Zoning Board Denies Methadone Clinic Application

Sen. Stack talks about the detrimental impact of opening a methadone clinic.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment has denied an application for aproposed methadone clinic on Frankford Avenue in Holmesburg.

The plans by the Healing Way to open a methadone clinic at 7900 Frankford Ave. took the entire community by surprise.

We had little time to share our opinions on this proposal’s impact on the neighborhood. 

Thankfully, the ZBA listened to the opposition posed by many community members and leaders and ruled in our favor.

This is good news for the community. It shows that by working together, we can make a difference and protect the integrity of Northeast Philadelphia.

Passage of Bill Removing Individual Mandate Harmful to the Uninsured

The Senate’s recent passage of legislation that would prohibit Pennsylvania’s implementation of the individual mandate provision of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will only harm citizens who need health coverage.

Senate Bill 10 would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to prohibit the government from requiring individuals to purchase health insurance coverage. It would also prohibit imposing fines or penalties on an individual who declines to do so. It attempts to supersede the federal Affordable Care Act that was signed into law March 23, 2010.

This vote to strike down the individual mandate was completely unproductive and unnecessary, considering the federal law will ultimately override it. This was nothing more than political posturing and a Republican gamble on the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court arguments over the constitutionality of health care reform.  The Supreme Court and not the State of Pennsylvania will have the final say on the individual mandate.

We are likely going to have a health insurance exchange in Pennsylvania, whether through the state or the federal government. We should be figuring out how to improve access to health insurance because when people are uninsured, taxpayers are footing the bill.

Funding Helps Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

Sen. Stack (far right) and Sen. Larry Farnese (far left) present $500,000 in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funds to for the Jewish Community Services project. With them are Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia (JFGP) President Sherrie Savett and JFGP CEO Ira M. Schwartz. The funds will go toward new chillers for the building’s heating and air conditioning system and repairs to the roof, making the building more habitable and comfortable for the not-for-profit organizations that are housed in this building, which is owned by JFGP.

Pennsylvania Marks 'Days of Remembrance,' Divests from Rogue Nations

Sen. Stack talks about the impact of the state's divestment law at an October 2011 news conference. With him are state Reps. Babette Josephs and Josh Shapiro.

This year, Pennsylvania will mark “Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust” from April 15 to 22.
From 1933 to 1945, 6 million Jews across Europe were systematically slaughtered under the Nazi regime. Millions of other people were also tortured and killed, including gypsies, disabled people, prisoners of war, Christians, and other people who resisted Hitler’s agenda.

The Holocaust remains one of the world’s darkest periods in modern history; yet, it’s a part of history that must never be forgotten, because it must never be repeated.

We can take steps today to combat bigotry and hatred. We can make every effort to treat each other with mutual respect.

Pennsylvania can also stand up to nations that preach hatred and support terrorism.

In 2010, we enacted a divestment law that requires Pennsylvania’s public pension plans to divest from companies that have major business activities in the rogue nations of Sudan or Iran. Ten companies have already ceased operations in Sudan and/or Iran and are no longer prohibited investments by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A further six companies have declared that they plan to, or are in the process of, ceasing their involvement with these regimes in order to avoid divestment.

I plan to introduce legislation that would prohibit the Department of General Services from entering into a contract with an individual, organization, financial institution, company or government entity that provides goods and services or a line of credit worth at least $20 million dollars to the energy sector of Iran. 
This legislation is one more way to let Iran know that we will not do business with a nation whose leader has threatened to wipe Israel off the map.

By honoring the “Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, we here in Pennsylvania can ensure that the men, women and children who suffered and died will never be forgotten. We can also pledge to condemn all forms of anti-Semitism, ethnic intimidation and hatred.

Offices of State Senator Mike Stack

Office Hours: Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.