PHILADELPHIA (May 16, 2013) – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) today announced that he is introducing legislation that will protect groups who are the subject of SLAPPs, or Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, or SLAPPs, are lawsuits filed against a person or group for positions they take in connection with [...]
Farnese Resolution Declares May 2013 as ALS Awareness Month
Harrisburg, PA, May 14, 2013 — The Senate of Pennsylvania today unanimously approved State Sen. Larry Farnese’s (D-Phila.) resolution declaring May 2013 as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, Awareness Month in Pennsylvania. Each year more than 5,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with ALS, which is commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Farnese’s resolution was [...]
Harrisburg, May 7, 2013 – PA Sen. Larry Farnese and PA State Rep. Brian Sims released the following statement on the introduction of House and Senate Bills 300 which bans discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression statewide in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations.
HARRISBURG, May 7 – A record number of state legislators are sponsoring bills that would protect LGBT people from discrimination in Pennsylvania. House Bill 300 and S.B. 300 have a combined 102 sponsors, 77 in the House and 25 in the Senate, including seven House Republicans and two Senate Republicans, legislators announced at a Capitol [...]
Farnese Heralds Senate Passage of Campaign Finance Reform Bill
PHILADELPHIA, April 17, 2013 – The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously adopted a campaign finance reform bill today that State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) said would empower more Pennsylvanians to cast an educated vote thanks to a clearer understanding of donors and candidates.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to provide this input in connection with the selection process for Philadelphia’s second Category 2 gaming license.
Farnese Issues Statement on the Death of Capt. Michael Goodwin
PHILADELPHIA, April 11, 2013 – State Sen. Larry Farnese issued the following words of sympathy on the tragic death of Philadelphia Fire Captain Michael Goodwin: “On this sad day, I extend my condolences to the family and friends of Captain Michael Goodwin. His reputation as a cherished husband, devoted father and dedicated public servant of [...]
Philadelphia Police and area District Attorneys applaud the bipartisan effort to make Philadelphia safer PHILADELPHIA (April 4, 2013) – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) and State Rep. John Taylor (R-Phila.); joined today by First Deputy Police Commissioner Richard J. Ross, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman and Delaware County [...]
PHILADELPHIA (February 22, 2013) – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) today thanked the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (Board) for their recent decision to hold an additional public input hearing in South Philadelphia on the future location of the City’s second casino. Gaming Board Chair William Ryan announced the decision in Thursday’s Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. [...]
PHILADELPHIA (February 13, 2013) – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) today announced that the State of Pennsylvania is investing $14,000,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grants in the First Senatorial District of Pennsylvania. The RACP grants, and the three projects they fund, will bring jobs, economic development, green energy solutions and improve tourism in [...]
PHILADELPHIA (February 8, 2013) – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) today congratulated Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane for fulfilling her campaign pledge to close the Florida Loophole. Her decision to dissolve Pennsylvania’s reciprocal conceal carry license agreement gives law enforcement and prosecutors a powerful tool that will keep Pennsylvanians safe.
Farnese Named Chairman of Senate Communications and Technology Committee
HARRISBURG, Jan. 10, 2013 – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) has once again been named the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Communications and Technology Committee. He was also named as a member of the Senate Appropriations, Judiciary, and Banking and Insurance Committees. “We need to ensure that we are modernizing our laws to keep pace with [...]
Phila. Lawmakers Urge Mayor to End Dispute with Fire Department
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 8, 2013 — As the contract drama between Mayor Michael Nutter and the Philadelphia Fire Department continues to unfold, members of the Philadelphia Delegation of the Pennsylvania Senate are urging the mayor to withdraw his appeal of a recent court decision to uphold the arbitration panel’s contract award for Philadelphia firefighters and paramedics. [...]
PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 19, 2012) – State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) today announced that he is introducing common sense gun legislation that will ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines in Pennsylvania. “Words cannot express the sadness and anger that we as a nation are feeling right now. My thoughts and prayers, and those of Philadelphia [...]
State Senator Larry Farnese Applauds Report on Museum Funding
November 14, 2012 – A report issued by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee today found that tourism was one of Pennsylvania’s largest industries, injecting $33 billion annually into the state’s economy, while generating $3.4 billion in tax revenues and supporting over 13,000 jobs.
HARRISBURG, October 17, 2012 – In what State Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila.) called a victory for public safety, the Pennsylvania Senate in a 49 to 0 vote sent legislation (HB 898) that stiffens penalties for straw gun purchases to Governor Corbett’s desk.
HARRISBURG, October 2, 2012 – For the past six months, everyone from elected officials to community activists said the same thing: Pennsylvania’s voter ID law was unfair and made getting an approved ID difficult. But today there was welcome news when Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson agreed with us when he said that an ID was not [...]
Senate Hearing Focuses on Stack’s Bill Criminalizing Home Invasions
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 12, 2012 — Home invasion impacts communities across Pennsylvania and state Sen. Mike Stack is working to curb the growth of violence with a new state law specifically targeting home invasion. During a public hearing today in Philadelphia, the Senate Judiciary Committee addressed Stack’s legislation creating a specific criminal offense for a home [...]
Phila. Senators Rebuke Court’s Decision on Controversial Voter ID Law
HARRISBURG, Aug. 15, 2012 — The Senate Democratic Philadelphia delegation today rebuked Commonwealth Court’s refusal to grant an injunction that would have halted the state’s controversial voter ID law from being implemented. “I am extremely disappointed in the court’s decision. Pennsylvania does not have a voter fraud issue, but we now have a voter suppression [...]
PHILADELPHIA, AUG. 1, 2012 — Senior citizens who live in state Sen. Larry Farnese’s Senatorial District will be greatly impacted by Pennsylvania’s new voter ID law, according to newly released statistics. The First Senatorial District has the highest number of seniors who are registered voters and do not have a proper photo ID from the [...]
