Senator Bartolotta E-Newsletter

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February 26, 2020

In This Edition:

  • Budget Hearings Continue in Harrisburg
  • Mark Your Calendars: REAL ID Seminar in Canonsburg April 3
  • Reminder: Aliquippa Satellite Office Open Every Monday
  • Washington County Plans Voting Machine Demonstrations

Budget Hearings Continue in Harrisburg

Since Governor Wolf announced his 2020-21 state budget plan earlier this month, lawmakers have been hard at work reviewing the proposal and asking questions about the performance of state programs and agencies. The Senate Appropriations Committee is in the midst of three weeks of budget hearings to take a closer look at every aspect of the spending plan.

As the Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee, I had the opportunity to participate in a budget hearing with L&I Secretary Jerry Oleksiak to discuss issues like improvements to the unemployment compensation system, vocational rehabilitation services for disabled Pennsylvanians, and efforts to boost workforce development through programs like internships and apprenticeships.

Video and summaries of all of the hearings are available here. Video of my question-and-answer session with Secretary Oleksiak is available below.

2/24/20 – Budget Hearing Q&A: Labor & Industry

Mark Your Calendars: REAL ID Seminar in Canonsburg April 3

Beginning on October 1, regular driver’s licenses and photo ID cards will no longer be accepted as a valid form of identification by the federal government. This means that state residents cannot use these items as identification to board commercial flights or visit federal buildings, nuclear power plants or military installations.

PennDOT recently began offering Pennsylvanians the option to purchase a new REAL ID license in order to comply with the new federal photo identification standards. On April 3, I will host a special seminar in Canonsburg to offer additional information about REAL ID. The seminar is scheduled from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at the Frank Sarris Public Library, located at 35 North Jefferson Avenue. A representative from the Pittsburgh Airport will be available to explain the new requirements when boarding a plane.

I encourage community residents who have questions about REAL ID to participate in this informative event.


It is National FFA week! We are very fortunate to have six chapters in the 46th Senatorial District – and I am thankful to those schools which sponsor the FFA and the dedicated advisors who lead them. Last summer, I was honored to receive the Pennsylvania Keystone Degree at the FFA convention in State College.

Reminder: Aliquippa Satellite Office Open Every Monday

As a reminder to Beaver County residents, my new office hours in Aliquippa began earlier this month. Going forward, my satellite office will continue to be open every Monday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the B.F. Jones Memorial Library, located at 663 Franklin Avenue in Aliquippa.

The first few days at the new office have been busy, and I am very happy to see so many community residents using this new resource. Please do not hesitate to contact my staff there if we can help you with any questions or concerns pertaining to state government.


Thank you to the Construction Legislative Council of Southwestern Pennsylvania for inviting me to speak at your monthly meeting. I enjoyed the conversation!

Washington County Plans Voting Machine Demonstrations

Every county in Pennsylvania will have new voting machines in place this spring to help safeguard the 2020 elections. The Washington County Commissioners and the Washington County Board of Elections will host two public demonstrations to help community residents learn more about the machines leading up to the Primary Election on April 28.

Details about both of these demonstrations are below:

March 13, 2020
10:00 a.m.
Courthouse Square
100 W Beau St.
Washington, PA 15301

March 16, 2020
9:00 a.m.
Monongahela Valley Hospital
Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center
1163 Country Club Rd, Monongahela, PA 15063
(During the Commissioners’ Town Hall Meeting: County Government on the Road)

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