Stack Touts Enactment of Health Care Improvement Bills

HARRISBURG, JULY 1, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack today announced that four important health care measures have been signed into law.

“These four new laws take important steps toward improving health coverage and protecting consumers,” said Stack, who is the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

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Stack: Financial Protection Measures
Signed into Law

HARRIBURG, JUNE 29, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack today announced Gov. Ed Rendell’s signing of two financial protection measures into law.

“These two new laws offer protection in different, but equally important ways,” said Stack, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. “One measure benefits mortgage consumers, while the other protects employees in the financial sector. I’m pleased with these bills’ swift passage and I thank the governor for signing these measures into law today.”  » Read More  » Listen

Stack Applauds 'Historic' Designation of Homesburg Library

PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 26, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack today applauded the Philadelphia Historical Commission’s recent decision to register the Holmesburg branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia as a historic site.

“Holmesburg library has a long and rich tradition in Northeast Philadelphia, and this designation recognizes how special and how important this place is to the Holmesburg community,” Stack said. “I’m proud of the Friends of the Holmesburg Library and the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia for all their hard work in helping the commission realize the importance of this truly historic site.”

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Stack Bills Would Keep Violent, Career Criminals off the Street

HARRISBURG, JUNE 25, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack this week introduced two parole reform bills to ensure that violent and career criminals serve more time in prison and less time on the street.

“I’ve spoken with police officers and community leaders in my district who are extremely concerned about repeat violent offenders who are given unwarranted opportunities to return to society under supervision,” Stack said. “These criminals should be behind bars for their sentence, not placed in a halfway house, where the community is at risk of their violent behavior.”  » Read More

Stack: Property Tax relief Deadline Extended to Dec. 31

HARRISBURG, JUNE 25, 2009 – Homeowners and renters looking to ease their property tax burden will now have until Dec. 31 to apply for the Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for seniors and residents with disabilities, according to state Sen. Mike Stack.

The rebate program benefits Pennsylvanians who are 65 years old and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older.

“Thousands of older Pennsylvanians may see their property taxes greatly reduced or even eliminated this year, but many of those eligible will not even apply for this program,” said Stack.  “I encourage seniors and disabled residents to use this extension to look into whether they qualify for a rebate and apply for assistance.”    » Read More

Bill Protect Service Members' Education, Allow Notarial Acts

HARRISBURG, JUNE 24, 2009 — Bills sponsored by state Sen. Mike Stack that would protect active-duty members’ status in college, and allow certain members of the military notary privileges, were approved yesterday by the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Senate Bill 825 would allow members of the National Guard returning from active duty to pursue their higher education degree under the requirements in place prior to the their military leave if their graduation requirements have changed while they were deployed. » Read More

Stack: Stimulus Funds to Benefit I-95 Traffic in the Far Northeast

PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 19, 2009 — A stretch of Interstate 95 in Northeast Philadelphia will receive a boost from federal stimulus funding, according to state Sen. Mike Stack.

The $21.7 million in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) will go toward the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Intelligent Transportation System project to improve motorists’ safety. » Read More

Stack: 1-95 Cottman-Princeton Interchange Project Underway

PHILADELPHIA, JUNE 4, 2009 — Construction is now underway to make improvements to the Interstate 95 ramps at Cottman Avenue and Princeton Avenue, according to state Sen. Mike Stack.

“I’m excited that the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods will soon get their neighborhood back from the constant I-95 traffic,” Stack said. “For too long, families and local shops have endured the constant flow of traffic and speeding motorists making their way to and from I-95. When construction is complete, the communities of Holmesburg, Tacony and Wissinoming will have much more peaceful streets.”

This construction plan is the first of two phases of the project to improve the ramps along I-95 in this section of Northeast Philadelphia, as well as move the flow of traffic away from the communities that reside near the ramps. » Read More

Stack, National Security Group Urge Early Education Funding

HARRISBURG, JUNE 3, 2009 — State Sen. Mike Stack joined members of Mission: Readiness today in Harrisburg to emphasize the importance of funding early education programs in Pennsylvania.

“Early education programs give our children the basic skills they need to take the right steps toward achieving a high school diploma and a successful career beyond graduation day, whether they go to college, get a job or join the military,” Stack said. “It’s so important that these programs prosper.” » Read More

Sen. Mike Stack discusses the importance of early childhood education at Wednesday's Mission: Readiness press conference at the State Capitol. Behind him are (from left to right) Spc. Jason D. Harrington (Iraqi War veteran and Silver Star recipient), Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Joe Perugino (former commander of PA National Guard's 28th Infantry Division), Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Dan O'Neill, (former commander of PA National Guard's 28th Infantry Division), Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Williams Burns, and Amy Dawson Taggart, National Director of Mission Readiness.

Sen. Mike Stack discusses the importance of early childhood education at Wednesday's Mission: Readiness press conference at the State Capitol. Behind him are (from left to right) Spc. Jason D. Harrington (Iraqi War veteran and Silver Star recipient), Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Joe Perugino (former commander of PA National Guard's 28th Infantry Division), and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Wesley Craig.

Stack Praises Passage of Health Coverage Improvement Bills

State Sen. Mike Stack praised today’s unanimous Senate passage of two bills that would improve health care coverage in Pennsylvania.

House Bill 1089 would authorize Mini-COBRA Small Employer Group Health Policies. This legislation would allow employees or dependents of employees of small employers (2-19 employees) who lose health care coverage through a qualifying event to continue the group health insurance coverage at cost. The continuation of coverage includes coverage for the employees’ dependents. » Read More