brewster, Hughes React to New State Report on Charter Schools
Harrisburg – May 24, 2017 – State Sens. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) reacted to today’s release of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report, which examined the financial impact of charter schools...
Hughes Announces $2.2 Million for Traffic Signal Improvements in Upper Dublin
UPPER DUBLIN, May 12, 2017—Upper Dublin Township has been awarded significant state funding to upgrade traffic signals, according to state Sen. Vincent Hughes. The $2.2 million in funds will go toward the installation of adaptive traffic signal equipment and software...
As Tax Deadline Looms, Hughes, Torsella Urge Pennsylvanians to Claim Tax Credit
PHILADELPHIA, April 4, 2017 — With the deadline for taxpayers to file their income taxes just two weeks away, state Sen. Vincent Hughes and state Treasurer Joe Torsella today urged Pennsylvanians to claim every cent of cash they may be owed by the federal Earned...
Lawmakers’ Plan Offers Middle Class Tax Cut, Ensures Wealthiest Pay ‘Fair Share’
HARRISBURG, March 22, 2017 — State Sens. Art Haywood and Vincent Hughes, along with the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, today announced a plan to generate additional revenue to address the commonwealth’s deficit by ensuring that the wealthiest Pennsylvanians...
Hughes: ‘Turn Anger into Action’ at Upcoming Community Forum
PHILADELPHIA, February 22, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes invites the public to participate in an upcoming community forum that will focus on public engagement on legislative issues in Harrisburg and Washington, DC. The community forum will take place on Wednesday,...
Lawmakers Announce $357,000 for Philadelphia School District from Rideshare Revenues
PHILADELPHIA, February 16, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes today joined fellow lawmakers and officials from the School District of Philadelphia to announce that the school district has received its first installment of state funding — more than $357,000 — as a result...
Hughes: Governor’s Budget Plan Invests in Jobs, Working Families
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2017 — State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) who serves as Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed 2017-18 budget invests in jobs and working families and is a good fiscal blueprint to...
Senate Democrats Call for Special Session on Property Tax Relief or Elimination
Harrisburg – February 1, 2017 – State Senate Democrats said that Gov. Tom Wolf should call a special session of the General Assembly to ensure that legislation that results in significant property tax relief or total elimination is passed and signed into...
Senator Vincent Hughes Calls for Immediate Negotiations on Statewide Paid Sick Leave
Harrisburg – January 27, 2017 – Senator Vincent Hughes issued the following statement calling for immediate negotiations to create a statewide paid sick leave policy for employers: “Earlier this week, the Republican majority on the Pennsylvania Senate’s Local...
Senator Vincent Hughes Announces $125,000 in State Grants to Address Lead Crisis in Philadelphia
Philadelphia – December 22, 2016 – Senators Vincent Hughes today announced two grants totaling $125,000 to combat lead poising in Philadelphia. The grants come from state funded programs earmarked for job training and community revitalization. Senator Hughes also...
Hughes & Tartaglione Call for Pennsylvania Senate to Reconvene to Extend Funding for Labor & Industry Service Call Centers
Harrisburg – November 18th, 2016 – Senators Vincent Hughes and Christine Tartaglione issued the following statements on the failure of the Pennsylvania Senate to extend funding for Labor & Industry service call centers: Senator Hughes: “I am outraged by the...
Senate Democrats Announce Leadership Team
Harrisburg – November 16, 2016 – Senate Democrats today elected leaders for the 2017-18 legislative session. State Senator Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) was re-elected Democratic Floor Leader. “It is an honor and a privilege to once again be chosen to serve the caucus as...
Senator Vincent J. Hughes Calls for Pennsylvania Senate to Begin Proceeding to Remove West York Mayor
Harrisburg, October 7th, 2016 – Today, State Senator Vincent J. Hughes sent a letter to Senator Joe Scarnati, President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate, calling for him to appoint a special committee to investigate the potential removal of Charles Wasko,...
Costa, Hughes Support Budget Becoming Law; New Funds for Education, Opioid Treatment
Harrisburg, July 10, 2016 - Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) released the following comments in support of Gov. Tom Wolf's announcement that he was allowing the...
Senator Hughes Statement on Passage of State Budget
Harrisburg, June 29th, 2016 – State Senator Vincent Hughes today voted with the majority of the Pennsylvania Senate to pass a $31.53 billion General Fund budget. The bill offers an on-time budget that contains a modest increase funding for public education and makes other investments. The bill, which passed the Senate 47 to 3, will now be sent back to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for concurrence.
Senate Democrats Call for More Funding for Human Relations Commission
June 22, 2016 − State Senate Democratic Whip Anthony H. Williams (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) today said that the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) has been devastated by recurring state budget cuts and that the state spending plan now under consideration...
State Senate Roundtable in Philadelphia Focuses on the Dangers of Lead Exposure
Philadelphia – May 19, 2016 – At the request of state Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee held a roundtable discussion today on the health impact of lead exposure. “The effects of lead exposure are indelible, dangerous and...
Senate Democrats Outline Legislation to Combat Opioid and Heroin Crisis
Harrisburg, May 18, 2016 – With drug overdose deaths reaching epidemic levels, Senate Democrats unveiled legislation today to address the opioid addiction crisis from prevention through recovery. “Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate and there is no easy...