Latest News
Another Farm Preserved in Berks County, Sen. Schwank Announces
Harrisburg, June 13, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank announced today that an additional 106 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of $266,500 worth of conservation easements. The Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, of which...
Schwank, Special Ed Funding Panel Begin Work to Find Better Formula
HARRISBURG, June 13, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and Pennsylvania’s new Special Education Funding Formula Commission opened public hearings today in Harrisburg by listening to experts from throughout the state talk about the intricacies of special education...
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended, Schwank Says
HARRISBURG, June 12, 2013 – People who would like to participate in Pennsylvania’s property tax/rent rebate program have another six months to do so, state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today. The deadline is now Dec. 31, 2013. “This is good news for people who...
Schwank Hears Pros, Cons of Bill Affecting Cyber Charter School Funding
FREDERICKSBURG, May 30, 2013 – State Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks) and the Senate Education Committee today listened to school district and charter school officials about legislation affecting cyber charter school funding. Schwank’s Senate Bill 335 would exempt...
Schwank to Host Town Hall Meeting in Bern Township
READING, May 29, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m., May 30, for residents of Bern Township and surrounding communities in the Bern Township Municipal Building. “Many of the most important issues facing this commonwealth are before...
Schwank, Senate Committee to Hear Public Opinion On Cyber Charter Bill
READING, May 29, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank and the Senate Education Committee will listen to public testimony beginning at 1 p.m., Thursday, May 30, at Northern Lebanon High School, about legislation affecting cyber charter schools. Senate Bill 335, which Schwank...
$ 300 Million Education Common Core Mandate Threatens Graduation
Harrisburg, May 13, 2013 – A new unfunded education mandate now being quietly pursued by the Corbett administration will soon saddle school districts with a $ 300 million expense and threaten graduation for thousands of students across Pennsylvania, Senate Democrats said today at a Capitol news conference.
Schwank Named to New Special Education Funding Panel
HARRISBURG, May 8, 2013 – Mapping the future of special education funding in Pennsylvania will not happen without the input of state Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks). Schwank has been appointed to the newly created 15-member Special Education Funding Commission by...
Schwank, Caltagirone, Rozzi Welcome AG’s Special Reading School District Audit
HARRISBURG, May 3, 2013 – Three of Berks County’s leading Democratic state lawmakers today welcomed Auditor General Eugene DePasquale’s findings of the operation of the Reading School District. Sen. Judy Schwank and Reps. Tom Caltagirone and Mark Rozzi said the...
Schwank Says Amendment Will Save Thousands for Barto, Eastern Berks Fire Departments
HARRISBURG, May 2, 2013 – State Senator Judith L. Schwank applauded the adoption of an amendment to a bill that will save the old Barto and Eastern Berks fire departments $17,000. The Senate Finance Committee approved the amendment Wednesday as it reported out House...
Schwank Invites Public to ‘Spring Clean Berks’
READING, April 24, 2013 – Sen. Judy Schwank will be working with parents, children and residents of her 11th Senatorial District to “Spring Clean Berks” on Saturday, April 27. The senator’s 2nd annual spring cleaning of the community take place in two sessions on...
Senate Democrats Seek Job Creation, Education, Safety Net Dollars in Budget Discussions
Harrisburg, April 17, 2013 – Senate Democrats’ 2013-14 budget priorities are heavily weighted toward job creation, education investments, strengthening the social-services safety net, modernizing liquor sales and refocusing Pennsylvania’s business tax menu to help...
Send-Off Ceremonies April 14/16 for Reading-based Soldiers
READING, April 12, 2013 — The U.S. Army will hold a “farewell ceremony” at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 14, at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School for the U.S. Army’s 333rd Engineer Company (Horizontal). State Sen. Judy Schwank will attend the tribute. The 333rd will be...
Schwank Bill Would Provide Equitable State Police Coverage for Municipalities Without Law Enforcement; Generate New Money for Roads, Bridges
HARRISBURG, April 10, 2013 – State Senator Judith L. Schwank said today that a bill she has proposed would help ensure that state police have sufficient resources to provide public safety services. Schwank (D-Berks) said Senate Bill 841 would offset funds the state...
Schwank Says Gov. Corbett’s Liquor Privatization Story Not the Answer for Reading
HARRISBURG, April 3, 2013 – Gov. Tom Corbett today told Reading business leaders how important it is to sell the state’s successful and profitable liquor stores, but he delivered the message in the wrong city, Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks) said today. “Reading is in the...
Schwank to Host Town Hall Meeting in Exeter Township
READING, March 28, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank will hold a town hall meeting at 7 p.m., April 4, for residents of Exeter Township and surrounding communities in the Community Room of the Exeter Community Library, 4569 Prestwick Drive, Exeter. “This is an...
Schwank Praises AG Decision on Lottery
HARRISBURG, February 14, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank today praised the Attorney General’s decision to stop the Corbett administration’s rush to sell off the state lottery without legislative oversight. “Like many of us, the Attorney General saw the lottery plan as...
Schwank: Budget Plan Doesn’t Adequately Address Job Creation, Education
HARRISBURG, February 5, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank today issued the following statement on the governor’s 2013-14 state budget address: “Today’s budget plan did not provide a solid long-term plan for lifting up our economy. As our smaller cities and urban areas...
Schwank Applauds Senate Passage of Bill That Keeps PSU’s NCAA Fines in PA
HARRISBURG, Jan. 30, 2013 — The Pennsylvania Senate today unanimously approved legislation that would ensure that all NCAA-imposed fines on Penn State University as a result of the infamous child sex abuse scandal remain in Pennsylvania, according to state Sen. Judy...
Schwank Applauds New Financial Reporting Deadline on Small Games of Chance
HARRISBURG, Jan. 9, 2013 — State Sen. Judy Schwank today applauded a decision by the Corbett Administration to move the financial report filing deadline to Feb. 1, 2014 for local clubs and charitable non-profit organizations that run small games of chance to raise...
Schwank to Partake in Key Funding Decisions on Appropriations Committee
HARRISBURG, Jan. 8, 2013 — The Senate Democratic Leadership has appointed state Sen. Judy Schwank as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Members of this committee make key funding decisions and determine the fiscal impact of legislation on Pennsylvania....
Pennsylvania Senate Democrats Discuss Plan to Address Distressed Cities
Harrisburg, December 18, 2012 – Acknowledging the escalating problems in economically-challenged communities across the state, Pennsylvania Senate Democrats today discussed their plans to address a wide range of problems impacting aging and distressed cities. The...
Schwank: 168 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County
READING, Dec. 13, 2012 — An additional 168 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $420,000 that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen....
Schwank: Property Tax and Rent Rebate Deadline is Dec. 31
READING, Dec. 11, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank reminds everyone that the filing deadline for senior citizens and other individuals eligible for the 2011 Property Tax and Rent Rebate is Dec. 31. “This program has provided beneficial property tax relief to many...
Schwank, Caltagirone: Reading Crime Summit Planned for January
READING, Dec. 10, 2012 - State Sen. Judy Schwank and Rep. Thomas Caltagirone announced today that the governor will join state and local officials to hold a crime summit in January in Reading. Schwank and Caltagirone made the comments after a meeting with city and...
Schwank: Local Municipalities Awarded State Grants to Improve Greenways
READING, Nov. 28, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank announced today that several Berks County municipalities have been awarded state grants toward improvement projects in local parks and greenways. “Our local parks and green spaces are precious community resources, so...
Schwank: Task Force Report a ‘Blueprint’ for Improving Child Protection Laws
READING, Nov. 27, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank applauded the work of the Task Force on Child Protection, which today released its report detailing recommendations for improving Pennsylvania’s laws regarding child abuse. “This is a very important report that offers a...
Schwank to Seniors: Beware of Property Tax/Rent Rebate Scams
READING, Nov. 9, 2012 — State Sen. Judy Schwank is cautioning all seniors to be vigilant of organizations requesting payment for completing the state Property Tax and Rent Rebate application. “Many seniors have alerted us to potential scams and moneymaking schemes...
Hurricane Sandy Afternoon Update
Harrisburg – October 30, 2012 – (4:30 p.m.) In an afternoon conference call briefing, Robert Powelson, chairman of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, and Glenn M. Cannon, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, outlined new developments...
Hurricane Sandy Update
Absentee ballot deadline extended in Pennsylvania as state recovers from this massive storm. Harrisburg, October 30, 2012 – (9:20 a.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett provided additional details on how Pennsylvania is dealing with Hurricane Sandy earlier today at a briefing held at...
Hurricane Sandy Impact, Important Contact Numbers, Information
October 29, 2012 -- (6 p.m.) Gov. Tom Corbett held briefing to update the status of Hurricane Sandy and its impact on Pennsylvania. The governor said that the storm had 90 mile per hour winds and was making landfall in New Jersey and expected to move west. The storm...
Schwank: Bill Strengthening Penalties for Irresponsible Drinking Heads to Governor
HARRISBURG, Oct. 18, 2012 — A measure that strengthens penalties for underage drinking and public drunkenness is headed to the governor’s desk after receiving overwhelming support in the state legislature, according to state Sen. Judy Schwank. Senate Bill 941 would...
Schwank: 93 Acres of Farmland Preserved in Berks County
HARRISBURG, Oct. 11, 2012 — An additional 92.9 acres of Berks County farmland will be preserved through the purchase of conservation easements valued at $232,250 that were approved today by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Land Preservation Board, according to state Sen....