Spring 2016 - Senator John Sabatina Jr.

John P.
SPRING 2016
WWW.SENATORSABATINA.COM
SABATINA
SABATI
NA
Jr.
Senator Sabatina discusses economic development along
the Delaware River with Lt. Governor Mike Stack.
INSIDE:
PA RIVERS CAN POWER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Keeping Guns
Out of the Hands
of Terrorists
U.S. Cabinet
Secretary Visits
5th Senate District
Letter to the Reader
T
he recently announced layoffs at Bemis
Healthcare Packaging’s Northeast
Philadelphia plant could be seen as an
inevitable shift in the unpredictable world of business.
But government leaders should also consider
shortsighted economic policy that has put
Philadelphia on an uneven playing field in the
competition for jobs.
The Bemis facility had been productive using
local union workers for six decades but the closing
was preceded by years of decline in Pennsylvania’s
economic development and job-training efforts.
Among states, there is a cut-throat competition
for jobs which leads to very profitable companies
being handed enormous sums of money to move
workers around. As tough as it is, Philadelphia and
other urban centers are fighting with one arm tied
behind their backs.
Cuts over the past four years to economic
development programs and job training, in favor of large tax
breaks to multinational gas drillers, have benefitted small pockets of rural
Pennsylvania while handicapping large urban centers like Philadelphia.
The closure warning for the Bemis-Perfecseal facility on Bustleton
Avenue came during an unprecedented budget standoff – unique in the
nation – that prevented the flow of money to schools and jobs programs
already stymied by years of short-funding.
Oshkosh (Wis.) offered Bemis millions in tax breaks at a time when
Philadelphia couldn’t say for certain whether schools would open after
Christmas. Cuts to funding for schools, long delays in infrastructure
improvements and a dysfunctional government are no way to attract
and retain companies.
Community Relations
Health Care Counseling with APPRISE Healthcare
Feb. 3 & 17, March 2 & 16, April 6 & 20 and May 4 & 18
8016 Bustleton Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19152-2802
Must schedule appointment.
Please call (215) 456-7600 to schedule an appointment.
Assistance to Veterans
Feb. 4 & 18, March 3 & 17, April 7 & 21 and May 5 & 19
DMVA Representative will be available to answer your questions
Must schedule appointment.
Please call our Bustleton District Office at (215) 695-1020
to schedule an appointment.
PA Rivers Can Power Economic Development
S
Senator Sabatina toured Northeast
Philadelphia port facilities with
Lt. Gov. Mike Stack to highlight
the importance of Philadelphia’s
riverfront to the local economy.
Sister Maureen McGarrity, (left) president
of Holy Family University welcomed
Senator Sabatina and Senator Lisa
Boscola to the university for a meeting of
the Senate Democratic Policy Committee
to discuss riverfront development.
enator Sabatina recently
invited the Senate Democratic
Policy Committee to
Northeast Philadelphia for a
roundtable discussion on ways to
encourage waterfront development
in Pennsylvania.
In addition to Senate colleagues,
the meeting brought together
business, local government and
labor leaders, fostering a broad
dialogue about untapped economic
potential along Pennsylvania’s
waterways.
Much of the discussion focused
on Senate Bill 282, which would
provide up to $10 million in tax
credits to business entities and
others that invest in waterfront
development initiatives. The tax
credit would be available to
individuals or businesses that
contribute to nonprofit waterfront improvement organizations.
The Philadelphia region has a wealth of waterways and rivers that are
ripe for development and could be used as core areas to spur familyfriendly recreation and economic development investment.
“With the proper environmental oversight in place, I view this as a
win-win proposition,” Sabatina said.
Experts noted that some waterfront
development organizations have partnered with
municipal leaders to offer the tax credit program
on a regional basis. The “Riverlife” program in
Pittsburgh has already attracted $130 million in
investments – and $4 billion in adjacent
development – since it began in 1999.
Under Senate Bill 282, contributions would
be used for specific waterfront development
projects, such as: streets and public rights-ofway; waterfront parks, gardens and open
spaces; access to public utilities, erosion
control, storm water management and other
environmental projects that promote economic
development; water transportation facilities for
use by the public, including water transit landings and boat docking; and
amenities including infrastructure and recreational projects.
Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee Chairman Vincent
Hughes, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Senator Anthony H.
Williams, and Senator Larry Farnese joined Policy Committee Chair
Senator Lisa Boscola at the meeting.
UNTHINKABLE:
2,000 Suspected Terrorists Allowed to Buy Guns
F
BI data released last year says that more than 2,000
people listed as known or suspected terrorists bought
a handgun, sports rifle or assault weapon in the past
ten years.
That’s right, thousands of people who are prohibited from
boarding a plane are welcome to purchase firearms.
That’s why Senator Sabatina is introducing Senate Bill 1100
which is intended to prohibit those on federal watch lists from
purchasing firearms in Pennsylvania.
Under Sabatina’s SB 1100, these checks of the federal terror
watch lists would become a mandatory part of any firearm
background check and appearance on one of those lists would
be reason for denial.
In the aftermath of recent mass shootings, states are taking
bipartisan action to ensure the safety and security of their
citizens. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, a
NUMBER ALLOWED
Democrat, recently signed an executive order prohibiting
YEAR
OF BUYERS TO BUY DENIED
gun sales to those on federal watch lists, while Republican
2004
48
43
5
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey has signed into law
2005
149
141
8
a bill that would prevent those on the federal "No Fly" list
2006
179
153
26
from purchasing a firearm.
2007
287
259
28
In every state, National Crime Information Center
2008
246
228
18
(NCIC) review leads to purchases and permits being
2009
272
250
22
rejected if it reveals a disqualifying factor under state or
2010
272
247
25
federal law. In most states, that means someone who has
2011
142
130
12
a felony conviction, is not a U.S. citizen, or is subject to
2012
153
137
16
certain court orders.
2013
256
240
16
Buyers in New Jersey, however, also are rejected if the
2014
229
215
14
applicant's name appears on the NCIC's "known or
TOTAL 2,233 2,043 190
appropriately suspected terrorist" list, one of several such
Source: U.S. Government Accounting Office.
terror watch lists maintained by U.S. law enforcement.
U.S. Cabinet Secretary Visits NE Philly
Senator Sabatina greets Health and Human
Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell outside
Philadelphia Health Center #10 (in the 5th District)
before an Enrollment Fair designed to help people
find affordable health insurance during the
enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act.
Burwell visited the center to promote
enrollment and to conduct a meeting of local
experts and officials on the trials and successes
of the health delivery system.
Background, from left: HHS Regional Director
Joanne Grossi, and Philadelphia City Councilman
Bobby Henon.
John P.
SABATINA
around the 5th district . . .
. . . Spending some time reading and talking
with students at Paley Learning Center
on Strahle Street in Rhawnhurst.
. . . Attending a ceremony honoring Marines from fall
of Beirut with Col. John Church (center) Dan Murphy,
Commander of All Division Marine Corps.
. . . Touring Community College of Philadelphia
with Dr. Donald Generals, college president (left)
and Lynette Brown-Sow.
. . . Helping out at the Toys for Tots drive
at Cavanaugh's River Deck
on Columbus Boulevard.
. . . Senator Sabatina with Philadelphia City
Councilmen David Oh (left) and Mark Squilla (center)
during the Casmir Pulaski Day Parade.
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG, PA
PERMIT NO. 603
STATE SENATOR
JOHN P. SABATINA JR.
Senate Box 203005
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3005
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Upcoming Event
State Senator John P. Sabatina Jr. hosts a
FINANCIAL AID SEMINAR
March 2, 2016 • 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Father Judge High School
3301 Solly Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19136