Newsroom
Fontana Invites Public to Grand Opening of Market on Broadway IGA
BEECHVIEW, September 13, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana culminated several years worth of work with today’s announcement that the Market on Broadway IGA will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow, September 14th, at 9:00 a.m. and invited the community to join him...
UPMC-Highmark Impasse Prompts Fontana Bill for Non-Profits to Pay Taxes on Land
HARRISBURG, September 6, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana announced today his intent to introduce legislation that would require non-profits to begin paying real estate taxes on the value of the land owned by their organization. “It has become very clear –...
Fontana Seeks Jobs Impact with Impact Fee on Gas Drillers
BROOKLINE, August 16, 2011 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today said he plans to amend existing Marcellus Shale impact fee legislation to dedicate a one-third share of the revenue to repair roads and bridges statewide. Fontana said a dedicated funding stream for...
Fontana Seeks to Boost Job Creation With New Shale Plan
HARRISBURG, August 8, 2011 – Senator Wayne D. Fontana, responding to today's comments made by Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, called the administration’s position on the imposition of a severance fee on Marcellus shale drilling short-sighted. Fontana disagrees with...
Fontana Lauds Opening of New Senior Citizen Apartments in Mt. Washington
BROOKLINE, July 13, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today took part in the grand opening of the new 106-unit South Hills Retirement Residence in Mt. Washington. “I am proud to have played a part in the community effort that made this project a reality,” Fontana...
Fontana Applauds PACE/PACENET Benefits Protection Law
HARRISBURG, July 6, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today lauded the new state law that protects thousands of PACE/PACENET recipients from losing their eligibility due to small Social Security cost of living increases. “Prescription drug benefits are too critical...
Costa, Ferlo and Fontana Announce Grant for Natural Gas-Powered Refuse Trucks in Pittsburgh
HARRISBURG, June 23, 2011 - The City of Pittsburgh will be awarded a $500,000 grant to purchase four new refuse trucks powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), state Sens. Jay Costa, Jim Ferlo and Wayne Fontana announced today. The funds were awarded through the state...
Senate Democrats Fight for Local Officials to Govern
HARRISBURG, June 22, 2011 – State Sens. Wayne D. Fontana, John Blake and Jim Brewster today opposed legislation that would allow a 3-member management board to be put in place in an Act 47 community that does not approve a coordinator’s plan. Although aimed at the...
Fontana Lauds Redevelopment of McKees Rocks Railroad Site
HARRISBURG, June 20, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today provided the following statement after Trinity Commercial Development LLC of Pittsburgh announced that it was redeveloping the old Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad property in McKees Rocks, a project that...
Fontana Announces PHEAA Vote for Additional $50 Million for State Grant Program
HARRISBURG, June 16, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), announced today that the Board of Directors has authorized a $50 million public service contribution by PHEAA to...
Fontana Urges Quick House Action on Private Transfer Fee Legislation
HARRISBURG, June 14, 2011 – Legislation introduced by state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana to prohibit the future use of private transfer fees in Pennsylvania passed the Senate today by a unanimous vote. It now goes to the House of Representatives for concurrence. “I am...
Fontana Calls on DCED to Provide Information on Liberty Fund Proposal
HARRISBURG, June 7, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana has sent the following letter to Department of Community & Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker asking for details on the Liberty Fund Proposal: June 7, 2011 Dear Secretary Walker: This weekend, I...
Fontana Fighting to Restore Line Items for Economic Development Programs
HARRISBURG, May 26, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D – Allegheny) announced today that he will fight to restore separate line items for the Small Business Development Centers, Local Development Districts, Industrial Resource Centers and Industrial Development...
Fontana Calls Effort to Consolidate Economic Development Programs Senseless
HARRISBURG, May 18, 2011 – At a Senate Policy Committee hearing today at the Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) and other members of the committee heard testimony from several economic development programs about their...
Fontana Applauds Passage of Bill to Ban Bath Salts
Harrisburg, May 10, 2011—-State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana today said he is pleased with the Senate’s unanimous passage of legislation that would ban the possession, use and sale of so-called bath salts, salvia divinorum and synthetic marijuana. Senate Bill 1006, which...
Fontana: Home Heating Assistance Deadline Extended
BROOKLINE, April 4, 2011 – State Senator Wayne D. Fontana today announced that the deadline to apply for the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been extended to April 15. “It has been a long and difficult winter for many families struggling...
Fontana Introducing Legislation to Reconfigure Port Authority Board
HARRISBURG, March 29, 2011 – Responding to the most recent failure to address issues with the Port Authority of Allegheny County, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) is introducing legislation to reconfigure the Port Authority Board to ensure better...
Fontana Says Budget All About Priorities
HARRISBURG, March 8, 2011 – State Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny), who serves as Democratic chairman of the Senate Committee on Community, Economic and Recreational Development, today made the following comment on Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget proposal: “This budget...
Fontana Lauds Senate Vote on Private Transfer Fee Legislation
HARRISBURG, March 2, 2011 – Legislation introduced by state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana to prohibit the future use of private transfer fees in Pennsylvania passed the Senate today by a unanimous vote. It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. “I am...
Sen. Fontana Spearheads Jobs Initiative
HARRISBURG, February 23, 2011 – Calling it his top legislative priority, state Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny) today joined with fellow Senate Democrats in unveiling a six-point proposal that would help businesses create jobs, rebuild the state’s aging...