Press Releases
Senator Hughes Statement on Governor Wolf’s Appointment of Majorie Neff to Chair the School Reform Commission
HARRISBURG, (March 1st, 2015) − Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement in response to Governor Tom Wolf’s appointment of Majorie Neff to be Chair of the School Reform Commission: "I want to offer my support for Governor Wolf's decision. It is a good...
Senator Hughes Statement in Support of Governor Wolf’s Decision to Impose a Moratorium on the Death Penalty in Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, February 13, 2015 − Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement in support of Governor Tom Wolf’s decision to impose a moratorium on the death penalty: "I want to commend Gov. Tom Wolf for taking the brave step of declaring a moratorium on the...
Senator Hughes Statement on Governor Wolf’s Announcement Regarding “Healthy PA”
HARRISBURG - (February 9th, 2015) Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on changes to “Healthy PA” announced today by Governor Tom Wolf: “I want to praise Governor Tom Wolf for announcing today the first step towards transitioning away from so-called...
Hughes, Haywood Propose 8 Percent “Shale For Our Future” Tax
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 5, 2015 -- Surrounded by local educators and parents, state Sens. Art Haywood and Vincent J. Hughes today announced legislation to impose an 8 percent tax on Marcellus Shale gas along with the 1.9 percent impact fee. Joined by Sen. Larry Farnese,...
Senator Hughes Praises Commonwealth Court Decision on School Reform Commission Attempt to Cancel Philadelphia Federation of Teachers’ Contract
PHILADELPHIA- (January 22nd, 2015) − Senator Vincent Hughes issued the following statement in response to Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court’s decision to prohibit the Philadelphia School Reform Commission from unilaterally canceling the contract with the Philadelphia...
Senator Hughes Statement on the Inauguration of Governor Tom Wolf
HARRISBURG- (January 20, 2015) Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the inauguration of Governor Tom Wolf: “I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Governor Tom Wolf. I know that he will serve our great Commonwealth with distinction....
Costa, Hughes: Corbett, Republicans Accountable for $2 Billion Deficit
Harrisburg – Dec. 3, 2014 – Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Phila.) said the $2 billion plus budget deficit disclosed at today’s Mid-Year Budget Briefing should be laid at the...
Senator Hughes Reacts to the Independent Fiscal Office’s Projected Nearly $2 Billion Budget Deficit
PHILADELPHIA- (November 13th, 2014) – Senator Vincent Hughes issued the following statement in response to the Independent Fiscal Office’s projection that Pennsylvania has a budget deficit of nearly $2 billion: “I am disturbed but not surprised to learn that...
Lawmakers Learn About Housing Needs of Vets at McKeesport Roundtable
McKeesport – September 5, 2014 - Lawmakers who participated in Friday afternoon’s roundtable discussion at the James R. Brewster Community Center in McKeesport learned first-hand about the needs of veterans and the obstacles they face when they try to find adequate...
Costa, Hughes Comment on Corbett’s Healthy PA Following Federal Approval
Harrisburg - August 28, 2014 − Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Sen. Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia) issued the following statement following federal approval of Medicaid expansion for Pennsylvania....
Senator Hughes Responds to Decision to Open Philadelphia Public Schools
PHILADELPHIA- (August 15th) – Sen. Vincent Hughes released the following statement today in response the announcement that Philadelphia public schools will open on time: “While I am grateful that students and parents will not have to deal with the disruption of our...
Senator Hughes Calls for PA House to Return and Vote on Philadelphia Cigarette Tax
PHILADELPHIA- (July 31st, 2014) Senator Vincent Hughes issued the following statement in response to news that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has cancelled scheduled session days for next week: “The failure of the Pennsylvania State House to return means in...
Corbett’s Action on Budget Illustrates Republican Dysfunction
Harrisburg – July 10, 2014 – Members of Senate Democratic Leadership issued the following statements concerning Gov. Tom Corbett’s line-item veto of funding for the General Assembly and his renewed call for lawmakers to consider pension reform: Senate Democratic...
Senator Vincent Hughes Denounces “Sham” Budget Passed by PA Senate
HARRISBURG- June 30th, 2014- Senator Vincent Hughes issued the following statement in response to the passage of HB 2328 by the Pennsylvania Senate: “Today, in an effort to pass a budget bill before the start of the new fiscal year, Senate Republicans advanced a $29.1...
Senator Vincent Hughes Applauds Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee for Unanimous Passage of Veteran Housing Bill
HARRISBURG- June 18th, 2014- Senator Vincent Hughes issued the following statement in response to the passage of Senate Bill 1135 by the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee: “Today, the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee passed new legislation which...
Senator Vincent Hughes Applauds Philadelphia School Reform Commission for Refusing to Pass Draconian Budget, Calls on State to Provide Additional Revenue
Philadelphia – May 30th, 2014 – State Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement in response to the announcement that the School Reform Commission (SRC) will not approve a budget that does not include new revenue to restore vital programs in...
Pennsylvania Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Expressing Sympathy to Victims of Mass Kidnapping in Nigeria
Harrisburg, May 7th, 2014 – The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by State Senator Vincent Hughes expressing sympathy to the victims of the recent mass kidnapping in Nigeria. More than 300 teenage girls were abducted from a local...
Senator Vincent Hughes Reacts to More Than $1.2 Billion Revenue Shortfall, Urges Lawmakers to Pass Shale Tax and Other Measures to Balance the State Budget
Philadelphia – May 1st, 2014 –Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement in response to news from the Independent Fiscal Office that declining April revenue collections reveal that Governor Corbett’s proposed budget over estimates available revenues by...
State Lawmakers Highlight Growing Bipartisan Support for Tax on Marcellus Shale to Fund Education
Harrisburg, April 9, 2014 – Today a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the Senate and House voiced their support for imposing a severance tax on natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania. While there was no clear consensus among the legislators on the exact terms of the...
State Senator Vincent Hughes Announces Legislation to Tax Natural Gas Drilling, Fund Public Education and Other Critical Programs
Philadelphia – March 27th, 2014 – At a news conference today, Senator Hughes announced his support for new legislation that would impose a severance tax on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania at a 5 percent rate. The new levy, which will...