Press Releases
Senate Democrats React to Budget Line-Item Veto
Harrisburg – Dec. 29, 2015 – Senate Democrats provided the following reaction to Gov. Tom Wolf’s line-item veto of a Republican budget plan. The governor released six months of emergency funding for schools and human service programs, or $23.39 billion of the House...
Senate Hearing Focuses on Budget Impasse’s Impact on Schools
Harrisburg – October 28, 2015 – At the request of state Sen. Vince Hughes (D-Phila.), the Senate Democratic Policy Committee today held a hearing on the devastating impact that the state’s 120-day budget impasse is having on schools across the state. “While many of...
Senate Democrats Ask Treasurer to Withhold Payment to Charters
Harrisburg – Oct, 20, 2015 – State Senate Democrats today called on the Pennsylvania state treasurer to “stop payment” on a scheduled disbursement of property tax revenue headed to charter schools. They have sent a letter to state Treasurer Tim Reese formally asking...
Senator Hughes Responds to Pennsylvania House Vote on Governor Wolf’s Proposed Revenue Package
HARRISBURG- October 7th, 2015 – State Senator Vincent Hughes, Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement in response to the Pennsylvania House’s negative vote on Governor Wolf’s revenue package: “Republican lawmakers...
Senator Hughes Slams Republicans for Trying to Hold Education Funding Hostage to Force Unpopular Liquor Privatization Proposal
HARRISBURG - (July 28, 2015) - Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement in response to Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai’s recent comments on state budget negotiations: “I am disappointed by recent comments made by Rep. Mike Turzai, who once again...
Senator Hughes Kicks Off “Read to Succeed” Summer Enrichment Program with Over 500 Students
Philadelphia, (July 13th, 2015) – State Senator Vincent Hughes today kicked off “Read to Succeed,” his annual program that provides students with opportunities to increase their reading skills. Over 500 students have enrolled in intensive reading classes, which are...
Senator Hughes Blasts Republican State Budget Priorities, Says “It Would Move Pennsylvania in the Wrong Direction.”
HARRISBURG, June 30th, 2015 − Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the Republican legislative priorities, including state budget, liquor privatization, and pension overhaul: “I am deeply disappointed with the actions of my Republican colleagues...
Senate Democrats: Eliminate Property Taxes for 2 Million Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg – June 24, 2015 – A new property tax plan that would eliminate school property taxes for 2 million homeowners, reduce property taxes by $1,990 for another 1.2 million homesteads and provide a $500 rent rebate for more than 800,000 Pennsylvanians was unveiled today by Senate Democrats.
Senator Vincent Hughes Statement Thanking the Senate Judiciary Committee for Passing His Anti-Swatting Bill
HARRISBURG, June 23th, 2015 - Senator Vincent Hughes issued the following statement in response to the passage of Senate Bill 296 by Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee: “Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee voted to send Senate Bill 296 to the...
Senator Hughes and Governor Tom Wolf’s Chief of Staff Katie McGinty Announce Funding for Summer Jobs
Philadelphia, June 19th, 2015 – State Senator Vincent Hughes and Governor Tom Wolf’s Chief of Staff Katie McGinty today announced funding for a summer jobs initiative that will include $7.5 million in new funds to create over 3,700 new jobs statewide. The program will...
Senator Hughes Statement on the Recommendations of the Basic Education Funding Commission
HARRISBURG, June 18, 2015 − Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the recommendations of the Basic Education Funding Commission: “First, I want to applaud the work of the Commission members and the effort they put into this critical issue. It’s...
Senator Hughes Statement on the Defeat of Marcus Brown’s Nomination for State Police Commissioner
HARRISBURG, June 8, 2015: Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the defeat of Marcus Brown’s Nomination for State Police Commissioner: “I am extremely disappointed that my colleagues in the Pennsylvania Senate have failed to support such a...
Senator Hughes Praises Hillary Clinton’s Support for Universal Automatic Voter Registration, Highlights Growing National Support for Legislation
Philadelphia, June 5th, 2015 – State Senator Vincent Hughes today praised Hillary Clinton for joining the growing movement to make automatic universal voter registration a reality. Senator Hughes recently announced Senate Bill 806, which would change Pennsylvania’s...
Democrats Press for Shale Tax to Fund $1 Billion Education Investment
Harrisburg – June 2, 2015 – Legislative Democrats gathered in the state Capitol for a news conference today to highlight the broad and deep support in the General Assembly for legislation that would create a new $1 billion natural gas extraction tax for education....
Senator Vincent Hughes Introduces Bill to Provide Historic $3.8 billion in Property Tax Relief
Harrisburg, May 14, 2015 – Today, State Senator Vincent Hughes announced he has introduced SB 118, Governor Wolf’s proposal to provide $3.8 billion in property tax relief for Pennsylvania’s homeowners as part of the 2015-2016 State Budget. SB 118 would totally...
Senator Hughes Statement on Passage of Illegal Pension Bill
HARRISBURG, May 13th, 2015 − Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 1: “The Republican controlled Pennsylvania Senate today passed pension “reform” legislation that has historically been ruled illegal and unconstitutional...
Senate Democrats Call for PERC to Create Fair, Open, Transparent Process to Consider Pension Legislation
Harrisburg – May 13, 2015 – A leading group of Senate Democrats today wrote to the Public Employee Retirement Commission (PERC) to express grave concerns about the process surrounding Senate Bill 1, a massive overhaul of the pension system for public employees. PERC...
Senator Hughes Statement on Protecting Philadelphia’s Paid Sick Leave Law
HARRISBURG - (April 14th, 2015) Senator Vincent Hughes released the following statement on the need to protect the right of local municipalities to pass paid sick leave legislation: “Two months ago, Philadelphia stood behind working families by providing over 200,000...
Hughes Issues Statement on Racially Insensitive Comments on State Trooper Nominee
Harrisburg - March 26, 2015 --Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery) today released the following statement concerning racially insensitive comments printed in the Allentown Morning Call. Senator Hughes’ Statement...
Sens. Hughes, Schwank to Propose Expansion of New ‘Revenge Porn’ Law
HARRISBURG, March 19, 2015 – To better protect Pennsylvanians from the unsolicited and embarrassing publication of their private, intimate pictures, state Sens. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia) said today they will introduce a proposal, similar to the recently enacted so-called “revenge porn” law, that would make it a crime for someone to steal and publish unauthorized images of strangers and others.