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State should reverse higher mortgage fees

Since May 1, many hardworking middle-class Americans have been paying more to buy a home because of an outrageous new rule imposed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Instead of rewarding families who play by the rules, the FHFA is now penalizing them with higher mortgage fees. It’s completely backwards. In fact, let’s call it what it is: The FHFA policy is a tax hike that will cost American families millions of dollars. To end these unconscionable fees, the U.S. House passed the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act, H.R. 3564, with a bipartisan vote on June 23. I ...

These days, it’s easy to put a spin on something and pedal it as if it is the undisputed truth. Take legal skill games, for example. Fear-mongering arguments pushed by the Pennsylvania Lottery and casino industry take great efforts to ignore both the facts and the law. A recent Pennlive editorial claimed, “Gambling in Pennsylvania needs the strong oversight only casinos can guarantee.” PennLive’s Editorial Board apparently is of the opinion that the lottery should be run by casinos. What I hope might finally put an end to the false narratives is legislation I have ...

The fall of a great city

PITTSBURGH — It’s 10:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning and a homeless man is curled up against the decorative angled brick below the archways of the large pane windows that line the office building known as the Fort Pitt Commons. For context, it is important to understand that 40 years ago this building was a turn-of-the-century industrial warehouse that was converted into a breathtaking six-story structure with exposed brick, natural beams, an atrium lit by a skylight and various-sized balconies overlooking all floors. The structure was so well architecturally regarded the year it ...

If Ohio can improve education, so can Pennsylvania

There is a big lie recited as gospel: Giving parents educational choice drains money from public schools and ultimately destroys them. Teachers union lobbyists recently shifted this blatant myth into high gear as neighbor states, Ohio and Pennsylvania, debated their respective annual budgets—in which both involved heated talks over educational choice. The two states have fiscal years that end on June 30 and require an annual state budget to distribute taxpayer funds to budgetary priorities. Ohio — led by Gov. Mark DeWine — rose to the challenge, increasing public school funding ...

Why I voted no on playground bill

I believe children with diverse abilities are some of the most precious children in our society. My daughter is legally disabled as she is deaf. I believe she and all children with diverse abilities should have the same opportunities and attention as any other child. This is important as we just marked the 33rd Anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I have no concerns with HB 1173 from a strictly legislative perspective. My primary concern is the implementation of HB 1173 by the career bureaucrats in Harrisburg who far too often disregard Legislative Intent ...

COVID-19 — back to normal or a Summer surge?

In late spring and early summer this year, COVID-19 in the U.S. was at its lowest ebb since the first months of the pandemic. Life seemed to be back to normal for most people. Even the more cautious among us resumed in-person shopping, dining out, attending church services, going to movies and concerts, and gathering for parties and other social events. Mask wearing became increasingly rare. It felt wonderful; it was liberating. We were ready to move on! We didn’t completely forget COVID. You never forget fighting for breath through congested lungs or watching a loved one die, but ...