Newsroom
Senate Democrats Elect Leadership Team for 2013-14 Session
Harrisburg, November 14, 2012 – Members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus today elected leaders for the upcoming 2013-14 legislative session, with Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) reelected for a second term as Democratic Leader.
Judge Blocks Portion of Voter ID Law
October 2, 2012 — Earlier today, Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson stayed the mandatory requirements of the Voter ID law (Act 18) for at least the 2012 general election. This means that the state of the law reverts to what it was during the primary where voters...
Make it easy to get IDs
Elected officials should be able to issue them at their offices Op-ed By Sen. Wayne D. Fontana Act 18, signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett in March, requires all Pennsylvania voters to show an acceptable photo ID at the polls prior to casting a vote. Since its...
Fontana Expresses Disappointment with Administration’s Decision to not Bring Voter ID Services to Neighborhoods
HARRISBURG, September 17, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today said he is “disappointed” in the Corbett Administration’s decision to not bring Voter ID services into neighborhoods. “I am disappointed that the Administration fails to recognize the...
Fontana Calls on Senate Leadership to Move Bill Strengthening Child Abuse Laws
HARRISBURG, August 29, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today called on Senate leadership to move legislation forward that would strengthen Pennsylvania’s child abuse reporting laws. “Every day that my Senate Bill 549 (SB 549) isn’t law is another day...
Sen. Fontana Prods Governor to bring Voter ID Services into Communities
HARRISBURG, August 17, 2012 – Following is the text of the letter State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) sent today to Gov. Tom Corbett urging him to make the voter ID process more simple and convenient for citizens seeking the necessary photo identification to...
Fontana Calls on Corbett Administration to bring Voter ID Services into Communities
HARRISBURG, August 15, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today called on the Corbett Administration to establish convenient neighborhood centers to help people obtain the necessary photo identification to vote. Read Senator Fontana's August 17, 2012...
State Senate Hearing Focuses on Funding Public Schools
Monroeville, June 14, 2012 — Education experts, labor leaders, area school administrators and school board members today laid out disastrous financial problems at a state Senate hearing on the impact of state public school funding cuts. Held at Sen. Jim Brewster’s...
Fontana’s Child Abuse Reporting Amendment Moves Forward
HARRISBURG, June 12, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) announced today that his Senate Bill 549, which would add stronger requirements for school employees reporting suspected child abuse, has moved forward as an amendment to Senator Kim Ward’s...
Fontana Announces Extension of Property/Tax Rent Rebate Filing Deadline
HARRISBURG, June 5, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne Fontana today announced that the filing deadline for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for seniors and the disabled has been extended to December 31. “This deadline extension gives people more time to apply,”...
Sen. Fontana Views Senate Budget Plan as Positive First Step
HARRISBURG, May 9, 2012 – The Pennsylvania State Senate today passed a revised version of the state’s fiscal 2012-13 spending plan: “While I still consider this spending plan a work in progress, I voted for this improved budget (Senate Bill 1466) because it makes...
Fontana Bill Would Enable Allegheny County to Eliminate Property Taxes
BROOKLINE, April 2, 2012 – As a response to the countless number of individuals who have demanded a solution to Allegheny County’s unfair tax system, State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana introduced legislation today that would do away with the controversial property...
Fontana Selected to Serve on Senate Ethics Panel
HARRISBURG, March 8, 2012 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D – Allegheny) has been selected to serve on the Senate Committee on Ethics and Official Conduct. “I am honored to serve on the ethics panel because I know how important the committee is and the role that it...
Senator Fontana’s “Skills for Success” Career Workshops Begin Again this Month
BROOKLINE, March 6, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced a series of seven free career workshops that will get underway on March 19.
The program “Skills for Success – The Fontana Series” is being presented by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh with funding secured by the senator. Rachel Masilamani and Georgiana Deming are the presenters. They have over 10 years combined experience assisting library visitors with job hunting, online applications and resume writing.
Fontana Prods Corbett Administration for Long Term Bipartisan Transit Solution
HARRISBURG, February 23, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) has enlisted the support of state Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch in his efforts to broker a lasting bipartisan solution to the state’s transportation funding crisis.
Senate Democrats: Use Settlement to Halt Foreclosures, Stabilize Communities
HARRISBURG, February 15, 2012 — State Senate Democrats today called on the state Attorney General to earmark a significant portion of funds from the national $25 billion settlement with the nations largest mortgage servicers to fund a state program to prevent foreclosures.
Fontana: Corbett Budget Proposal Is ‘Groundhog Day’
HARRISBURG, February 7, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Corbett’s 2012-13 state budget proposal: “Less than a week after we celebrated Groundhog Day, Pennsylvanians had a ‘Groundhog Day’ moment of...
Fontana: Corbett Budget Priorities Out of Whack
HARRISBURG, January 25, 2012 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) issued the following statement after joining with his Senate Democratic colleagues to unveil this year’s budget priorities. “Right now it is more important than ever to continue the fight to...
Fontana Asks Judge to Halt Allegheny County’s Reassessment “Fiasco”
Brookline, January 10, 2011 -- Citing the current reassessment process in Allegheny County as “unworkable, burdensome, expensive and inaccurate,” state Senator Wayne D. Fontana today asked county Judge R. Stanton Wettick, Jr. to delay its implementation. In his letter...
Fontana Reminds Constituents of Full-Service Offices
BROOKLINE, January 6, 2012 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today reminded constituents in the current 22nd House District that he is available to assist with state business as the current district is moved to Lehigh County.