Newsroom
State Auditor General’s Report backs Fontana’s Call to Dissolve ICA
PITTSBURGH, November 10, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) today issued a statement in response to the audit report issued by state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. The audit concludes that the state-imposed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority...
Fontana Calls GOP Stopgap Budget a Wasteful PR Stunt
Harrisburg, Sept. 18, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today gave the following statement after the party-line Senate vote in favor of the Republican’s so-called stopgap budget measure. Fontana voted against the legislation. “I’m disgusted by this...
Fontana Bill Would Disband “Redundant and Unecessary” ICA in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 15, 2015 – Calling Pittsburgh’s state-imposed Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (ICA) “unnecessary, redundant and a waste of taxpayer dollars,” State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today announced legislation that would disband the authority. “The ICA...
Fontana Calls GOP Budget a Political Scam
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following comment after the state Senate’s 30-19 party line vote for a Republican-sponsored 2015-16 fiscal year budget (House Bill 1192): “It’s disappointing that Republicans are advocating...
Fontana Backs Suit to Enforce Highmark-UPMC Consent Decree
Harrisburg, May 22, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) has signed on to a “friend of the court” legal brief aimed at backing the state Attorney General’s lawsuit to enforce the Highmark-UPMC consent decree. The lawsuit would force the two sides into...
Fontana Credits Governor Wolf for Dynamic Budget Proposal
Harrisburg, March 3, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today provided the following statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s 2015-16 state budget proposal: “Any budget discussion must begin with the fact that the irresponsible policies of the past four...
Fontana Bill would Legalize and Regulate Ride-Share Services
Brookline – February 12, 2015 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today re-introduced legislation that would legalize, regulate and license transportation network companies (TNC) in Pennsylvania. Uber and Lyft, and other so-called ride-sharing service...
Fontana Opens Local Mobile Offices to Reach More Constituents
HARRISBURG, February 3, 2015 – In an effort to make his staff and local services more convenient and accessible for constituents, state Senator Wayne D. Fontana is opening two new mobile offices. “Redistricting has changed some of the communities I represent,” Fontana...
Fontana Appointed Democratic Chair of Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee
HARRISBURG, January 15, 2015 – State Senator Wayne Fontana has been named Democratic Chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee. “I am pleased with this committee assignment and will use my position to help cities like Pittsburgh and its outlying...
Fontana Sworn in to Another Senate Term
HARRISBURG, January 6, 2015 – With family, friends and supporters on hand, State Senator Wayne Fontana took the oath of office today and pledged to continue fighting for jobs, economic investment and tax relief. First elected in 2005, the Brookline lawmaker ran...
Fontana Describes Corbett Mid-Year Budget Deficit as a “Foregone Conclusion”
Pittsburgh, December 3, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) issued the following statement after Corbett Administration officials today admitted that the state faces a nearly $ 2 billion budget shortfall: “Budgets are about choices and priorities. ...
Fontana Elected to Serve as Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman
Harrisburg, November 12, 2014 – State Senate Democrats today unanimously elected state Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) to serve as Democratic Caucus chairman for the coming two-year legislative session. The caucus chairman sets the daily caucus agenda and leads...
Fontana Supports Ride-share Companies at PUC Hearing
Harrisburg, August 28, 2014 – Urging the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) to grant ride-share companies Uber and Lyft permanent operating licenses, State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today testified that the businesses provide citizens more transportation options,...
Fontana Applauds PUC Vote on Temporary Ride-Share Licensing
Brookline – July 24, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today said he was pleased by the five-member Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) unanimous vote today to allow Uber and Lyft to continue providing so-called “ride-share” service in Allegheny County. Fontana, who...
Fontana Introduces Ride-Sharing Legislation
Resolution calling for immediate PUC action also proposed Harrisburg – July 8, 2014 – Legislation that would provide a remedy to the Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) ruling that bars Uber and Lyft from offering ride-sharing transportation alternatives in Allegheny...
Fontana Calls State Budget a Sham
HARRISBURG, June 30, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following comment after the state Senate approved the 2014-15 fiscal year budget (House Bill 2328): “Apart from the usual misguided priorities, I’m alarmed that so-called fiscal conservatives...
Fontana Comments on Highmark-UPMC Agreement
HARRISBURG, June 27, 2014 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today issued the following statement in response to the announced Highmark-UPMC health insurance coverage agreement: “Today’s announcement is good step forward. It will help allay fears and preserve...
Senate Approves Fontana Bill that Renames Part of Rt. 51 in Honor of Capt. Ruane
HARRISBURG, June 25, 2014 – The state Senate has unanimously approved legislation (House Bill 2072) that includes an amendment sponsored by Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) to rename a portion of Route 51 in Kennedy Township as the “Captain Sean M. Ruane Memorial...
Fontana Pays Tribute to Legendary Steelers Coach Chuck Noll
HARRISBURG, June 20, 2014 – Speaking on the Senate floor, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana gave the following remarks in tribute to the late legendary Steelers coach Chuck Noll: “Mr. President, I rise to offer this resolution that pays tribute to legendary Pittsburgh...
Op-ed: It’s Time for Huge Non-Profits to Pay Their Fair Share of Pittsburgh’s Tax Burden
Recently, our city’s financial overseers released a five-year plan aimed toward greater stability. While I applaud the recovery officers’ ongoing effort toward a path of reasonable, financial sustainability for Pittsburgh, I have serious reservations about a provision...